Conservation implications of grazing practices on the plant and dipteran communities of a turlough in Co. Mayo, Ireland
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Published source details
Ryder C., Moran J., Donnell R. & Gormally M. (2005) Conservation implications of grazing practices on the plant and dipteran communities of a turlough in Co. Mayo, Ireland. Biodiversity and Conservation, 14, 187-204.
Published source details Ryder C., Moran J., Donnell R. & Gormally M. (2005) Conservation implications of grazing practices on the plant and dipteran communities of a turlough in Co. Mayo, Ireland. Biodiversity and Conservation, 14, 187-204.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Reduce intensity of livestock grazing: freshwater marshes Action Link |
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Reduce intensity of livestock grazing: freshwater marshes
A site comparison study in 2001 of three wet meadows around an ephemeral lake in Ireland (Ryder et al. 2005) found that lightly and heavily grazed meadows had a similar plant community composition, species richness and overall cover, but that lightly grazed meadows contained taller vegetation. Both lightly and heavily grazed wet meadows had a statistically similar mix of plant species (data reported as a similarity index) and statistically similar plant species richness (lightly grazed: 18 species/150m2 and 15 species/m2; heavily grazed: 17–21 species/150m2 and 15–16 species/m2). Overall vegetation cover was 99% in both lightly grazed and heavily grazed meadows. However, the lightly grazed meadow had greater cover of black sedge Carex nigra cover and lower cover of creeping bent Agrostis stolonifera (data reported as abundance classes; see original paper for data on other species). Statistical significance of cover results was not assessed. The lightly grazed meadow had significantly taller vegetation on average (35 cm) than the heavily-grazed meadows (17 cm). Methods: In 2001, wet meadow vegetation was surveyed in three fields with different cattle grazing intensities. One field was lightly grazed (0.01 cows/ha/day, averaged across the summer) and two were heavily-grazed (0.67–0.76 cows/ha/day, averaged across the summer). In July, vegetation height was recorded at 72 points/field. In September, plant species and the area of bare ground/rock were recorded in six 1m2 quadrats/field.
(Summarised by: Nigel Taylor)
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