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Chong H, Zhu Y, Lai Q, Wu S, Jiang T, Zhang D, Xiao H. Response of Spider and Epigaeic Beetle Assemblages to Overwinter Planting Regimes and Surrounding Landscape Compositions. INSECTS 2023; 14:951. [PMID: 38132624 PMCID: PMC10744018 DOI: 10.3390/insects14120951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The rotation patterns of summer rice-winter oil seed rape and summer rice-winter fallow are the main planting regimes in the rice ecosystem in southern China. However, the impact of local rotation patterns and landscape factors on the overwintering conservation of predators in spider and epigaeic beetle assemblages remains poorly understood. Here, we investigate the diversity and density of spiders and beetles over two consecutive winters (2019/2020 and 2020/2021), focusing on the impact of two rotation patterns (rice-fallow and rice-oilseed rape) and surrounding landscape compositions on predator diversity. The main findings of our research were that spiders were more abundant and had a higher activity density in the fallow rice fields (FRs) compared to the oilseed rape fields (OSRs), whereas ground beetles exhibited the opposite pattern. Specifically, fallow rice fields supported small and ballooning spiders (e.g., dominant spider: Ummeliata insecticeps), while OSRs supported larger ground beetles (e.g., dominant beetles: Agonum chalcomus and Pterostichus liodactylus). Moreover, the composition of spider assemblages were impacted by semi-natural habitats (SNHs) during overwintering, while ground beetle assemblages were influenced by overwinter planting patterns. Overall, our results suggest that different planting regimes and preserving semi-natural habitats are a strategic way to enhance species diversity and functional diversity of ground predators. It is, therefore, recommended that to conserve and improve predator diversity during overwintering, land managers and farmers should aim to maintain diverse planting regimes and conserve local semi-natural habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hainan Chong
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China;
- Institute of Entomology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (Y.Z.); (Q.L.); (S.W.); (T.J.)
| | - Yulin Zhu
- Institute of Entomology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (Y.Z.); (Q.L.); (S.W.); (T.J.)
- Institute of Biological Resources, Jiangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanchang 330096, China
| | - Qian Lai
- Institute of Entomology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (Y.Z.); (Q.L.); (S.W.); (T.J.)
| | - Song Wu
- Institute of Entomology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (Y.Z.); (Q.L.); (S.W.); (T.J.)
| | - Ting Jiang
- Institute of Entomology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (Y.Z.); (Q.L.); (S.W.); (T.J.)
| | - Dandan Zhang
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China;
| | - Haijun Xiao
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China;
- Institute of Entomology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (Y.Z.); (Q.L.); (S.W.); (T.J.)
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2
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Fei M, Gols R, Harvey JA. The Biology and Ecology of Parasitoid Wasps of Predatory Arthropods. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 68:109-128. [PMID: 36198401 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-120120-111607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Parasitoid wasps are important components of insect food chains and have played a central role in biological control programs for over a century. Although the vast majority of parasitoids exploit insect herbivores as hosts, others parasitize predatory insects and arthropods, such as ladybird beetles, hoverflies, lacewings, ground beetles, and spiders, or are hyperparasitoids. Much of the research on the biology and ecology of parasitoids of predators has focused on ladybird beetles, whose parasitoids may interfere with the control of insect pests like aphids by reducing ladybird abundance. Alternatively, parasitoids of the invasive ladybird Harmonia axyridis may reduce its harmful impact on native ladybird populations. Different life stages of predatory insects and spiders are susceptible to parasitism to different degrees. Many parasitoids of predators exhibit intricate physiological interrelationships with their hosts, adaptively manipulating host behavior, biology, and ecology in ways that increase parasitoid survival and fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minghui Fei
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China;
| | - Rieta Gols
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands;
| | - Jeffrey A Harvey
- Department of Terrestrial Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Wageningen, The Netherlands;
- Animal Ecology Section, Department of Ecological Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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3
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Roquer‐Beni L, Alins G, Arnan X, Boreux V, García D, Hambäck PA, Happe A, Klein A, Miñarro M, Mody K, Porcel M, Rodrigo A, Samnegård U, Tasin M, Bosch J. Management‐dependent effects of pollinator functional diversity on apple pollination services: A response–effect trait approach. J Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Roquer‐Beni
- CREAFUniversitat Autònoma de Barcelona Bellaterra Spain
- BETAUniversity of Vic–Central University of Catalonia Vic Spain
| | | | - Xavier Arnan
- CREAFUniversitat Autònoma de Barcelona Bellaterra Spain
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Pernambuco Garanhuns Brazil
| | - Virginie Boreux
- Chair of Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology University of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
| | - Daniel García
- Instituto Mixto de Investigación en Biodiversidad (CSIC‐Uo‐PA) Oviedo Spain
| | - Peter A. Hambäck
- Department of Ecology Environment and Plant Sciences Stockholm University Stockholm Sweden
