Effects of sheep grazing on invertebrates

The aim is to determine the effect of different levels of sheep grazing on populations and communities of invertebrates.

Summer 2002, the English volunteer Chris Peters did field work for this part (sweep netting). In 2003, Ragnar Aaserud collected data (pitfall traps) to his Master thesis. Collection of data was done close to the permanent vegetation plots - so we can asssess the relative importance of vegetation and sheep grazing.

Pitfall trap ("barberfelle").

Chris with sweep net.

Data from Chris Peters field work are presented in:

Mysterud, A., Hansen, L.O., Peters, C., and Austrheim, G. 2005. The short-term effect of sheep grazing on selected invertebrates (Diptera and Hemiptera) relative to other environmental factors in an alpine ecosystem. Journal of Zoology 266: 411-418. [pdf] 

Data from Ragnar Aaserud's field work are presented in:

Mysterud, A., Aaserud, R., Hansen, L.O., Åkra, K., Olberg, S., and Austrheim, G. 2010. Large herbivore grazing and invertebrates in an alpine ecosystem. Basic and Applied Ecology 11: 320-328.