Study

Pseudoscorpions in field margins: effects of margin age, management and boundary habitats

  • Published source details Bell J.R., Gates S., Haughton A.J., Macdonald D.W., Smith H., Wheater C.P. & Cullen W.R. (1999) Pseudoscorpions in field margins: effects of margin age, management and boundary habitats. Journal of Arachnology, 27, 236-240.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Create uncultivated margins around intensive arable or pasture fields

Action Link
Farmland Conservation

Plant nectar flower mixture/wildflower strips

Action Link
Farmland Conservation
  1. Create uncultivated margins around intensive arable or pasture fields

    A randomized, replicated trial from 1987 to 1996 in Oxfordshire, UK (Bell et al. 1999) (same study as Feber et al. 1994) found that pseudoscorpions (Pseudoscorpionida) favoured unmanaged field margins (not cut or sprayed), but there was no difference in numbers between naturally regenerated margins and those sown with a wildflower mix. More pseudoscorpions (Chthonius ischnocheles and C. orthodactylus) were found in unmanaged field margin plots (95 pseudoscorpions in total on sown and unsown plots) than in cut or sprayed treatments (19-53 pseudoscorpions). Plots cut in April and June with hay removed, or sprayed with herbicide in summer, had fewer pseudoscorpions than other margins (19 and 21 pseudoscorpions respectively). Plots cut just once in June, cut twice but not in June or cut in April and June but with hay left lying, had intermediate numbers of pseudoscorpions (29, 53 and 30 pseudoscorpions). Pseudoscorpions were sampled from the litter layer (not the soil) using a suction trap (D-Vac) in May, July and September 1995 and 1996. This study was part of the same experimental set-up as Feber et al.1994, Feber et al. 1996, Baines et al. 1998, Haughton et al. 1999, Smith et al. 2010).

  2. Plant nectar flower mixture/wildflower strips

    A randomized, replicated trial from 1987 to 1996 in Oxfordshire, UK (Bell et al. 1999), found no difference in the number of pseudoscorpions (Pseudoscorpionida) between naturally regenerated field margins and those sown with a wildflower mix. More pseudoscorpions (Chthonius ischnocheles and C. orthodactylus) were found in unmanaged field margin plots (95 pseudoscorpions in total on sown and unsown plots) than in cut treatments (19-53 pseudoscorpions). Plots cut in spring and summer had fewer pseudoscorpions than other margins (19 pseudoscorpions on sown and unsown plots). Plots cut just once in June or cut twice but not in June had intermediate numbers of pseudoscorpions (29 and 53 pseudoscorpions respectively). Pseudoscorpions were sampled from the litter layer (not the soil) using a suction trap (D-Vac) in May, July and September 1995 and 1996. This study was part of the same study set-up as Feber et al. 1994, Feber et al. 1996, Baines et al. 1998, Haughton et al. 1999, Smith et al. 1999, Bell et al. 2002, Smith et al. 2010.

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