Effects of agri-environmental measures, site and landscape conditions on butterfly diversity of Swiss grassland
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Published source details
Aviron S., Jeanneret P., Schupbach B. & Schüpbach B. (2007) Effects of agri-environmental measures, site and landscape conditions on butterfly diversity of Swiss grassland. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 122, 295-304.
Published source details Aviron S., Jeanneret P., Schupbach B. & Schüpbach B. (2007) Effects of agri-environmental measures, site and landscape conditions on butterfly diversity of Swiss grassland. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 122, 295-304.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Reduce management intensity on permanent grasslands (several interventions at once) Action Link |
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Pay farmers to cover the costs of conservation measures (as in agri-environment schemes or conservation incentives) Action Link |
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Reduce management intensity on permanent grasslands (several interventions at once) Action Link |
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Reduce management intensity on permanent grasslands (several interventions at once)
A replicated, controlled study in 1998–2004 in two farmland regions of the Swiss Plateau, Switzerland (Aviron et al. 2007) found more species of butterfly on low-input grassland than conventional grassland in one of the two areas. In Nuvilly, there was an average of 12 species on low-input grasslands and 11 species on conventional grasslands. In Ruswil, there was an average of 3.4 species on low-input grasslands and 2.6 species on conventional grasslands. When other factors such as number of plant species, coverage of woody plants or distance to forest were taken into account, this difference was only statistically significant in Ruswil, and not in Nuvilly. Low-input grasslands had more ‘specialist’ species – those with only one generation/year, poor dispersal ability or caterpillars that eat only one type of plant. Low-input grasslands, managed as “Ecological Compensation Areas”, were fertilized with an average of 7 kg N/ha and cut on average twice a year. Conventional grasslands were fertilized with an average of 206 kg N/ha and cut on average three times each year. Every two years from 1998–2004, butterflies were surveyed in five 10 minute surveys every 2–3 weeks between May and August, in 20–22 low-input grasslands and 6–16 conventional grasslands.
(Summarised by: Andrew Bladon, edited from Farmland Synopsis)
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Pay farmers to cover the costs of conservation measures (as in agri-environment schemes or conservation incentives)
A replicated, controlled study in 1998–2004 in two farmland regions of the Swiss Plateau, Switzerland (Aviron et al. 2007) found more species of butterfly on grassland which farmers were paid to manage for wildlife than on conventional grassland in one of the two areas. In Nuvilly, there was an average of 12 species on agri-environment scheme (AES) grasslands and 11 species on conventional grasslands. In Ruswil, there was an average of 3.4 species on AES grasslands and 2.6 species on conventional grasslands. When other factors such as number of plant species, coverage of woody plants or distance to forest were taken into account, this difference was only statistically significant in Ruswil, and not in Nuvilly. AES grasslands had more ‘specialist’ species – those with only one generation/year, poor dispersal ability or caterpillars that eat only one type of plant. AES grasslands, managed as “Ecological Compensation Areas”, were fertilized with an average of 7 kg N/ha and cut on average twice a year. Conventional grasslands were fertilized with an average of 206 kg N/ha and cut on average three times each year. Every two years from 1998–2004, butterflies were surveyed in five 10-minute surveys every 2–3 weeks between May and August, in 20–22 AES grasslands and 6–16 conventional grasslands.
(Summarised by: Andrew Bladon, edited from Farmland synopsis)
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Reduce management intensity on permanent grasslands (several interventions at once)
A site comparison study from 1998 to 2004 in two areas of the Swiss Plateau region (Aviron et al. 2007) found significantly more species of butterfly (Lepidoptera) on Ecological Compensation Area grassland than conventional grassland in one of the two areas. In Nuvilly, there was an average of 12 species on Ecological Compensation Area grasslands and 11 species on conventional grasslands. In Ruswil, there was an average of 3.4 species on Ecological Compensation Area grasslands and 2.6 species on conventional grasslands. When other factors such as number of plant species, coverage of woody plants or distance to forest were taken into account, this difference was only statistically significant in Ruswil, and not in Nuvilly. Ecological Compensation Area sites tended to have more ‘specialist’ species - those with only one generation per year, poor dispersal ability or larvae that eat only one type of plant. There were 20-22 Ecological Compensation Area meadows and 6-16 conventional grasslands. The conventional grasslands were fertilized with an average of 206 kg N/ha and cut on average three times each year. The Ecological Compensation Area grasslands were fertilized with an average of 7 kg N/ha and cut on average twice a year.
