Arthropod reaction to landscape and habitat features in agricultural landscapes

Published source details Jeanneret P., Schupbach B. & Pfiffner L. (2003) Arthropod reaction to landscape and habitat features in agricultural landscapes. Landscape Ecology, 18, 253-263.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Reduce management intensity on permanent grasslands (several interventions at once) Action Link
	Plant nectar flower mixture/wildflower strips Action Link
	Reduce management intensity on permanent grasslands (several interventions at once) Action Link
	Plant nectar flower mixture/wildflower strips Action Link

Reduce management intensity on permanent grasslands (several interventions at once)

A replicated, site comparison study in 1998 in an agricultural region in the Swiss Plateau, Switzerland (Jeanneret et al. 2003, same experimental set-up as 1 and 4) found that butterfly species richness was higher in grassland with reduced management intensity than in intensively managed grassland. The species richness of butterflies was higher in grassland with reduced management intensity than in intensively managed grassland (data not presented). Two types of reduced management intensity grassland, managed as Ecological Compensation Areas, were surveyed: 16 ‘extensively used meadows’ with late mowing and no fertilizer, and seven ‘low-input meadows’ with late mowing and restricted fertilization (up to 60 kg N/ha/year). Each was around 400 m². Fifteen intensively managed meadows were surveyed: seven conventional grasslands and eight Ecological Compensation Area meadows in traditional orchards with no restrictions on cutting or fertilizer use. Butterflies were observed for 10-minute periods on 0.25 ha of each site, on five occasions from May–August 1998, between 10:00–17:30 h on sunny days with temperatures of at least 18 °C. More detailed results (in German) are presented in (1 - Jeanneret et al. 2000).

(Summarised by: Andew Bladon, edited from Farmland Synopsis)
Plant nectar flower mixture/wildflower strips

A replicated, site comparison study in 1998 in the arable region of Rafz, Swiss Plateau, Switzerland (Jeanneret et al. 2003, same study as Jeanneret et al. 2000) found that butterfly species richness was higher in wildflower strips than in intensively managed wheat fields. Wildflower strips planted as Ecological Compensation Areas had more species of butterfly than intensively managed wheat fields (data not presented). Eleven wildflower strips and 20 wheat fields were sampled. Butterflies were observed for 10-minute periods on 0.25 ha of each site, on five occasions from May–August 1998, between 10:00–17:30 h on sunny days with temperatures of at least 18 °C.

(Summarised by: Andrew Bladon, edited from Farmland synopsis)
Reduce management intensity on permanent grasslands (several interventions at once)

A site comparison study in the regions of Ruswil, northwest of Lucerne, Switzerland (Jeanneret et al. 2003a) found the number of butterfly (Lepidoptera) species, but not spider (Araneae) or ground beetle (Carabidae) species, was significantly higher in low input meadows than in intensively managed meadows. Twenty-three low input grasslands, around 400 m² in size and managed as Ecological Compensation Areas were surveyed. There were two types: 16 ‘extensively used meadows’ with late mowing and no fertilizer and seven ‘low-input meadows, with late mowing and restricted fertilization (up to 60 kg N/ha/year). For comparison, fifteen intensively managed meadows were surveyed: seven conventional grasslands and eight Ecological Compensation Area meadows in traditional orchards with no restrictions on cutting or fertilizer use. Spiders and ground beetles were monitored using pitfall traps set over five weeks of May and June 1997. Butterflies were observed for ten minute periods on 0.25 ha of each site, on five occasions from May to August 1998, between 10:00 and 17:30 on sunny days with temperatures of at least 18°C. More detailed results (in German) are presented in (Jeanneret et al. 2000).
Plant nectar flower mixture/wildflower strips

A site comparison study in 1997 and 1998 in the region of Rafz, Switzerland (Jeanneret et al. 2003) (part of the same study as Jeanneret et al. 2000) found that butterfly (Lepidoptera) species richness was significantly higher in wildflower strips planted as Ecological Compensation Areas than in intensively managed wheat fields. Eleven wildflower strips and 20 wheat fields were sampled. Butterflies were observed for ten minute periods on 0.25 ha of each site, on five occasions from May to August 1998, between 10:00 and 17:30 h on sunny days with temperatures of at least 18 °C.