The Glen Finglas Grazing Experiment

The Scottish uplands have been shaped by grazing livestock over many centuries.  Recent changes in livestock numbers have sparked questions about likely impacts on biodiversity and trophic interactions. For example, will the 22% reduction in the Scottish sheep flock between 1998 and 2006 bring about changes in the vegetation which may have significant knock-on impacts for the ecosystem?

In 2002 we started a large-scale experiment to assess the impacts of grazing management on vegetation, invertebrates, rodents and moorland birds. So far we have seen changes in bird and invertebrate numbers and changes in vegetation structure. The experiment is continuing to see if these changes are long-term or if they are impacted by the slower changes in vegetation composition.

Contact: Dr. Nick Littlewood