Pollinator behavioural responses to grazing intensity
Published source details Sjödin N.E. (2007) Pollinator behavioural responses to grazing intensity. Biological Conservation, 16, 2103-2121.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
| Action | Category | |
|---|---|---|
Delay mowing or first grazing date on pasture or grassland Action Link |  |
Delay mowing or first grazing date on pasture or grassland
A small study of two semi-natural grasslands in central Sweden (Sjödin 2007) found that more insect species and individuals visited flowers under a delayed grazing regime, from mid-July to September, compared to grazing from mid-May. This was likely to be due to the higher abundance of flowers in the late grazing treatment. The only species with higher abundances under the extended grazing regime was the red-tailed bumblebee Bombus lapidarius. Visitation rate and flower constancy did not differ between treatments. Flower-visiting insects exhibited a broader range of activities in the late grazing treatment. Pastures were divided into two treatment areas from 1997 in Pustnäs (10 ha) and 2001 in Harpsund (12 ha). Insect flower visitors were sampled in seven pairs of 5 x 5 m plots/treatment for nine weeks in summer 2003.
