Coastal meadows as pastures for beef cattle

Niemelä, Matti; Huuskonen, Arto; Jaakola, Sari; Joki‐Tokola, Erkki; Hyvärinen, Marko

doi:10.1016/j.agee.2007.09.009

Cited by 12 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Grazing should not start later than mid‐June to ensure high‐forage quality (Niemelä et al. ). This conflict could be avoided by the early grazing only taking place in those areas that are least suitable for the managed species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The most suitable time for initiating grazing for beef production at our study area would be late May (i.e., mid-breeding season for dunlin and most other meadow birds), which means that there is a strong conflict of interest between conservation goals and the benefits of cattle owners. Grazing should not start later than mid-June to ensure high-forage quality (Niemel€ a et al 2008). This conflict could be avoided by the early grazing only taking place in those areas that are least suitable for the managed species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Grazed wet meadows are sink habitats for the southern dunlin (Calidris alpina schinzii) due to nest trampling by cattle

Pakanen

Aikio

Luukkonen

et al. 2016

Ecology and Evolution

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The effect of habitat management is commonly evaluated by measuring population growth, which does not distinguish changes in reproductive success from changes in survival or the effects of immigration or emigration. Management has rarely been evaluated considering complete life cycle of the target organisms, including also possible negative impacts from management. We evaluated the effectiveness of cattle grazing in the restoration of coastal meadows as a breeding habitat for small and medium‐sized ground‐nesting birds by examining the size and demography of a southern dunlin (Calidris alpina schinzii) breeding population. Using a stochastic renesting model that includes within‐season variation in breeding parameters, we evaluated the effect of grazing time and stocking rates on reproduction. The census data indicated that the population was stable when nest trampling was prevented, but detailed demographic models showed that the population on managed meadows was a sink that persisted by attracting immigrants. Even small reductions in reproductive success caused by trampling were detrimental to long‐term viability. We suggest that the best management strategy is to postpone grazing to after the 19th of June, which is about three weeks later than what is optimal from the farmer's point of view. The differing results from the two evaluation approaches warn against planning and evaluating management only based on census population size and highlight the need to consider target‐specific life history characteristics and demography. Even though grazing management is crucial for creating and maintaining suitable habitats, we found that it was insufficient in maintaining a viable population without additional measures that increase nest success. In the presently studied case and in populations with similar breeding cycles, impacts from nest trampling can be avoided by starting grazing when about 70% of the breeding season has past.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Grazed wet meadows are sink habitats for the southern dunlin (Calidris alpina schinzii) due to nest trampling by cattle

Pakanen

Aikio

Luukkonen

et al. 2016

Ecology and Evolution

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…They have been pushed outside modern production systems and are prone to abandonment under most policy and market scenarios, as many examples above illustrate. Many semi-natural grasslands can be incorporated into production (e.g., Niemelä et al, 2008) but this often requires investment and re-arrangement of farm operations -both issues only marginally addressed by policy changes. Interdisciplinary research is crucial here (Table 1).…”

Section: Implications For Future Changementioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological impacts of early 21st century agricultural change in Europe – A review

Stoate

Báldi

Beja

et al. 2009

Journal of Environmental Management

1,088

671

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“…Elevation did not explain trampling probabilities probably because variance in nest elevation was low and most natural (and consequently artificial) nests were situated in dry parts of the meadow. Additionally, productivity of the coastal meadows at Bothnian Bay are many times lower than in temperate salt marshes in Europe (Niemelä et al 2008), which may affect cattle behaviour, and hence trampling rates.…”

Section: Trampling Ratesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nest predation and trampling as management risks in grazed coastal meadows

2011

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Livestock grazing is an important management tool of agri-environment schemes initiated within the European Union to maintain and restore biodiversity of grassland birds. However, grazing can affect bird populations negatively by depressing reproduction through nest trampling and increasing nest predation. These effects are, however, considered low when using recommended stocking rates. By simulating wader nests, we experimentally quantify and examine the causes of variation in trampling rates on managed Baltic coastal meadows. Secondly, we examine whether livestock presence increases nest predation of one management target, the critically endangered southern dunlin (Calidris alpina schinzii). Trampling rates of experimental nests were high. Only 21% of nests would have survived a three week incubating period early in the grazing season. Trampling rates were most severe at the onset of grazing and decreased with time. Thus, timing of grazing plays a crucial role in determining breeding success on managed meadows. Predation rates of dunlin nests were moderate and did not depend on livestock presence suggesting that incubating dunlin are not disturbed by cattle. While grazing is vital in habitat restoration and in conserving grassland biodiversity, our results suggest that grazing may also threaten the viability of populations if negative effects are underestimated. Therefore, management plans, especially for endangered species, should not only rely on general recommendations on stocking rates but instead planners need to evaluate the significance of negative effects in terms of local conditions (timing of breeding and grazing, space use of cattle and birds, measured trampling rates) and adjust grazing practises accordingly.

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Coastal meadows as pastures for beef cattle

Cited by 12 publications

References 22 publications

Grazed wet meadows are sink habitats for the southern dunlin (Calidris alpina schinzii) due to nest trampling by cattle

Grazed wet meadows are sink habitats for the southern dunlin (Calidris alpina schinzii) due to nest trampling by cattle

Ecological impacts of early 21st century agricultural change in Europe – A review

Nest predation and trampling as management risks in grazed coastal meadows

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