Optimizing the biodiversity gain from agri-environment schemes

Merckx, Thomas; Feber, Ruth E.; Riordan, Philip; Townsend, M. C.; Bourn, Nigel A. D.; Parsons, Mark; Macdonald, David W.

doi:10.1016/j.agee.2009.01.006

Cited by 132 publications

(108 citation statements)

References 36 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…One of the mixed populations was located on a calcareous grassland (Tienne de Botton), while the other was located in a light birch-ash wood (Bois Niau). In order to catch pollen-vectors, we utilised light traps that have proven to be highly suitable for sampling moth communities (Heath 1965, Merckx et al 2009a, b, Merckx, Marini, Feber & Macdonald 2012a, Merckx et al 2012b, Young 1997. Sampling moths with light traps has also some additional advantages in terms of cost and ease of use, compared to video monitoring for instance (Steen & Mundal 2013).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Noctuid moths as potential hybridization agents for Platanthera orchids

2017

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

abstract. Zoophilous flowering plants communicate with pollinators to ensure pollen transfer. Pin-pointing which species are effective pollinators is not only essential to better understand plant-pollinator networks, but equally so to better understand the potential of hybridization in plant systems, such as in orchids. As a case study, we studied two sympatric populations of the congeneric orchids Platanthera bifolia and P. chlorantha in order to assess their nocturnal pollinators by checking which moth species carried pollinaria, and of which orchid species. Moths carrying Platanthera pollinaria were photographed and identified. The carried pollinaria were identified and counted, and their attachment position on the moth's head was scored. Based on these observations we show that three species of noctuid moths visited the Platanthera inflorescences. Although Noctua pronuba visited P. chlorantha, only Cucullia umbratica and Autographa gamma turned out to be potential pollinators for both orchid species. As such, we here demonstrate that the latter two noctuids have high potential to facilitate hybridization among these two orchid species, especially so in sympatric populations.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Noctuid moths as potential hybridization agents for Platanthera orchids

2017

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The numbers of moths observed were less at 5 and 10 m combined than at 1 m from the hedgerow (Table 1). Indeed, Merckx et al (2009b), found that abundance of moths was 92 % higher along hedgerow margins than in the centre of fields, with these results being Fig. 1 Numbers of observed moth movements at 1, 5 and 10 m observation points, parallel, diagonal, right-angle or irregular in relation to hedgerow face and percentages for each distance.…”

Section: Discussion Moth Abundance and Hedgerow Proximitymentioning

confidence: 98%

The use of hedgerows as flight paths by moths in intensive farmland landscapes

2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Linear boundary features such as hedgerows are important habitats for invertebrates in agricultural landscapes. Such features can provide shelter, larval food plants and nectar resources. UK butterflies are known to rely on such features, however their use by moths is understudied. With moth species suffering from significant declines, research into their ecology is important. This research aimed to determine whether UK moth species are using hedgerows as flight paths in intensive farmland. The directional movements of moths were recorded along hedgerows at 1, 5 and 10 m from the hedgerow face. The majority of moths recorded within the study were observed at 1 m from the hedgerow (68 %), and of these individuals, 69 % were moving parallel in relation to the hedge. At further distances, the proportion of parallel movements was reduced. These results suggest that hedgerows may be providing sheltered corridors for flying insects in farmland landscapes, as well as likely providing food plants and nectar resources, emphasising the importance of resourcebased approaches to conservation for Lepidoptera.

show abstract

“…This meant informing and advising all farmers in the area for establishment of ecological compensation areas (an approach probably comparable with the high level stewardship schemes in the UK). This approach has previously shown success regarding moth conservation (Merckx et al 2009). …”

Section: Percentage Butterfly Flower Visits In Wildflower Stripsmentioning

confidence: 99%

What can sown wildflower strips contribute to butterfly conservation?: an example from a Swiss lowland agricultural landscape

Haaland¹,

Bersier²

2010

Lepidoptera Conservation in a Changing World

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The objective of this study was to compare butterfly abundances and diversity between wildflower strips and extensively used meadows to identify which butterfly species can be supported by establishing wildflower strips. Butterflies were recorded along transects during one season in twenty-five sown wildflower strips and eleven extensively used meadows in a Swiss lowland agricultural landscape (600 ha). In total 1,669 butterflies of 25 species were observed (25 in the strips, 18 in meadows). This can be related to 38 species recorded in the region (lowland part of Kanton Fribourg) within the Swiss Biodiversity Monitoring Programme. In wildflower strips the number of butterflies per transect meter was significantly higher than in the meadows, but there was no significant difference in species richness. Butterfly communities, though, were quite different between the two habitat types. Habitat type, abundances of flowering plants and presence of forest within 50 m were identified as factors influencing butterfly species richness. Butterfly abundances were affected by habitat type and abundance of flowering plants. In wildflower strips, 65% of all flower visits by butterflies were observed on Origanum. It can be concluded that sown wildflower strips can support a substantial part of a regions species pool. This is mostly true for common species, but can apply to rare species when, for example, larval food plant requirements are met.

show abstract

Optimizing the biodiversity gain from agri-environment schemes

Cited by 132 publications

References 36 publications

Noctuid moths as potential hybridization agents for Platanthera orchids

Noctuid moths as potential hybridization agents for Platanthera orchids

The use of hedgerows as flight paths by moths in intensive farmland landscapes

What can sown wildflower strips contribute to butterfly conservation?: an example from a Swiss lowland agricultural landscape

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About