The Effects of Conservation Management of Reed Beds. I. The Invertebrates

1. A replicated experiment was done in plots in a stand of reed (Phragmites australis) which were cut, burnt or left unmanaged. Invertebrates in the soil were sampled by heat extraction and hand-sorting, and those above ground by water traps, dissection of reed stems and in situ counting. 2. Only a few families showed differences between treatments, and this number declined with time after treatment. After 1 year, no soil invertebrates and only a few families of above-ground invertebrates showed any significant treatment effects. 3. Most treatment effects were between the unmanaged control and both cut and burnt plots. A significant difference between cut and burnt treatments was recorded for only one family, with numbers lower in the cut plots. 4. Total number of invertebrates, species-richness, species diversity and evenness showed no relationship with treatment. 5. Many soil invertebrates were more abundant in drier parts of the reed bed, but there was no similar effect on above-ground invertebrates.