Optimizing grassland management for flower-visiting insects in roadside verges
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Published source details
Noordijk J., Delille K., Schaffers A.P. & Sykora K.V. (2009) Optimizing grassland management for flower-visiting insects in roadside verges. Biological Conservation, 142, 2097-2103.
Published source details Noordijk J., Delille K., Schaffers A.P. & Sykora K.V. (2009) Optimizing grassland management for flower-visiting insects in roadside verges. Biological Conservation, 142, 2097-2103.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Alter mowing regimes on greenspaces and road verges Action Link |
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Alter mowing regimes on greenspaces and road verges
A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 2004–2006 in 25 roadside verge sites in Limburg, the Netherlands (Noordijk et al. 2009) found that butterflies were recorded along verges with no management and mowed verges where hay was removed but no butterflies were recorded along mowed road verges where hay was not removed. No butterflies were recorded along verges mowed either once or twice a year where hay was not removed, but of insects recorded along verges, butterflies represented 14% where mowed once a year with hay removal, 8% where mowed twice a year with hay removal and 7% with no management. In 2004–2006 five treatments (each replicated five times) were conducted in 12 x 15 m plots along a highway: mowing once a year in mid-September with or without hay removal, mowing twice a year in late June and mid-September with or without hay removal, and no management. On four visits in May–August 2006, flower-visiting insects were counted in four 1-m2 quadrats in each plot over a 15-minute period. Butterflies were not identified more precisely than order level and statistical tests did not look at the difference between the number of mowings or hay removal for butterflies alone.
(Summarised by: Eleanor Bladon)
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