Research Article

Flower Density Is More Important Than Habitat Type for Increasing Flower Visiting Insect Diversity

Table 1

Description of the eight sites used within the study, highlighting the name given, location, habitat type, and a description of the dominant plant species present within each site.

SiteLocation
(British National Grid)
Habitat area
(hectares)
Description

Flower Rich
(FR)
NZ29350 BNG896850.55Well drained, poor quality soil. Flowering species such as Lotus corniculatus (Birds foot Trefoil), Trifolium pratense (Red clover), and Dactylorhiza incarnata (Marsh orchid) present
Mown Grassland
(MG)
NZ29674 BNG892050.30Lawn areas regularly mown and dominated by Taraxacum officinale (Dandelions), Bellis perennis (daisies). Backing onto long unmanaged grassland surrounded by farmland
New Hedge
(NH)
NZ29741 BNG891910.20Running alongside wheat field. Consisting of Rosa canina (dogrose), crataegus sp. (hawthorn), Prunus spinosa (blackthorn), and Rubus fruticosus (blackberry)
Old Hedge
(OH)
NZ28918 BNG896850.20Single species hedge hawthorn, bordering Brassica napus (oil seed rape) field, with weed species such as Matricaria discoidea (pineapple weed) and Leucanthemum vulgare (oxeye daisy) in the field no flowering plants in the field margin
Plantation Woodland
(Pl)
NZ29135 BNG897030.62Urtica dioica (Nettles) as understory plants, 2 m separated poplar trees with occasional Acer pseudoplatanus (sycamore), Quercus robur (oak), and Sorbus aria (whitebeam)
Pond
(Po)
NZ29384 BNG892780.55Pond surrounded by Vicia sativa (vetches), Anthriscus cerefolium (chervil), Oenanthe crocata (Dropwort water hemlock), Rubus sp. (blackberry), and Centaurea nigra (common knapweed)
Ridge and Furrow Grassland
(RF)
NZ29001 BNG896710.60Heracleum sphondylium (Hogweed) dominated grassland with tall dominant grasses such as Elymus repens (couch grass) and Arrhenatherum elatius (false oat grass) surrounded by farmland
Woodhorn Woodland
(WW)
NZ29079 BNG896160.55Older woodland trees including A. pseudoplatanus and Q. robur, with an understory of Hyacinthoides nonscripta (bluebells), Galanthus sp. (snowdrops), and Rubus sp. (blackberry)