Uncut grass refuges mitigate the impact of mechanical meadow harvesting on orthopterans

Biological Conservation

Volumn 152, Issue , 2012, Pages 96-101

  Humbert, Jean Yves ^a,b,c   Ghazoul, Jaboury ^b   Richner, Nina ^a   Walter, Thomas ^a  

^a AGROSCOPE RECKENHOLZ TÄNIKON RESEARCH STATION ART   (Switzerland)

^b ETH ZURICH   (Switzerland)

^c UNIVERSITY OF BERN   (Switzerland)

Author keywords

Agri environment schemes; Grass strip; Grasshoppers; Grassland management; Landscape heterogeneity; Restoration

Indexed keywords

AGRI-ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY; GRASS; GRASSHOPPER; GRASSLAND; GRAZING MANAGEMENT; HARVESTING; MEADOW; MOWING; POPULATION STRUCTURE; REFUGIUM; RESTORATION ECOLOGY; SUCCESSION; VEGETATION STRUCTURE;

INVERTEBRATA; ORTHOPTERA;

EID: 84862699144     PISSN: 00063207     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2012.03.015     Document Type: Article

References (62)

1. Albrecht M., Schmid B., Obrist M.K., Schüpbach B., Kleijn D., Duelli P. Effects of ecological compensation meadows on arthropod diversity in adjacent intensively managed grassland. Biol. Conserv. 2010, 143:642-649.
2. Aviron S., Nitsch H., Jeanneret P., Buholzer S., Luka H., Pfiffner L., Pozzi S., Schupbach B., Walter T., Herzog F. Ecological cross compliance promotes farmland biodiversity in Switzerland. Front. Ecol. Environ. 2009, 7:247-252.
3. Baayen, R.H., 2011. languageR: Data Sets and Functions with " Analyzing Linguistic Data: A Practical Introduction to Statistics" R Package Version 1.4.
4. Badenhausser I., Amouroux P., Lerin J., Bretagnolle V. Acridid (Orthoptera: Acrididae) abundance in Western European Grasslands: sampling methodology and temporal fluctuations. J. Appl. Entomol. 2009, 133:720-732.
5. Baines M., Hambler C., Johnson P.J., Macdonald D.W., Smith H. The effects of arable field margin management on the abundance and species richness of Araneae (spiders). Ecography 1998, 21:74-86.
6. Baldi A., Kisbenedek T. Orthopteran assemblages as indicators of grassland naturalness in Hungary. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 1997, 66:121-129.
7. Bates, D., Maechler, M., Bolker, B., 2011. lme4: Linear Mixed-effects Models using S4 Classes. R Package Version 0.999375-42.
8. Benton T.G., Bryant D.M., Cole L., Crick H.Q.P. Linking agricultural practice to insect and bird populations: a historical study over three decades. J. Appl. Ecol. 2002, 39:673-687.
9. Braschler B., Marini L., Thommen G.H., Baur B. Effects of small-scale grassland fragmentation and frequent mowing on population density and species diversity of orthopterans: a long-term study. Ecol. Entomol. 2009, 34:321-329.
10. Bretagnolle V., Villers A., Denonfoux L., Cornulier T., Inchausti P., Badenhausser I. Rapid recovery of a depleted population of Little Bustards Tetrax tetrax following provision of alfalfa through an agri-environment scheme. Ibis 2011, 153:4-13.
11. Britschgi A., Spaar R., Arlettaz R. Impact of grassland farming intensification on the breeding ecology of an indicator insectivorous passerine, the Whinchat Saxicola rubetra: lessons for overall Alpine meadowland management. Biol. Conserv. 2006, 130:193-205.
12. Broyer J. Unmown refuge areas and their influence on the survival of grassland birds in the Saone valley (France). Biodivers. Conserv. 2003, 12:1219-1237.
13. Canton Argovia, 2009. Bewirtschaftungsverträge Naturnahe Landwirtschaft Richtlinien 2009. Abteilung Landschaft und Gewässer und Abteilung Landwirtschaft, Aarau.
14. Cattin M.-F., Blandenier G., BanaŠek-Richter C., Bersier L.-F. The impact of mowing as a management strategy for wet meadows on spider (Araneae) communities. Biol. Conserv. 2003, 113:179-188.
15. Cizek O., Zamecnik J., Tropek R., Kocarek P., Konvicka M. Diversification of mowing regime increases arthropods diversity in species-poor cultural hay meadows. J. Insect Conserv. 2012, 16:215-226.
16. Delarze R., Gonseth Y. Guide des Milieux Naturels de Suisse 2008, Rossolis, Bussigny, Switzerland. second ed.
17. Donald P.F., Sanderson F.J., Burfield I.J., Van Bommel F.P.J. Further evidence of continent-wide impacts of agricultural intensification on European farmland birds, 1990-2000. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 2006, 116:189-196.
18. Dover J.W., Rescia A., Fungarinõ S., Fairburn J., Carey P., Lunt P., Dennis R.L.H., Dover C.J. Can hay harvesting detrimentally affect adult butterfly abundance?. J. Insect Conserv. 2010, 14:413-418.
19. Feber R.E., Smith H., Macdonald D.W. The effects on butterfly abundance of the management of uncropped edges of arable fields. J. Appl. Ecol. 1996, 33:1191-1205.
20. Fenner M., Palmer L. Grassland management to promote diversity: creation of a patchy sward by mowing and fertiliser regimes. Field Stud. 1998, 9:313-324.
21. Fischer F.P., Schulz U., Schubert H., Knapp P., Schmoger M. Quantitative assessment of grassland quality: acoustic determination of population sizes of orthopteran indicator species. Ecol. Appl. 1997, 7:909-920.
22. Gardiner T., Hassall M. Does microclimate affect grasshopper populations after cutting of hay in improved grassland?. J. Insect Conserv. 2009, 13:97-102.
23. Gardiner T., Hill J. Mortality of Orthoptera caused by mechanised mowing of grassland. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 2006, 19:38-40.
24. Grime J.P. Plant Strategies, Vegetation Processes, and Ecosystem Properties 2001, John Wiley, Chichester, UK. second ed.
25. Grüebler M.U., Schuler H., Horch P., Spaar R. The effectiveness of conservation measures to enhance nest survival in a meadow bird suffering from anthropogenic nest loss. Biol. Conserv. 2012, 146:197-203.
26. Guido M., Gianelle D. Distribution patterns of four Orthoptera species in relation to microhabitat heterogeneity in an ecotonal area. Acta Oecol. 2001, 22:175-185.
27. Helden A.J., Anderson A., Sheridan H., Purvis G. The role of grassland sward islets in the distribution of arthropods in cattle pastures. Insect Conserv. Divers. 2010, 3:291-301.
28. Hemmann K., Hopp I., Paulus H.F. Zum einfluss der Mahd durch Messerbalken, Mulcher und Saugmäher auf Insekten am Strassenrand. Nat. Landsch. 1987, 62:103-106.
29. Hossain Z., Gurr G.M., Wratten S.D., Raman A. Habitat manipulation in lucerne Medicago sativa: arthropod population dynamics in harvested and 'refuge' crop strips. J. Appl. Ecol. 2002, 39:445-454.
30. Hoste-Danylow A., Romanowski J., Zmihorski M. Effects of management on invertebrates and birds in extensively used grassland of Poland. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 2010, 139:129-133.
31. Humbert J.-Y., Ghazoul J., Walter T. Meadow harvesting techniques and their impacts on field fauna. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 2009, 130:1-8.
32. Humbert J.-Y., Ghazoul J., Richner N., Walter T. Hay harvesting causes high orthopteran mortality. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 2010, 139:522-527.
33. Humbert J.-Y., Ghazoul J., Sauter G.J., Walter T. Impact of different meadow mowing techniques on field invertebrates. J. Appl. Entomol. 2010, 134:592-599.
34. Humbert, J.-Y., Richner, N., Sauter, G.J., Ghazoul, J., Walter, T., 2010c. Graslandernte-Prozesse und ihre Wirkung auf die Fauna. ART Report 724. Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon Research Station ART, Zurich.
35. Kleijn D., Sutherland W.J. How effective are European agri-environment schemes in conserving and promoting biodiversity. J. Appl. Ecol. 2003, 40:947-969.
36. Kleijn D., Baquero R.A., Clough Y., Diaz M., De Esteban J., Fernandez F., Gabriel D., Herzog F., Holzschuh A., Johl R., Knop E., Kruess A., Marshall E.J.P., Steffan-Dewenter I., Tscharntke T., Verhulst J., West T.M., Yela J.L. Mixed biodiversity benefits of agri-environment schemes in five European countries. Ecol. Lett. 2006, 9:243-254.
37. Knop E., Kleijn D., Herzog F., Schmid B. Effectiveness of the Swiss agri-environment scheme in promoting biodiversity. J. Appl. Ecol. 2006, 43:120-127.
38. Littlewood N.A., Stewart A.J., Woodcock B.A. Science into practice - how can fundamental science contribute to better management of grasslands for invertebrates?. Insect Conserv. Divers. 2012, 5:1-8.
39. Manly B.F. Randomization, Bootstrap, and Monte Carlo Methods in Biology 1997, Chapman and Hall, London. second ed.
40. Marini L., Fontana P., Scotton M., Klimek S. Vascular plant and Orthoptera diversity in relation to grassland management and landscape composition in the European Alps. J. Appl. Ecol. 2008, 45:361-370.
41. Marini L., Fontana P., Battisti A., Gaston K.J. Agricultural management, vegetation traits and landscape drive orthopteran and butterfly diversity in a grassland-forest mosaic: a multi-scale approach. Insect Conserv. Divers. 2009, 2:213-220.
42. Marini L., Bommarco R., Fontana P., Battisti A. Disentangling effects of habitat diversity and area on orthopteran species with contrasting mobility. Biol. Conserv. 2010, 143:2164-2171.
43. Morris M.G. The effects of structure and its dynamics on the ecology and conservation of arthropods in British grassland. Biol. Conserv. 2000, 95:129-142.
44. Nickel H., Achtziger R. Do they ever come back? Responses of leafhopper communities to extensification of land use. J. Insect Conserv. 2005, 9:319-333.
45. Noordijk J., Delille K., Schaffers A.P., Sykora K.V. Optimizing grassland management for flower-visiting insects in roadside verges. Biol. Conserv. 2009, 142:2097-2103.
46. Nyffeler M., Breene R.G. Spiders associated with selected European hay meadows, and the effects of habitat disturbance, with the predation ecology of the crab spiders, Xysticus spp. (Araneae, Thomisidae). J. Appl. Entomol. 1990, 110:149-159.
47. R Development Core Team, 2011. R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria.
48. Reinhardt K., Kohler G., Maas S., Detzel P. Low dispersal ability and habitat specificity promote extinctions in rare but not in widespread species: the Orthoptera of Germany. Ecography 2005, 28:593-602.
49. Robinson R.A., Sutherland W.J. Post-war changes in arable farming and biodiversity in Great Britain. J. Appl. Ecol. 2002, 39:157-176.
50. Schmidt M.H., Rocker S., Hanafi J., Gigon A. Rotational fallows as overwintering habitat for grassland arthropods: the case of spiders in fen meadows. Biodivers. Conserv. 2008, 17:3003-3012.
51. Smith R.S., Jones L. The phenology of mesotrophic grassland in the Pennine Dales, Northern England: historic hay cutting dates, vegetation variation and plant species phenologies. J. Appl. Ecol. 1991, 28:42-59.
52. Taylor M.E., Morecroft M.D. Effects of agri-environment schemes in a long-term ecological time series. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 2009, 130:9-15.
53. Thorbek P., Bilde T. Reduced numbers of generalist arthropod predators after crop management. J. Appl. Ecol. 2004, 41:526-538.
54. Tscharntke T., Brandl R. Plant-insect interactions in fragmented landscapes. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 2004, 49:405-430.
55. Tyler G.A., Green R.E., Casey C. Survival and behaviour of Corncrake Crex crex chicks during the mowing of agricultural grassland. Bird Stud. 1998, 45:35-50.
56. Valtonen A., Saarinen K., Jantunen J. Effect of different mowing regimes on butterflies and diurnal moths on road verges. Anim. Biodivers. Conserv. 2006, 29:133-148.
57. Van Wingerden W.K.R.E., Musters J.C.M., Maaskamp F.I.M. The influence of temperature on the duration of egg development in West European grasshoppers (Orthoptera, Acrididae). Oecologia 1991, 87:417-423.
58. Van Wingerden W.K.R.E., van Kreveld A.R., Bongers W. Analysis of species composition and abundance of grasshoppers (Orth. Acrididae) in natural and fertilized grasslands. J. Appl. Entomol. 1992, 113:138-152.
59. Vickery J.A., Tallowin J.R., Feber R.E., Asteraki E.J., Atkinson P.W., Fuller R.J., Brown V.K. The management of lowland neutral grasslands in Britain: effects of agricultural practices on birds and their food resources. J. Appl. Ecol. 2001, 38:647-664.
60. Wilson J.D., Morris A.J., Arroyo B.E., Clark S.C., Bradbury R.B. A review of the abundance and diversity of invertebrate and plant foods of granivorous birds in northern Europe in relation to agricultural change. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 1999, 75:13-30.
61. Woodcock B.A., Potts S.G., Tscheulin T., Pilgrim E., Ramsey A.J., Harrison-Cripps J., Brown V.K., Tallowin J.R. Responses of invertebrate trophic level, feeding guild and body size to the management of improved grassland field margins. J. Appl. Ecol. 2009, 46:920-929.
62. Zuur A.F., Ieno E.N., Walker N.J., Saveliev A.A., Smith G.M. Mixed Effects Models and Extensions in Ecology with R 2009, Springer, New York, USA.