Effects of grazing on vegetation structure, prey availability, and reproductive success of grasshopper sparrows
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Published source details
Sutter B. & Ritchison G. (2005) Effects of grazing on vegetation structure, prey availability, and reproductive success of grasshopper sparrows. Journal of Field Ornithology, 76, 345-351.
Published source details Sutter B. & Ritchison G. (2005) Effects of grazing on vegetation structure, prey availability, and reproductive success of grasshopper sparrows. Journal of Field Ornithology, 76, 345-351.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Mow or cut natural grasslands Action Link |
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Employ grazing in natural grasslands Action Link |
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Mow or cut natural grasslands
At Blue Grass Army Depot, Kentucky, USA (Sutter & Ritchison 2005), a site comparison study in April-August 2002-2003 found that grasshopper sparrow nesting success was significantly higher in a 3,950 ha area mown in July-August compared to a 2,100 ha cattle-grazed area (70% of 34 nests in mown areas fledging at least one young vs. 25% of 12 in grazed; overall survival estimated at 46% vs. 9%). Average clutch size in the mown area (five eggs) was significantly larger than in grazed area (four eggs).
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Employ grazing in natural grasslands
A study in 2002-2003 in a grassland in Kentucky, USA (Sutter & Ritchison 2005) found that grasshopper sparrows had significantly lower nesting success on a grazed grassland, compared to a mown one (estimated 25% success on cattle-grazed area vs. 70% on mown area). This study is discussed in detail in ‘Mow or cut natural grasslands’.
Output references
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