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Woodcock, B.A.; Weites, M.G.; Freeman, M.; Bullock, J.M.

Insect and plant data from calcareous grassland restoration sites in southern England, 2021

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This dataset is under embargo and will be made available by 1 August 2025 at the latest   Find out more »

https://doi.org/10.5285/552977d4-b9aa-4932-a055-5ea3bdf16d56
The dataset contains monitoring data for plants (surveyed using quadrats), sward insects (surveyed using suction samplers), insect pollinators (surveyed using transects) and sward structure (surveyed using drop disk height) across 60 calcareous grassland restoration sites from southern England and a further six wildcard sites made up of ancient grasslands and rewilding sites in 2021. Information on site management during the sampling year are also included as well as the historic age of the restoration site.

Data were collected with the goal of understanding changes in the complexity of plant and invertebrate communities during grasslands restoration with a focus on the effects of duration of restoration.
Publication date: 2024-11-05
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More information

View numbers valid from 05 November 2024 (information prior to this was not collected)

Format

Comma-separated values (CSV)

Spatial information

Study area
Spatial representation type
Tabular (text)
Spatial reference system
WGS 84

Temporal information

Temporal extent
2021-01-01    to    2021-12-31
Temporal resolution
1 day

Provenance & quality

On each site a sampling area was established of c. 100 x 100 m in the centre of the restoration field. All sampling occurred in 2021. Data processing and lab-based identification continued into 2023. For plant monitoring, thirteen 0.5 X 0.5 m quadrats were undertaken. The presence or absence of all plant species found within the quadrat was recorded (All dicotyledons and monocots will be recorded). Bryophytes were recorded as a whole group. Sward height was measured in 40 locations using a drop disk. This was repeated in June and August. A vortis suction sampler was used to sample sward active invertebrates on two sample dates. Invertebrates were identified to the highest taxonomic resolution practical with a focus on beetles, plant hoppers, true bugs and spiders. This was repeated in June and August. To monitor pollinators, a 50 x 2 m transect was walked in June and August. Transects were assessed in dry and calm weather conditions during between 10:00 and 16:00 with temperatures above 15 C. Pollinators were identified to species were practical. Associations with foraging plants were recorded. Site location was recorded using GPS. Information on site management and history (including site age) was recorded based on management agreements for agri-environment schemes. Surrounding land use cover was recorded based on the UKCEH Landcover Map.

Nature and units of recorded variables can be found within supporting documentation.

All field workers were either experts with a long track record of pollinator identification or underwent extensive training. Questionable specimens were collected for subsequent identification under laboratory conditions. Data was collected in the field using pre-prepared data sheets. Data sheets were checked both visually and following data entry into digital format by confirming where outlier abundances (>2SD from mean) were found that these were consistent with raw field data sheets.

Not all identifications are to species level with this varying depending on taxonomic expertise.

Licensing and constraints

This dataset is under embargo and will be made available by 1 August 2025 at the latest   Find out more »

This dataset will be available under the terms of the Open Government Licence

Cite this dataset as:
Woodcock, B.A.; Weites, M.G.; Freeman, M.; Bullock, J.M. (2024). Insect and plant data from calcareous grassland restoration sites in southern England, 2021. NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/552977d4-b9aa-4932-a055-5ea3bdf16d56

Correspondence/contact details

Woodcock, B.A.
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Maclean Building, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford
Wallingford
Oxfordshire
OX10 8BB
UNITED KINGDOM
 enquiries@ceh.ac.uk

Authors

Woodcock, B.A.
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Weites, M.G.
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Freeman, M.
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Bullock, J.M.
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

Other contacts

Rights holder
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Custodian
NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre
 info@eidc.ac.uk
Publisher
NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre
 info@eidc.ac.uk

Additional metadata

Topic categories
biota
INSPIRE theme
Species Distribution
Keywords
bee , Biodiversity , butterfly , calcareous , England , environmental restoration , insect , permanent grassland , Pollinators , recreation , RestREco
Funding
Natural Environment Research Council Award: NE/V006525/1
Last updated
14 November 2024 12:55