Conservation implications of grazing practices on the plant and dipteran communities of a turlough in Co. Mayo, Ireland

Authors: C. Ryder¹; J. Moran¹; R. Donnell¹; M. Gormally²

Source: Biodiversity and Conservation, Volume 14, Number 1, January 2005 , pp. 187-204(18)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

Turloughs, which are classified as priority habitats under the European Habitats Directive, are seasonally flooded depressions found almost exclusively in Ireland. In 2001, three adjacent fields with different stocking densities were selected and plant/dipteran communities within the same vegetation zone of each field (site) were investigated using quadrats and sweep netting, respectively. There was a significant positive relationship between Diptera morphospecies richness/Diptera abundance and mean vegetation height (P < 0.001). However, no significant relationship between Diptera morphospecies richness and plant species richness was found. Median Diptera morphospecies richness per sweep was lower at the site with the highest stocking density (17) than at the other two sites (22 and 31, respectively). Total species richness of Sciomyzidae was greater at the least grazed site (7) than at the more heavily grazed sites (2 and 1, respectively). The results suggest that an evaluation of turlough management practices based on plant communities alone is not sufficient and that at least some areas within the turlough basin remain ungrazed on a rotational basis to ensure maximum diversity of Diptera.

Keywords: Diptera; Grazing; Karst; Management; Sciomyzidae; Turlough; Vegetation zone

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10531-005-5045-1

Affiliations: 1: Applied Ecology Unit, Centre for Environmental Science, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland, 2: Applied Ecology Unit, Centre for Environmental Science, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland, Email: mike.gormally@nuigalway.ie

Publication date: 2005-01-01