Trends in the recovery of a rosy marsh moth Coenophila subrosea (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) population in response to fire and conservation management on a lowland raised mire

Published source details Fowles A.P., Bailey M.P. & Hale A.D. (2004) Trends in the recovery of a rosy marsh moth Coenophila subrosea (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) population in response to fire and conservation management on a lowland raised mire. Journal of Insect Conservation, 8, 149-158.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Restore or create peatland Action Link
	Use prescribed fire to maintain or restore disturbance in grasslands or other open habitats Action Link

Restore or create peatland

A before-and-after study in 1988–2003 in a raised bog in Ceredigion, UK (Fowles et al. 2004) reported that a re-wetted bog supported a larger population of rosy marsh moth Coenophila subrosea caterpillars than before drains were blocked. Results were not tested for statistical significance. One to five years after the last drains were blocked, 27–88 caterpillars/year were recorded, compared to 8–27 caterpillars/year in the preceding 10 years. From the mid-1980s, large drains surrounding a raised bog were dammed. In 1993 and 1998, shallow peat-cuttings were also blocked, raising the water table at the site from 42 cm to 48 cm over 15 years. In late May 1988–2003, caterpillars were counted once/year, at night, in fourteen 15 × 1 m plots along a transect across the bog.

(Summarised by: Andrew Bladon)
Use prescribed fire to maintain or restore disturbance in grasslands or other open habitats

A site comparison study in 1988–2003 in a raised bog in Ceredigion, UK (Fowles et al. 2004) reported that a burned bog had fewer rosy marsh moth Coenophila subrosea caterpillars than an unburned bog. Results were not tested for statistical significance. For 2–5 years after burning, caterpillars were scarce in the burned area (0–3 individuals/year) compared to the unburned area (6–24 individuals/year). From 6–9 years after burning, numbers were similar in burned (5–13 individuals/year) and unburned (6–15 individuals/year) areas. From 10–14 years after burning, the burned area had 6–24 individuals/year compared to 2–17 individuals/year on the unburned area. From 16–17 years after burning, the burned area had 16–38 individuals/year compared to 33–50 individuals/year on the unburned area. From 1968, fire frequency was reduced on a raised bog, and the last burn occurred in 1974. In February 1986, two-thirds of the bog was accidentally burned. In late May 1988–2003, caterpillars were counted once/year, at night, in seven 15 × 1 m plots in the burned area and seven in the unburned area.

(Summarised by: Andrew Bladon)