Livestock density affects species richness and community composition of butterflies: A nationwide study.

ABSTRACT: Extensively managed grasslands are globally recognized for their high biodiversity value. Over the past century, a continuous loss and degradation of grassland habitats has been observed across Europe that is mainly attributable to agricultural intensification and land abandonment. Particularly insects have suffered from the loss of grassland habitats due to land-use change and the decrease in habitat quality, either due to an increase in livestock density, higher mowing frequency, and an increase in nitrogen fertilization, or by abandonment. However, only a few studies have used nationwide datasets to analyse the effects of land cover and land-use intensity on insects. It further remains largely unexplored how these effects are modulated by species traits, i.e. habitat specialisation and

SUBMITTER: Kasiske T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9904221 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature