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Butterflies and bumblebees in greenways and sown wildflower strips in southern Sweden

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Abstract

Greenways have recently been established in some intensively farmed areas of South Sweden in order to enhance recreation opportunities and biodiversity, but the effects of these green structures on biodiversity have not yet been determined. In this study, greenways and experimental sown wildflower strips were investigated for butterfly and bumblebee diversity. In total, 1,769 butterflies of 18 species and 1,216 foraging bumblebees of eight species were recorded. Sown wildflower strips proved to support much higher abundances and species numbers of butterflies and bumblebees than greenways, with 86% of all butterflies and 83% of all bumblebees being observed in the sown flower strips. However, in both types of green structure mostly common species were found. Counts of flower visits showed that Knautia, Centaurea and Cirsium were the most commonly visited plant species. The greenways studied did not seem to fulfil their function of enhancing biodiversity—at least not for butterflies and bumblebees. However, these greenways could easily be improved for common bumblebee and butterfly species by sowing wildflower strips along their margins.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Louis Félix Bersier for help with the correspondence analysis. This study was financed by the Swedish Research Council FORMAS (project number 2006–2043).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Landscape Management, Design & Construction, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 66, 230 53, Alnarp, Sweden

    Christine Haaland

  2. Work Science, Business Economics and Environmental Psychology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 88, 230 53, Alnarp, Sweden

    Mats Gyllin

Authors
  1. Christine Haaland
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  2. Mats Gyllin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Christine Haaland.

Appendix 1

Appendix 1

List of butterfly species observed (including one day flying moth, Zygaena filipendula).

  • Aglais urticae

  • Aphantopus hyperantus

  • Araschnia levana

  • Argynnis paphia

  • Cupido minimus

  • Coenonympha pamphilus

  • Cynthia cardui

  • Goneptery rhamni

  • Inachis io

  • Lycaena phlaeas

  • Maniola jurtina

  • Ochlodes venatus

  • Pieris napi

  • Pieris rapae

  • Polyommatus icarus

  • Thymelicus lineola

  • Vanessa atalanta

  • Zygaena filipendulae

List of bumblebee species observed.

  • Bombus hortorum

  • Bombus lapidarius

  • Bombus pascuorum

  • Bombus subterraneus

  • Bombus terrestris/lucorum

  • Psithyrus bohemicus

  • Psithyrus norvegicus

  • Psithyrus rupestris

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Haaland, C., Gyllin, M. Butterflies and bumblebees in greenways and sown wildflower strips in southern Sweden. J Insect Conserv 14, 125–132 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-009-9232-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-009-9232-3

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