BIOMETRICS & PARTRIDGES - SUSSEX STUDY – LONG-TERM INSECT TRENDS | Figure 2a Aphids Plant bugs
Sawfly larvae & caterpillars
Leaf beetles & weevils
Ground & click beetles
Spiders & harvestmen -100% -80% -60% -40% -20% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% Figure 2b Aphids Plant bugs
Sawfly larvae & caterpillars
Leaf beetles & weevils
Ground & click beetles
Spiders & harvestmen -100% -50% 0% 50% 100% 150% 200%
management, two groups of chick-food invertebrates significantly increased on the managed area, plant bugs (44% increase) and leaf beetles and weevils (81% increase). The increase in plant bugs was significantly higher on the managed area than on the remainder of the study area. The change in numbers of sawfly larvae and caterpil- lars on the managed area was significantly higher than the continual decline seen on the remainder of the study area, although the increase of this group after manage- ment began (25%) was not significant. However, both aphids and ground and click beetles continued to decline on both the managed area (-49% in both cases) and the remainder of the study area (-36% and -46%, respectively). In summary, changes in the numbers of invertebrates on the Sussex Study area
underline the importance of farm intensification on these important components of the cereal ecosystem. Efforts to restore grey partridge numbers have resulted in signif- icant improvements in some invertebrates important in chick diets. Counteracting the long-term declines in invertebrate abundance since the 1970s is not an easy task but is possible with the grit and determination of landowners, their teams on the ground and Government support through agri-environment schemes that have options directed towards improving resources for cereal invertebrates.
www.gwct.org.uk +++
Percentage change in the abundance of chick food invertebrate groups (with 95% confi- dence intervals) on the area managed for grey partridge conservation and the remainder of the Sussex Study area after grey partridge management began 2003-2015
+++
Significant changes are where the 95% confidence intervals do not overlap zero. Significant differences between the managed area and the remainder of the Sussex Study are indicated by +++
Remainder Managed
Percentage change in the abundance of chick food invertebrate groups (with 95% confi- dence intervals) on the area managed for grey partridge conservation and the remainder of the Sussex Study area before grey partridge management began 1970-2002
Remainder Managed
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We would like to thank all of the farmers, land managers and gamekeepers who have allowed us access to their land and shared their management information with us – the Sussex Study could not exist without their support.
GAME & WILDLIFE REVIEW 2016 | 37
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