Delaying mowing and leaving uncut refuges boosts orthopterans in extensively managed meadows: Evidence drawn from field-scale experimentation

Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment

Volumn 181, Issue , 2013, Pages 22-30

  Buri, Pierrick ^a   Arlettaz, Raphaël ^a,b   Humbert, Jean Yves ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF BERN   (Switzerland)

^b SWISS ORNITHOLOGICAL INSTITUTE   (Switzerland)

Author keywords

Biodiversity; Bush cricket; Conservation; Cutting; Grasshopper; Haying

Indexed keywords

BIODIVERSITY; COMMUNITY STRUCTURE; CRICKET; EXPERIMENTAL STUDY; GRASSHOPPER; GRASSLAND; HABITAT TYPE; HAY; INVERTEBRATE; MEADOW; MOWING;

SWITZERLAND;

EID: 84885456654     PISSN: 01678809     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2013.09.003     Document Type: Article

References (51)

1. Arlettaz R., Perrin N., Hausser J. Trophic resource partitioning and competition between the two sibling bat species Myotis myotis and Myotis blythii. J. Anim. Ecol. 1997, 66:897-911.
2. Arlettaz R., Schaub M., Fournier J., Reichlin T.S., Sierro A., Watson J.E.M., Braunisch V. From publications to public actions: when conservation biologists bridge the gap between research and implementation. Bioscience 2010, 60:835-842.
3. 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.
4. Badenhausser I., Cordeau S. Sown grass strip-A stable habitat for grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in dynamic agricultural landscapes. Agr. Ecosyst. Environ. 2012, 159:105-111.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Bakker J.P., Elzinga J.A., de Vries Y. Effects of long-term cutting in a grassland system: perspectives for restoration of plant communities on nutrient-poor soils. Appl. Veg. Sci. 2002, 5:107-120.
8. Baur B., Baur H., Roesti C., Roesti D., Thorens P. Sauterelles, Grillons et Criquets de Suisse 2006, Haupt, Bern, CH.
9. Benton T.G., Vickery J.A., Wilson J.D. Farmland biodiversity: is habitat heterogeneity the key?. Trends Ecol. Evol. 2003, 18:182-188.
10. 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.
11. Braunisch V., Home R., Pellet J., Arlettaz R. Conservation science relevant to action: a research agenda identified and prioritized by practitioners. Biol. Conserv. 2012, 153:201-210.
12. Caudron A., Vigier L., Champigneulle A. Developing collaborative research to improve effectiveness in biodiversity conservation practice. J. Appl. Ecol. 2012, 49:753-757.
13. 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.
14. Cop J., Vidrih M., Hacin J. Influence of cutting regime and fertilizer application on the botanical composition, yield and nutritive value of herbage of wet grasslands in Central Europe. Grass Forage Sci. 2009, 64:454-465.
15. Dover J.W., Rescia A., Fungariño 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.
16. Gardiner T., Hassall M. Does microclimate affect grasshopper populations after cutting of hay in improved grassland?. J. Insect Conserv. 2009, 13:97-102.
17. Gardiner T., Pye M., Field R., Hill J. The influence of sward height and vegetation composition in determining the habitat preferences of three Chorthippus species (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in Chelmsford, Essex, UK. J. Orthopt. Res. 2002, 11:207-213.
18. Grant A., Hassall M., Willott S.J. An alternative theory of grasshopper life-cycles. Oikos 1993, 66:263-268.
19. Grime J.P. Plant Strategies, Vegetation Processes, and Ecosystem Properties 2001, John Wiley, Chichester, UK.
20. 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.
21. Helden A.J., Leather S.R. Biodiversity on urban roundabouts-Hemiptera, management and the species-area relationship. Basic Appl. Ecol. 2004, 5:367-377.
22. Humbert J.-Y., Ghazoul J., Walter T. Meadow harvesting techniques and their impacts on field fauna. Agr. Ecosyst. Environ. 2009, 130:1-8.