| | - Anne‐Kathrin Happe
- Department of Biology Technical University of Darmstadt Darmstadt Germany
| | - Alexandra‐Maria Klein
- Chair of Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology University of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
| | - Marcos Miñarro
- Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario Villaviciosa Spain
| | - Karsten Mody
- Department of Biology Technical University of Darmstadt Darmstadt Germany
- Department of Applied Ecology Hochschule Geisenheim University Geisenheim Germany
| | - Mario Porcel
- Department of Plant Protection Biology Integrated Plant Protection Unit Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Alnarp Sweden
- Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria Meta Colombia
| | | | - Ulrika Samnegård
- Department of Ecology Environment and Plant Sciences Stockholm University Stockholm Sweden
- Department of Biology Lund University Lund Sweden
- School of Environmental & Rural Sciences University of New England Armidale Australia
| | - Marco Tasin
- Department of Plant Protection Biology Integrated Plant Protection Unit Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Alnarp Sweden
- Department of Chemistry University of Padova Padova Italy
| | - Jordi Bosch
- CREAFUniversitat Autònoma de Barcelona Bellaterra Spain
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4
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Uhl B, Wölfling M, Fiedler K. Qualitative and Quantitative Loss of Habitat at Different Spatial Scales Affects Functional Moth Diversity. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.637371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Land use change has led to large-scale insect decline, threatening ecosystem resilience through reduced functional diversity. Even in nature reserves, losses in insect diversity have been detected. Hereby, changes in local habitat quality and landscape-scale habitat quantity can play a role driving functional diversity toward erosion. Our aim was to analyze how local and landscape-scale factors simultaneously affect functional insect diversity. Therefore, we sampled moths in two Italian coastal forest reserves at 60 sites. Our focus was on functional richness, redundancy and niche occupation, being important for ecosystem resilience, following the insurance framework. Ecological information about 387 species and 14 traits was used to analyze functional diversity. Twenty-five functional groups were recognized and used to estimate niche occupation and redundancy. Fourteen local and 12 landscape-scale factors were measured and condensed by using Principal Components Analysis. The resulting PC-axes served as predictors in linear mixed effects models. Functional richness, redundancy and niche occupation of moths were lower at sites with low habitat quality and quantity, indicating reduced ecosystem resilience. Especially landscape diversity and habitat structure, viz. a humidity-nutrient gradient, but also plant diversity, were promoting functional richness. Landscape fragmentation, indicating increased impermeability for insects, reduced local functional richness, redundancy and niche occupation. Local habitat quality and landscape-wide habitat quantity are both important for maintaining functional insect diversity inside reserves. Therefore, small and isolated nature reserves might fail in preserving biodiversity and ecosystem functions through adverse effects acting from the surrounding landscape structure and configuration.
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5
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Redhead JW, Powney GD, Woodcock BA, Pywell RF. Effects of future agricultural change scenarios on beneficial insects. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2020; 265:110550. [PMID: 32292173 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Revised: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Insects provide vital ecosystem services to agricultural systems in the form of pollination and natural pest control. However, there are currently widespread declines in the beneficial insects which deliver these services (i.e. pollinators and 'natural enemies' such as predators and parasitoids). Two key drivers of these declines have been the expansion of agricultural land and intensification of agricultural production. With an increasing human population requiring additional sources of food, further changes in agricultural land use appear inevitable. Identifying likely trajectories of change and predicting their impacts on beneficial insects provides a scientific basis for making informed decisions on the policies and practices of sustainable agriculture. We created spatially explicit, exploratory scenarios of potential changes in the extent and intensity of agricultural land use across Great Britain (GB). Scenarios covered 52 possible combinations of change in agricultural land cover (i.e. agricultural expansion or grassland restoration) and intensity (i.e. crop type and diversity). We then used these scenarios to predict impacts on beneficial insect species richness and several metrics of functional diversity at a 10km (hectad) resolution. Predictions were based on species distribution models derived from biological records, comprising data on 116 bee species (pollinators) and 81 predatory beetle species (natural enemies). We identified a wide range of possible consequences for beneficial insect species richness and functional diversity as result of future changes in agricultural extent and intensity. Current policies aimed at restoring semi-natural grassland should result in increases in the richness and functional diversity of both pollinators and natural enemies, even if agricultural practices remain intensive on cropped land (i.e. land-sparing). In contrast, any expansion of arable land is likely to be accompanied by widespread declines in richness of beneficial insects, even if cropping practices become less intensive (i.e. land-sharing), although effects of functional diversity are more mixed.
