α- and β-diversity in moth communities in salt marshes is driven by grazing management

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Authors

This study evaluates the effects of long-term sheep grazing in salt marshes on the diversity of moths and derives conclusive management suggestions for the conservation of invertebrate diversity in salt marshes. Study sites were located on the Hamburger Hallig, on the Western coast of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Between 2006 and 2009, salt marshes that have been under four levels of livestock density (0, 1-2 sheep/ha, 3-4 sheep/ha, 10 sheep/ha) for over 20. years were sampled using light traps and photoeclectors. Plant and moth species richness were highest under low stocking densities, moth species richness, however, showed no difference between low stocking densities and abandonment. Species richness of moths was only weakly correlated with vegetation parameters (species richness, vegetation height, cover and litter). Using additive diversity partitioning we show that no single grazing treatment harbored all recorded moth species and that grazing increases habitat heterogeneity within each treatment. Additionally, we show that moths react more sensitively to grazing than plants, and that therefore assessments of plant species richness in salt marshes do not allow conclusions on invertebrate diversity. For the evaluation of salt-marsh diversity, a multi-species approach should be favored combining plant and invertebrate assessments. A mosaic of abandoned sites and sites with low and intermediate stocking densities would benefit moth diversity in salt-marsh conservation.

Original languageEnglish
JournalBiological Conservation
Volume146
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)24-31
Number of pages8
ISSN0006-3207
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 02.2012

    Research areas

  • Ecosystems Research
  • Additive diversity partitioning, GEE, Microlepidoptera, Plant diversity, Small scale, Vegetation structure

Recently viewed

Researchers

  1. Volker Birke

Publications

  1. Bat men begin
  2. Group-level physiological synchrony and individual-level anxiety predict positive affective behaviors during a group decision-making task
  3. Reconciling food security and biodiversity conservation
  4. How smart do you think you are?
  5. Wie geben Tutoren Feedback?
  6. Multiple forest structural elements are needed to promote beetle biomass, diversity and abundance
  7. Jane Essex, Inclusive and Accessibe Secondary Science: How to Teach Science Effectively to Students with Additional or Special Needs (Book Review)
  8. Active Citizenship in the Planning Process
  9. Einführung in die Philosophie des Mythos
  10. Analysis of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-induced modification of protein expression in primary hepatocytes from harbour seals
  11. Bridging Restoration Science and Practice
  12. Narrative Strukturen als "Sprungbrett" in die Schriftlichkeit?
  13. Soil and tree species traits both shape soil microbial communities during early growth of Chinese subtropical forests
  14. Heteroaggregation of titanium dioxide nanoparticles with model natural colloids under environmentally relevant conditions
  15. Introduction
  16. Special Issue: Habitual Action, Automaticity, and Control
  17. Geliebtes Geheimnis, das bin ja ich selbst
  18. Solid Sorption Refrigeration With Calcium Chloride Methanolates on Technical Scale
  19. Regionalism and Diffusion Revisited
  20. Saproxylic beetle assemblages in the Mediterranean region
  21. Feedstocks and analysis
  22. Special issue on Responsible Management Learning:
  23. Estimation of spatial distribution of wet deposition in Germany
  24. Framing climate uncertainty
  25. Reconceptualising Business-IT Alignment for Enabling Organisational Agility
  26. Herbivore and pathogen effects on tree growth are additive, but mediated by tree diversity and plant traits
  27. Tritheism
  28. Regulation of a servo piezo mechanical hydraulic actuator for intake valves in camless combustion engines