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Nichols, R.; Holland, J.M.; Goulson, D.

Insect visitations to wildflower seed mix trials on farms in West Sussex and Oxfordshire from 2019-2021

https://doi.org/10.5285/ca785f4c-5e45-4743-83bb-e30dd620de2e
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This dataset is available under the terms of the Open Government Licence

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The dataset contains information about insect visitations to flowers growing in seed mix trial plots on two farms, one in West Sussex, and one in Oxfordshire. The data was collected during the spring and summer seasons of 2019, 2020, and 2021. Seed mix trial plots were walked centrally and insects visiting flowers in the plots were recorded, and where possible, identified to genus or species level.

The work was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (NE/P009972/1)
Publication date: 2022-08-04
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More information

View numbers valid from 01 June 2023 Download numbers valid from 20 June 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
OSGB 1936 / British National Grid

Temporal information

Temporal extent
2019-01-01    to    2021-12-31

Provenance & quality

Plots were marked out and seed mixes sown in 2018. The plots were then surveyed for insects visiting flowers growing in the plots in 2019, 2020, and 2021. Insect visitations to flowers were recorded in the field. Flower species being visited was identified. The insect was allocated to a “group” and then further identified to species level where possible. If a bee or hoverfly specimen could not be identified to species level in the field, where possible, it was caught, and then identified in the laboratory under a dissecting microscope. All insects seen on each plot during in each survey were then entered into an excel spreadsheet, using a combination of paper notes from the field, and laboratory notes of species.

Licensing and constraints

This dataset is available under the terms of the Open Government Licence

Cite this dataset as:
Nichols, R.; Holland, J.M.; Goulson, D. (2022). Insect visitations to wildflower seed mix trials on farms in West Sussex and Oxfordshire from 2019-2021. NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/ca785f4c-5e45-4743-83bb-e30dd620de2e

Citations

Nichols, R.N., Holland, J.M., & Goulson, D. (2022). A novel farmland wildflower seed mix attracts a greater abundance and richness of pollinating insects than standard mixes. Insect Conservation and Diversity, 16(2), 190-204 https://doi.org/10.1111/icad.12624

Correspondence/contact details

Nichols, R.
University of Sussex
 r.nichols@sussex.ac.uk

Authors

Nichols, R.
University of Sussex
Holland, J.M.
Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust
Goulson, D.
University of Sussex

Other contacts

Rights holder
University of Sussex
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
Habitats and Biotopes
Keywords
agri-environment , foraging , insects , pollinators , Seed mix , wild bees , wildflower
Funding
Natural Environment Research Council Award: NE/P009972/1
Last updated
21 March 2025 09:38