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Affiliation(s)
- John W Redhead
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Natural Environment Research Council, Oxfordshire, OX10 8BB, UK; School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Harborne Building, Reading, Berkshire, RG6 6AS, UK.
| | - Gary D Powney
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Natural Environment Research Council, Oxfordshire, OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Ben A Woodcock
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Natural Environment Research Council, Oxfordshire, OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Richard F Pywell
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Natural Environment Research Council, Oxfordshire, OX10 8BB, UK
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6
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Davies RW, Edwards DP, Edwards FA. Secondary tropical forests recover dung beetle functional diversity and trait composition. Anim Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- R. W. Davies
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
| | - D. P. Edwards
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
| | - F. A. Edwards
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
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7
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Klink R, Lepš J, Vermeulen R, Bello F. Functional differences stabilize beetle communities by weakening interspecific temporal synchrony. Ecology 2019; 100:e02748. [DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 04/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Roel Klink
- Institute of Botany Czech Academy of Sciences Dukelská 135 Třeboň 37982 Czech Republic
- German Institute for Integrative Biodiversity Research iDiv Halle/Jena/Leipzig University of Leipzig Deutscher Platz 5e Leizpig 04103 Germany
- WBBS Foundation Kanaaldijk 36 Loon 9409 TV The Netherlands
| | - Jan Lepš
- Department of Botany University of South Bohemia Na Zlaté Stoce 1 České Budějovice 370 05 Czech Republic
- Institute of Entomology Czech Academy of Sciences Branišovská 31 České Budějovice 370 05 Czech Republic
| | | | - Francesco Bello
- Institute of Botany Czech Academy of Sciences Dukelská 135 Třeboň 37982 Czech Republic
- Department of Botany University of South Bohemia Na Zlaté Stoce 1 České Budějovice 370 05 Czech Republic
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Claflin SB, Hernandez N, Groves R, Thaler JS, Power AG. Intra‐annual variation and landscape composition interactively affect aphid community composition. Ecosphere 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Suzi B. Claflin
- Department of Entomology Cornell University Ithaca New York 14850 USA
| | | | - Russell Groves
- Department of Entomology University of Wisconsin Madison Wisconsin 53706 USA
| | | | - Alison G. Power
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Cornell University Ithaca New York 14850 USA
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9
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Zhang X, Axmacher JC, Wu P, Zhang X, Liu Y. Productive Oilseed Rape Strips Supplement Seminatural Field-Margins in Promoting Ground-Dwelling Predatory Invertebrates in Agricultural Landscapes. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2019; 19:5512996. [PMID: 31175836 PMCID: PMC6556080 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/iez055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Intensively managed flowering crops like canola (Brassicales: Brassicaceae) (oilseed rape, OSR) provide significant short-term nectar resources for pollen consumers. They may also play important roles as annual "service strips" in temporarily promoting predatory invertebrates. We set out to test this assumption by comparing overall and functional group-specific species richness, activity density, and assemblage composition of carabids (Coleoptera: Carabidae) and spiders (Araneae), in three types of service strips-OSR, woody, and grassy strips established in direct vicinity to cropland. OSR strips were found to harbor the highest carabid species richness and activity density of small carabids. The activity density of carabids overall and of omnivorous species, the species richness and activity density of spiders across size classes and feeding strategies were all significantly reduced in woody strips. The percentage of seminatural habitat in the wider landscape was positively linked to the activity density of spiders overall, ground hunting and large spiders, whereas in carabids, positive effects were limited to large species occurring in grassy strips. Habitat type was the main predictor of both carabid and spider assemblage composition. Our results indicate that carabid and spider activity density across functional groups responded more strongly to changes in the landscape composition than the diversity of individual taxonomic groups. For agricultural landscape management, the establishment of habitat mosaics that include regular OSR could promote abundant, species-rich predatory invertebrates particularly in early spring. In contrast, structurally homogenous woody strips represent limited value in promoting the investigated biological pest control agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuzhu Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jan C Axmacher
