Study

Responses of invertebrate trophic level, feeding guild and body size to the management of improved grassland field margins

  • Published source details Woodcock B.A., Potts S.G., Tscheulin T., Pilgrim E., Ramsey A.J., Harrison-Cripps J., Brown V.K. & Tallowin J.R. (2009) Responses of invertebrate trophic level, feeding guild and body size to the management of improved grassland field margins. Journal of Applied Ecology, 46, 920-929.

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

    A replicated, randomised, controlled trial in 2003-2005 on four farms in the southwest UK (Woodcock et al. 2009) (same study as Woodcock et al. 2007) found plots with delayed cutting (cut in July) had similar spider (Araneae), beetle (Coleoptera), true bug (Heteroptera), planthopper (Auchenorrhyncha), bumblebee (Bombus spp.) and butterfly (Lepidoptera) species richness to plots cut in May. Plots were 50 x 10 m on permanent pasture and were cut to 10 cm in either May or June. Each cutting treatment was replicated 12 times. Butterflies and bumblebees were monitored using transect walks, other invertebrates were monitored using a Vortis suction sampler.

     

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