Jones Rachel, Wilson Robert, Maclean Ilya, Bourn Nigel
Environment & Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Cornwall, TR10 9FE UK.
Butterfly Conservation, Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Dorset, BH20 5QP UK.
J Insect Conserv. 2025;29(1):2. doi: 10.1007/s10841-024-00638-4. Epub 2024 Nov 20.
Evidence-based management is needed to reverse declines in insect abundance. The Lulworth Skipper is a range-restricted and declining species in the UK and northern Europe associated with mid-successional grassland, which presents management challenges because interventions are necessary to prevent long-term habitat deterioration but can result in short-term reductions in quality. In addition, site management should be compatible for the focal species and for wider plant and insect diversity. We conducted factorial experimental management trials to understand effects of cutting and rotovation on the height and structure of vegetation containing the larval host plant Tor-grass . We monitored vegetation height, cover and plant diversity, and larval presence over four years. Rotovation and cutting differed in their effects on habitat structure and larval occupancy relative to controls. Vegetation height and host plant cover, the most important components of habitat quality for , were faster to recover to suitable levels on cut plots. However, larval occupancy increased more quickly on rotovated plots, where plant species diversity was also higher. Results suggest that due to initial negative impacts of interventions on occupancy, low frequency or low-intensity management, such as managing sections of a site every three years, is advisable. Our results show that rotovation or cutting the sward can be suitable for mid-successional grassland species such as Lulworth Skipper on sites where grazing might be problematic. Rotational grazing or rotovation can maintain suitable conditions for habitat specialist insects requiring a range of different grassland conditions, serving wider conservation goals.
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10841-024-00638-4.
需要基于证据的管理来扭转昆虫数量的下降。卢尔沃思弄蝶是英国和北欧一种分布范围受限且数量正在减少的物种，与演替中期的草地相关，这带来了管理挑战，因为需要进行干预以防止栖息地长期退化，但可能导致短期内质量下降。此外，场地管理应与重点物种以及更广泛的植物和昆虫多样性相兼容。我们进行了析因实验性管理试验，以了解刈割和旋耕对含有幼虫寄主植物牛筋草的植被高度和结构的影响。我们在四年时间里监测了植被高度、覆盖度、植物多样性以及幼虫的出现情况。相对于对照，旋耕和刈割对栖息地结构和幼虫占有率的影响有所不同。植被高度和寄主植物覆盖度是栖息地质量的最重要组成部分，在刈割地块上能更快恢复到适宜水平。然而，在旋耕地块上幼虫占有率增加得更快，那里的植物物种多样性也更高。结果表明，由于干预措施对幼虫占有率的初始负面影响，建议采用低频或低强度管理，例如每三年管理场地的一部分。我们的结果表明，在放牧可能存在问题的场地，旋耕或刈割草皮适合卢尔沃思弄蝶等演替中期草地物种。轮牧或旋耕可以为需要一系列不同草地条件的栖息地特化昆虫维持适宜条件，服务于更广泛的保护目标。
在线版本包含可在10.1007/s10841-024-00638-4获取的补充材料。