- UCL Department of Geography, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Panlong Wu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yunhui Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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10
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Woodcock BA, Garratt MPD, Powney GD, Shaw RF, Osborne JL, Soroka J, Lindström SAM, Stanley D, Ouvrard P, Edwards ME, Jauker F, McCracken ME, Zou Y, Potts SG, Rundlöf M, Noriega JA, Greenop A, Smith HG, Bommarco R, van der Werf W, Stout JC, Steffan-Dewenter I, Morandin L, Bullock JM, Pywell RF. Meta-analysis reveals that pollinator functional diversity and abundance enhance crop pollination and yield. Nat Commun 2019; 10:1481. [PMID: 30931943 PMCID: PMC6443707 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09393-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
How insects promote crop pollination remains poorly understood in terms of the contribution of functional trait differences between species. We used meta-analyses to test for correlations between community abundance, species richness and functional trait metrics with oilseed rape yield, a globally important crop. While overall abundance is consistently important in predicting yield, functional divergence between species traits also showed a positive correlation. This result supports the complementarity hypothesis that pollination function is maintained by non-overlapping trait distributions. In artificially constructed communities (mesocosms), species richness is positively correlated with yield, although this effect is not seen under field conditions. As traits of the dominant species do not predict yield above that attributed to the effect of abundance alone, we find no evidence in support of the mass ratio hypothesis. Management practices increasing not just pollinator abundance, but also functional divergence, could benefit oilseed rape agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- B A Woodcock
- NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 8BB, UK.
| | - M P D Garratt
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6AL, UK
| | - G D Powney
- NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 8BB, UK
| | - R F Shaw
- Environment & Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK
| | - J L Osborne
- Environment & Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK
| | - J Soroka
- Saskatoon Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada/Government of Canada, Saskatoon, S7N 0X2, Canada
| | - S A M Lindström
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Biology, Lund University, 223 62, Lund, Sweden
- Swedish Rural Economy and Agricultural Society, Kristianstad, S-291 09, Sweden
| | - D Stanley
- Botany and Plant Science, School of Natural Sciences, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway, H91 TK33, Ireland
| | - P Ouvrard
- University Catholique do Louvain, ELIA, Croix du Sud 2/L7.05.14, 1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - M E Edwards
- Leaside, Carron Lane, Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 9LB, UK
| | - F Jauker
- Department of Animal Ecology, Justus Liebig University, Heinrich-Buff-Ring, 26-32, 35932, Giessen, Germany
| | - M E McCracken
- NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Y Zou
- Department of Environmental Science, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, 215123, Suzhou, China
| | - S G Potts
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6AL, UK
| | - M Rundlöf
- Department of Biology, Lund University, 223 62, Lund, Sweden
| | - J A Noriega
- Department of Biogeography and Global Change, National Museum of Natural Science, Madrid, 28006, Spain
| | - A Greenop
- NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 8BB, UK
| | - H G Smith
- Department of Biology, Lund University, 223 62, Lund, Sweden
- Centre for Environmental and Climate Research, Lund University, Lund, S-223 62, Sweden
| | - R Bommarco
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, SE-750 07, Sweden
| | - W van der Werf
- Centre for Crop Systems Analysis, Wageningen University, Wageningen, 6700, The Netherlands
| | - J C Stout
- School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - I Steffan-Dewenter
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - L Morandin
- Pollinator Partnership Canada, Head Office, 423 Washington Street, 5th floor, San Francisco, CA, 94111, USA
| | - J M Bullock
- NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 8BB, UK
| | - R F Pywell
- NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 8BB, UK
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11
