Grassland Management Affects Vegetation Structure, Bats and Their Beetle Prey

Abstract

Agricultural grasslands provide vital habitats for many species. Yet despite representing a significant proportion of European land use, they are disproportionately understudied compared to arable systems. Increases in productivity and intensification have led to changes in management practices, which are likely to affect grassland habitats and the ecological communities that they support. This study simultaneously monitored three trophic levels to assess the impacts of permanent versus temporary pasture (leys) on vegetation composition, carabid and dung beetle abundance, and the activity of beetle-feeding bats. Leys had lower abundances of soil-inhabiting dung beetles, which may be explained by the more recent exposure to tilling compared with permanent pasture. Beetle-feeding bat activity was also greater in leys, with positive relationships between E. serotinus activity and Onthophagus abundance across both pasture types. However, the lack of any positive relationships between beetle-feeding bat activity and Aphodius, a well-known prey genus, suggests that other key prey orders (Lepidoptera) may be of more influence on bat activity. As well as the management of pasture, differences in cattle management between pasture types can have a significant impact on vegetation and soil structure, which influence invertebrate communities and potentially dictate habitat suitability for bats.

Foraging Time and Temperature Affected Birth Timing of Rhinolophus ferrumequinum and Predicted Year-To-Year Changes for 25 Years in a Population in West Wales, U.K.

“…The Stackpole SAC does not include ley farms that cultivate grasses and legumes in short term rotation of 2-5 years to improve soil fertility. Beetle species have been found in leys but there was a negative relationship between R. ferrumequinum activity and Aphodius and Onthophagus abundance (Anderson et al, 2020). However, that study may not have included late summer and when juvenile R. ferrumequinum forage and Aphodius is the preferred prey (Ransome, 1997a).…”