3 research outputs found
Diversity, abundance, and distribution of ground invertebrates in Lower Sharpham Farm
Invertebrates constitute the largest group of animals on Earth and represent the bulk of
biodiversity. They are responsible for numerous essential ecosystems services and are at
the centre of many terrestrial food webs. Due to habitat loss from land use change and
conversion to intensive agriculture, they are experiencing a substantial decline in
biodiversity, hence conservation approaches such as rewilding have been sought. There are
limited studies of invertebrate biodiversity in rewilding projects, therefore the aim of this
study is to investigate the diversity and abundance of ground invertebrates at Lower
Sharpham Farm and the influences of vegetation structure in a rewilded field and a farmed
field. 18 pitfall traps were installed in each field divided into 3 groups of 6 and were left
outside for 5 days. After collection, 856 invertebrates were found and identified in the
laboratory. During that period, a vegetation survey was also carried out. Results within
rewilded field indicate that group 1 showed to have a higher invertebrate abundance (n=205)
and species richness (n=15) with higher biodiversity index (H=1.88). Results within farmed
field indicate that the area in group 1 showed to have a higher invertebrate abundance
(n=124) while group 3 had a higher species richness (n=13) with a higher biodiversity index
result (H=2.12). Results between fields comparison indicate that rewilded fields increase
invertebrate abundance (n=559), though grazing in farmed fields has little effect on
invertebrate richness but decreases abundance (n=297). Farmed field had a slightly higher
biodiversity index result (H=1.87) compared to rewilded field (H=1.82) due to the high
dominance of springtails (Entomobryomorpha). This study determines that rewilding works
as a tool for promoting invertebrate abundance and that organic farms have a positive
impact on invertebrate diversity. Overall, long-term regular monitoring is needed to evaluate
the success of rewilding for biodiversity overtime. The outcomes of the study not only
evidence the importance of rewilding for invertebrate conservation but also the importance of
low intensive agriculture practices for biodiversity