The Glen Finglas Projects is a large-scale and long-term experiment investigating the effects of four different grazing regimes, no grazing, high-stock sheep grazing, low-stock sheep grazing, and low-stock sheep mixed with cattle grazing (+ the occasional deer), on Scottish upland ecosystems. I was involved in the arthropod collection and sorting/identification process and I also designed and conducted a side project which investigated the grazing effects on ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae).
We found that whilst Auchenorrhyncha (leafhoppers and planthoppers) abundances were significantly higher in ungrazed plots , the effect was the opposite on ground beetles, which had their lowest abundances in ungrazed plots .

Pozsgai, G., Quinzo-Ortega, L., & Littlewood, N. A. (2021). Grazing impacts on ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) abundance and diversity on semi-natural grassland. Insect Conservation and Diversity, 15(1), 36–47. https://doi.org/10.1111/icad.12533 Cite
Littlewood, N. A., Pakeman, R. J., & Pozsgai, G. (2012). Grazing impacts on Auchenorrhyncha diversity and abundance on a Scottish upland estate. Insect Conservation and Diversity, 5(1), 67–74. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-4598.2011.00135.x Cite
Scottish Blackface sheep watching on green upland grassland
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