23. Humbert J.-Y., Ghazoul J., Richner N., Walter T. Hay harvesting causes high orthopteran mortality. Agr. Ecosyst. Environ. 2010, 139:522-527.
24. 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.
25. Humbert J.-Y., Ghazoul J., Richner N., Walter T. Uncut grass refuges mitigate the impact of mechanical meadow harvesting on orthopterans. Biol. Conserv. 2012, 152:96-101.
26. Humbert J.-Y., Pellet J., Buri P., Arlettaz R. Does delaying the first mowing date benefit biodiversity in meadowland?. Environ. Evid. 2012, 1:1-9.
27. 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.
28. 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.
29. Kovacs-Hostyanszki A., Korosi A., Orci K.M., Batary P., Baldi A. Set-aside promotes insect and plant diversity in a Central European country. Agr. Ecosyst. Environ. 2011, 141:296-301.
30. 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. Diver. 2012, 5:1-8.
31. 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.
32. Müller M., Bosshard A. Altgrasstreifen fördern Heuschrecken in Ökowiesen - Eine Möglichkeit zur Strukturverbesserung im Mähgrünland. Nat.schutz Landsch.plan 2010, 42:212-217.
33. 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.
34. OFAG Rapport Agricole 2012, OFAG, Bern.
35. Poniatowski D., Fartmann T. What determines the distribution of a flightless bush-cricket (Metrioptera brachyptera) in a fragmented landscape?. J. Insect Conserv. 2010, 14:637-645.
36. Poschlod P., WallisDeVries M.F. The historical and socioeconomic perspective of calcareous grasslands - lessons from the distant and recent past. Biol. Conserv. 2002, 104:361-376.
37. R Core Team R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing 2013, R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria.
38. 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.
39. Robinson R.A., Sutherland W.J. Post-war changes in arable farming and biodiversity in Great Britain. J. Appl. Ecol. 2002, 39:157-176.
40. Schaffers A.P. Soil, biomass, and management of semi-natural vegetation - Part II. Factors controlling species diversity. Plant Ecol. 2002, 158:247-268.
41. Schmidt M.H., Rocker S., Hanafi J., Gigon A. Rotational fallows as overwintering habitat for grassland arthropods: the case of spiders in fen meadows. Biodiver. Conserv. 2008, 17:3003-3012.
42. Sutherland W.J., Pullin A.S., Dolman P.M., Knight T.M. The need for evidence-based conservation. Trends Ecol. Evol. 2004, 19:305-308.
43. Swiss Federal Council, 1998. Ordonnance sur les paiements directs versés dans l'agriculture. RS 910.13.
44. Thorens P. Effets de la fauche sur une population du Criquet Chorthippus mollis (Charp.) (Orthoptera, Acrididae) dans une prairie du pied sud du Jura suisse. Bull. Soc. Ent. Suisse 1993, 66:173-182.
45. Torok P., Vida E., Deak B., Lengyel S., Tothmeresz B. Grassland restoration on former croplands in Europe: an assessment of applicability of techniques and costs. Biodiver. Conserv. 2011, 20:2311-2332.
46. Valko O., Torok P., Matus G., Tothmeresz B. Is regular mowing the most appropriate and cost-effective management maintaining diversity and biomass of target forbs in mountain hay meadows?. Flora 2012, 207:303-309.
47. 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.
48. Veen P., Jefferson R., de Smidt J., van der Straaten J. Grasslands in Europe of High Nature Value 2009, KNNV Publishing, Zeist, the Netherlands.
49. 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.
50. Wesche K., Krause B., Culmsee H., Leuschner C. Fifty years of change in Central European grassland vegetation: large losses in species richness and animal-pollinated plants. Biol. Conserv. 2012, 150:76-85.
51. 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. Agr. Ecosyst. Environ. 1999, 75:13-30.