EFFECTS OF MANAGEMENT-PRACTICES ON THE CARABID FAUNAS OF NEWLY ESTABLISHED WILDFLOWER MEADOWS IN SOUTHERN SCOTLAND

The replacement of perennial ryegrass with broad-leaved wildflower swa rds has been suggested as a means of achieving an increase in diversit y, but in order to assess the value of these swards as wildlife habita ts, it is necessary to determine how the invertebrate fauna is affecte d by their establishment and by subsequent management practices. The c arabid faunas of nine sites of varying sward type and management pract ices were analysed in 1989 and 1993. Management had a detrimental effe ct especially on the larger species, and tended to favour those specie s preferring drier conditions. The wildflower swards did support a mor e diverse carabid fauna, but with no sign of any reestablishment of th e natural fauna found in unmanaged habitats in the same area. Recoloni sation by this fauna, if possible at all, is Likely to take considerab ly longer than five years.