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Effect of soil conditions and landscape factors on macro-snail communities in newly created grasslands of restored landfill sites in the UK

Rahman, M. L., Tarrant, S., Ollerton, J. and McCollin, D. (2016) Effect of soil conditions and landscape factors on macro-snail communities in newly created grasslands of restored landfill sites in the UK. Zoology and Ecology. 26(4) 2165-8005.

Item Type: Article
Abstract: Though restored landfill sites provide habitat for a number of taxa, their potential for land snail remains unexplored. In this study, large-sized land snails (> 5 mm) were surveyed using transect sampling on nine restored landfill sites and nine corresponding nature sites in the East Midlands region of the UK during 2008. The effect of restoration was investigated by examining land snail species composition, richness, and diversity (Shannon Weiner index) in relation to habitat and landscape structure. Thirteen macro-snail species were found in total and rarefied species richness and diversity on restored landfill sites was not found to be statistically different to that of reference sites. One third of the snail species, comprising 30% of total abundance, found in the restored landfill sites were non-native species introduced to the UK. Soil electrical conductivity was the strongest predictor for richness and diversity of land snails. Road density was found to have a positive influence on snail species diversity. Given the high percentage of introduced species detected further research is needed in terms of the management implications of restored landfill sites and the dynamics of native versus non-native species.
Uncontrolled Keywords: Landfill, restoration ecology, Mollusca, land snail, waste ground, restoration, grassland
Creators: Rahman, Md Lutfor, Tarrant, Sam, Ollerton, Jeff and McCollin, Duncan
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes: Faculties > Faculty of Arts, Science & Technology > Environmental Science
Date: 12 August 2016
Date Type: Publication
Journal or Publication Title: Zoology and Ecology
Volume: 26
Number: 4
Language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/21658005.2016.1216102
ISSN: 2165-8005
Status: Published / Disseminated
Refereed: Yes
URI: http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/10686

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