Transfer of invertebrates with hay during restoration operations of extensively managed grasslands in Switzerland.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Hay transfer from a speciose donor meadow to a species-poor receiver grassland is an established method to restore species-rich grassland plant communities. However, it has rarely been investigated to which extent invertebrates can be transferred with hay during such operations, which was the aim of this study.

Methods

Sampling was conducted in eight sites of the Swiss lowlands with one donor meadow and two receiver sites each. On the receiver sites, three to four white bed sheets of one square meter each were deployed on the ground to receive a standard quantity of fresh hay just transferred from the donor meadow. All living invertebrates were collected from these sheets with an aspirator and subsequently identified to order level.

Results

On average (±

SUBMITTER: Stockli A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7882554 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature