Study

Effects of timing of grazing on arthropod communities in semi-natural grasslands

  • Published source details Lenoir L. & Lennartsson T. (2010) Effects of timing of grazing on arthropod communities in semi-natural grasslands. Journal of Insect Science, 10, 1-24.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Delay mowing or first grazing date on pasture or grassland

Action Link
Natural Pest Control

Delay mowing or first grazing date on pasture or grassland

Action Link
Farmland Conservation
  1. Delay mowing or first grazing date on pasture or grassland

    A replicated study in 1997-2005 at two pastureland sites at Pustnäs and Harpsund in southern Sweden (Lenoir & Lennartsson 2010) found that delaying the start of grazing had mixed effects on different groups of insects and spiders. Ground beetles (Carabidae) were found in higher numbers in late-grazed plots (2.0-5.4 beetles/trap) compared to continuously grazed plots (1.4-3.6 beetles/trap) at Pustnäs, while at Harpsund ground beetles were more abundant in continuously grazed pasture early in the season, but became more abundant in the late-grazed plot after grazing commenced. Spiders (Araneae) were more abundant in late-grazed plots at Pustnäs, but only until grazing started. At Harpsund, spider abundance was not affected by grazing, although some spider groups did show a response. Ant (Formicidae) numbers and diversity were higher in continuously grazed plots at Pustnäs until the start of grazing in late-grazing plots. At Harpsund there was no overall difference between treatments, although numbers of some individual species differed. The experiment used an enclosed 1 ha plot in a 2 ha pasture at Pustnäs and a 4 ha plot in a 12 ha pasture at Harpsund. The pastures were grazed from May to September with 1.2-1.8 cows/ha. Enclosed areas were ungrazed until late July.

     

  2. Delay mowing or first grazing date on pasture or grassland

    A replicated study of spider (Araneae) and insect communities in two semi-natural grasslands in Sweden (Lenoir & Lennartsson 2010) found that the effect of delayed grazing depended on taxa. Small spiders, some ground beetles (Carabidae) and ants (Formicidae) were more abundant in conventional, continuous grazing (May-September) than in traditional late grazing (mid-July-September) while larger spiders and some ground beetles were more abundant in late grazing. Overall, abundance of ground beetles was higher in continuous grazing in the early summer but higher in late grazing in the late summer. Pitfall traps were used within and outside one grazing exclosure (1-4 ha) at each site, 7-10 times from May-August 2002-2005. Ant abundance was also measured by annually mapping nest density.

     

Output references
What Works 2021 cover

What Works in Conservation

What Works in Conservation provides expert assessments of the effectiveness of actions, based on summarised evidence, in synopses. Subjects covered so far include amphibians, birds, mammals, forests, peatland and control of freshwater invasive species. More are in progress.

More about What Works in Conservation

Download free PDF or purchase
The Conservation Evidence Journal

The Conservation Evidence Journal

An online, free to publish in, open-access journal publishing results from research and projects that test the effectiveness of conservation actions.

Read the latest volume: Volume 21

Go to the CE Journal

Discover more on our blog

Our blog contains the latest news and updates from the Conservation Evidence team, the Conservation Evidence Journal, and our global partners in evidence-based conservation.


Who uses Conservation Evidence?

Meet some of the evidence champions

Endangered Landscape ProgrammeRed List Champion - Arc Kent Wildlife Trust The Rufford Foundation Save the Frogs - Ghana Mauritian Wildlife Supporting Conservation Leaders
Sustainability Dashboard National Biodiversity Network Frog Life The international journey of Conservation - Oryx Cool Farm Alliance UNEP AWFA Bat Conservation InternationalPeople trust for endangered species Vincet Wildlife Trust