The diversity of birds and butterflies in Irish lowland landscapes with special reference to the effects of set-aside management on birds in the breeding season.
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Published source details
Bracken F. (2004) The diversity of birds and butterflies in Irish lowland landscapes with special reference to the effects of set-aside management on birds in the breeding season.
Published source details Bracken F. (2004) The diversity of birds and butterflies in Irish lowland landscapes with special reference to the effects of set-aside management on birds in the breeding season.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Plant new hedges Action Link |
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Provide or retain set‐aside areas in farmland Action Link |
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Plant new hedges
A paired, site comparison study in 2002 on one arable and one livestock farm in Ireland (Bracken 2004) reported that a higher abundance and species richness of butterflies was found along hedgerows than in field interiors. Results were not tested for statistical significance. On one farm, 13 butterflies of 7 species were recorded along a hedgerow transect next to arable fields, compared to 2 butterflies of 2 species in an arable field interior. On the other farm, 6 butterflies of 3 species were recorded along a hedgerow transect next to pasture fields, compared to 0 butterflies in a pasture field interior. From April–September 2002, one arable farm was surveyed seven times, and one livestock farm with improved grassland was surveyed 10 times. Butterflies were surveyed along four 250-m transects, one along a hedgerow and one through a field interior on each farm.
(Summarised by: Andrew Bladon)
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Provide or retain set‐aside areas in farmland
A replicated, site comparison study in 2002 in 12 fields in County Laois and County Kildare, Ireland (Bracken 2004) found that set-aside did not support a higher abundance or species richness of butterflies than arable crop or pasture fields. The abundance of butterflies was similar in set-aside fields (16.3 individuals), arable crop (15.5 individuals) and pasture (14.5 individuals). The species richness of butterflies was also similar in set-aside (6 species), arable crop (4 species) and pasture (6 species) fields. See thesis for abundance of individual species. Four fields of each of three farmland habitats, set-aside, arable crop and cattle-grazed pasture, were studied. Set-aside fields were non-rotational, and had been out of production for at least three years. Set-aside and arable crop fields were paired close to each other on the same farms. From April–September 2002, butterflies were surveyed seven times along one 250-m transect in each field.
(Summarised by: Andrew Bladon)
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