The influence of grazing intensity and landscape composition on the diversity and abundance of flower-visiting insects
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Published source details
Sjödin N.E., Bengtsson J. & Ekbom B. (2008) The influence of grazing intensity and landscape composition on the diversity and abundance of flower-visiting insects. Journal of Applied Ecology, 45, 763-772.
Published source details Sjödin N.E., Bengtsson J. & Ekbom B. (2008) The influence of grazing intensity and landscape composition on the diversity and abundance of flower-visiting insects. Journal of Applied Ecology, 45, 763-772.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Reduce grazing intensity on grassland by reducing stocking density Action Link |
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Cease grazing on grassland to allow early succession Action Link |
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Reduce grazing intensity on grassland by reducing stocking density
A replicated, site comparison study in 2004 in an agricultural region in central Sweden (Sjodin et al. 2008) found that grasslands grazed at low intensity did not have a greater abundance or species richness of butterflies and burnet moths than intensively grazed or abandoned grasslands. On low intensity pasture, the abundance (22.9 individuals/visit) and species richness (9.1 species/visit) of butterflies and burnet moths was not significantly different from either intensively grazed pasture (abundance: 22.8 individuals/visit; richness: 9.4 species/visit) or abandoned grassland (abundance: 29.5 individuals/visit; richness: 10.4 species/visit). Three pastures, >2 km apart, were selected in each of eight sites (>10 km apart). Within a site, one low intensity pasture was managed by cattle or horse grazing, one high intensity pasture was managed by cattle grazing, and one abandoned pasture had been ungrazed for >10 years. From June–August 2004, flower-visiting insects were surveyed four times on four 5 × 5 m plots/pasture. Plots were observed for 10 minutes/visit.
(Summarised by: Andrew Bladon)
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Cease grazing on grassland to allow early succession
A replicated, site comparsion study in 2004 in an agricultural region in central Sweden (Sjodin et al. 2008) found that abandoned grasslands did not have a greater abundance or species richness of butterflies and burnet moths than low intensity or intensively grazed pasture. On abandoned grassland, the abundance (29.5 individuals/visit) and species richness (10.4 species/visit) of butterflies and burnet moths was not significantly different from either low intensity pasture (abundance: 22.9 individuals/visit; richness: 9.1 species/visit) or intensively grazed pasture (abundance: 22.8 individuals/visit; richness: 9.4 species/visit). Three pastures, >2 km apart, were selected in each of eight sites (>10 km apart). Within a site, one abandoned pasture had been ungrazed for >10 years, one low intensity pasture was managed by horse or cattle grazing, and one high intensity pasture was managed by cattle grazing. From June–August 2004, flower-visiting insects were surveyed four times on four 5 × 5 m plots/pasture. Plots were observed for 10 minutes/visit.
(Summarised by: Andrew Bladon)
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