How differential habitat management of Pteridium

How differential habitat management of Pteridium aquilinum slopes on Dartmoor affects use by Argynnis adippe, Argynnis aglaja, Boloria euphrosyne and Boloria selene butterflies. Hannah Gardner. This study investigates the effect of the differential Pteridium aquilinum (bracken) cutting regimes on vegetation composition and use by Argynnis adippe (high brown fritillary), Argynnis aglaja (dark green fritillary), Boloria euphrosyne (pearl-bordered fritillary), and Boloria selene (small pearl-bordered fritillary) at Aish Tor, Dartmoor. The aim of the study is to identify significant differences between the regimes of cut, in: 1) winter only, 2) winter and summer once, 3) winter and summer twice and 4) uncut. From the findings of this study future management options are suggested. Vegetation composition was investigated using sub-divided quadrats to acquire; frequency of occurrence of plant litter layer, P.aquilinum fronds, Viola spp., fine- and broad-leaved grasses and other plant species. Plant litter layer depth and P.aquilinum height were also obtained. A comparison of numbers and behaviour (basking, fly-though, nectaring and mating behaviour) of each species between habitat management regimes was made. Comparisons of environmental conditions (litter layer light levels, litter temperature and ground moisture) were also conducted. All differences between habitat management regimes were then analysed using Kruskal-wallis tests. For all vegetation parameters measured (as listed above), under analysis, significant differences between habitat management regimes were found. There were no significant differences found in numbers or behaviour between habitat management regimes for B.euphrosyne, B.selene or A.aglaja. There were significant differences in numbers recorded (