Modelling the effects of mowing regimes on arthropod abundance in grasslands of Lüneburg 1.0.0
This NetLogo model simulates the impact of mowing frequency, mower type and the percentage of refuge strips on the abundance of arthropods in managed grasslands. It represents five functional arthropod groups: holometabolous plant-dwelling arthropods (HoP, represented by butterflies); holometabolous ground-dwelling arthropods (HoG, represented by ants); nesting pollinators (NP, represented by bees); hemimetabolous plant-dwelling arthropods (HeP, represented by grasshoppers); and ground-resident arthropods (GR, represented by spiders). Three mowing frequencies are simulated: intensive (four mowings per year), intermediate (two mowings per year) and extensive (one mowing per year). Bar and disc mowers differ in their effects on arthropod mortality and vegetation height. Refuge strip coverage can be set to 0%, 10% or 20%. Arthropod abundance changes over time through movement, reproduction, natural mortality, mower-related mortality and vegetation regrowth.
Release Notes
First release of the model, including source code and term paper