Contributions of early and late cover provision to the abundance and diversity of invertebrate prey for Corncrakes ( Crex crex )

Abstract In Ireland, Corncrakes ( Crex crex ) have declined drastically over recent decades. To combat their decline, conservation measures such as delayed mowing and the creation of early and late cover (ELC) have been established in grasslands throughout their range. The contributions of ELC to successful Corncrake breeding are understood; however, there is a lack of knowledge on how this cover influences ground‐dwelling invertebrates. In this study, we used a field‐based approach to explore the influence of ELC on the diversity and abundance of ground‐dwelling invertebrates with a particular emphasis on important prey for Corncrakes. We used mixed models to explore differences in invertebrate abundances between ELC, natural regeneration cover and the surrounding farmland (SFL) throughout the Corncrakes' breeding season. ELC supported a significantly higher abundance of prey for Corncrakes, especially during the early and later stages of the breeding season than both the natural regeneration cover and SFL. Practical implication. Our study highlights the positive contributions of ELC to the abundance of prey for Corncrakes. For future management, ELC should continue to be established and managed across the Corncrakes breeding range in Ireland. Furthermore, natural regeneration areas should be managed to create more open heterogeneous swards to benefit both Corncrakes and prey alike.