The density of redshank Tringa totanus breeding on the salt-marshes of the Wash in relation to habitat and its grazing management.

Published online
19 Sep 1997
Content type
Journal article
Journal title
Journal of Applied Ecology
DOI
10.2307/2405289

Author(s)
Norris, K. & Cook, T. & O'Dowd, B. & Durdin, C.

Publication language
English
Location
UK

Abstract

Coastal salt-marshes in Great Britain are of both national and international significance for their breeding redshank Tringa totanus populations. These habitats are currently under threat, as a result of habitat loss due to erosion and changes in the use of salt-marshes for grazing livestock. The application of 'soft engineering' methods to coast protection and sea defence work, and the development of management plans for estuaries, offer mechanisms to create and manage salt-marsh habitats suitable for breeding redshank. The relationship between the density of breeding redshank, the extent of different salt-marsh habitats and their grazing management was investigated. A survey of redshank breeding on a sample of 50 salt-marsh plots from 19 sites located in the Wash in eastern England was conducted. Multiple regression modelling revealed that redshank densities were positively correlated with the extent of the sea-couch grass (Elymus pycnanthus [E. atherica]) community on survey plots, but the form of this relationship varied in relation to grazing intensity. On heavily grazed plots, breeding density increased significantly more rapidly as the extent of the sea-couch grass community increased, compared with ungrazed plots. The rate of increase on moderately grazed plots was intermediate. Breeding densities were also negatively correlated with the extent of the glasswort (Salicornia) and annual sea-blite (Suaeda maritima) community, although the form of this relationship appeared unaffected by the intensity of grazing. Redshank densities also varied significantly between sites, in addition to any variation attributable to habitat or grazing. It is suggested that the relationship between the extent of the sea-couch grass community and redshank density, under different grazing intensities, could be explained by variation in vegetation structure. Heavily grazed plots, dominated by the sea-couch grass community, supported the most structurally diverse vegetation, and the highest breeding densities. In contrast, ungrazed plots of similar habitat contained tall, uniform vegetation and supported significantly lower breeding densities. Grazing salt-marsh sites dominated by sea-couch grass on the Wash is beneficial to breeding redshank. This means that current grazing practices should be maintained at such sites and grazing re-introduced to sites which were formerly grazed. The density of cattle on the Wash is ∼1 cow per hectare of grazed salt-marsh, suggesting that this level of grazing pressure would be most appropriate. Caution is required, however, if sites dominated by lower salt-marsh habitats are grazed, because any slight increase in breeding density resulting from grazing might be offset by an increased risk of nest loss due to trampling. In this case, cattle should, if possible, be put on to the marsh towards the end of the redshank nesting season (i.e. late May/early June) to minimize this trampling risk.

Key words