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Pretorius RJ, Hein GL, Blankenship EE, Purrington FF, Wilson RG, Bradshaw JD. Comparing the Effects of Two Tillage Operations on Beneficial Epigeal Arthropod Communities and Their Associated Ecosystem Services in Sugar Beets. JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2018; 111:2617-2631. [PMID: 30265348 PMCID: PMC6294236 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toy285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Beneficial arthropods provide important ecosystem services in terms of arthropod pest and weed management, but these services can be adversely affected by farming practices such as tillage. This study investigated the impact of two tillage operations (zone tillage and moldboard plow) on the activity density of several beneficial, epigeal arthropod taxa, and postdispersal weed seed and prey removal in sugar beet agroecosystems. In addition, four omnivorous ground beetle species were selected for a weed-seed choice feeding assay, whereas a single species was selected for a weed-seed age preference assay. Ground beetles were the most commonly collected taxon (via pitfall sampling), with only a few dominant species. Tillage operation did not affect ground beetle activity density; however, spider, centipede, and rove beetle activity densities were higher in the reduced-tillage treatment. Live prey consumption was similar between tillage practices, with more prey consumed during nocturnal hours. More weed seeds were consumed in the reduced-tillage treatment, whereas weed-seed preference differed between the four weed species tested [Setaria pumila (Poir.) Roem. & Schult., Echinochloa crus-galli (L.), Kochia scoparia (L.), and Chenopodium album (L.)]. In the weed-seed choice feeding assay, significantly more broad-leaf weed seeds (C. album and K. scoparia) were consumed compared with grassy weed seeds (E. crus-galli and S. pumila). No preference for seed age was detected for E. crus-galli, but Harpalus pensylvanicus (De Geer) preferred old C. album seeds over fresh seeds. Zone tillage is compatible with ecosystem services, providing critical habitat within agricultural ecosystems needed to conserve beneficial, edaphic arthropods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rudolph J Pretorius
- Department of Agriculture, Central University of Technology, Private Bag, Bloemfontein, Free State Province, South Africa
| | - Gary L Hein
- Doctor of Plant Health Program, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Erin E Blankenship
- Department of Statistics, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Foster F Purrington
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, The Ohio State University, 300 Aronoff Laboratory, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Robert G Wilson
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, Panhandle Research and Extension Center, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Scottsbluff, NE, USA
| | - Jeffrey D Bradshaw
- Department of Entomology, Panhandle Research and Extension Center, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Scottsbluff, NE, USA
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12
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Redhead JW, Woodcock BA, Pocock MJ, Pywell RF, Vanbergen AJ, Oliver TH. Potential landscape-scale pollinator networks across Great Britain: structure, stability and influence of agricultural land cover. Ecol Lett 2018; 21:1821-1832. [DOI: 10.1111/ele.13157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2018] [Revised: 05/12/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- John W. Redhead
- NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology; Maclean Building Wallingford Oxfordshire OX108BB UK
- School of Biological Sciences; University of Reading; Harborne Building Reading Berkshire RG6 6AS UK
| | - Ben A. Woodcock
- NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology; Maclean Building Wallingford Oxfordshire OX108BB UK
| | - Michael J.O. Pocock
- NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology; Maclean Building Wallingford Oxfordshire OX108BB UK
| | - Richard F. Pywell
- NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology; Maclean Building Wallingford Oxfordshire OX108BB UK
| | - Adam J. Vanbergen
- NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology; Bush Estate Penicuik Midlothian EH26 0QB UK
- Agroécologie, AgroSup Dijon, INRA; Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté; F-21000 Dijon France
| | - Tom H. Oliver
- NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology; Maclean Building Wallingford Oxfordshire OX108BB UK
- School of Biological Sciences; University of Reading; Harborne Building Reading Berkshire RG6 6AS UK
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13
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Rotchés‐Ribalta R, Winsa M, Roberts SPM, Öckinger E. Associations between plant and pollinator communities under grassland restoration respond mainly to landscape connectivity. J Appl Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Roser Rotchés‐Ribalta
- Technology Centre for Biodiversity, Ecology and Environmental Technology and Food Management (BETA)University of Vic‐Central University of Catalonia Vic. Spain
- Teagasc Johnstown Castle Research CentreCrop, Environment and Land Use Wexford Ireland
- Department of EcologySwedish University of Agricultural Sciences Uppsala Sweden
| | - Marie Winsa
- Department of EcologySwedish University of Agricultural Sciences Uppsala Sweden
| | - Stuart P. M. Roberts
- Centre for Agri‐Environmental ResearchSchool of Agriculture, Policy and DevelopmentUniversity of Reading Reading UK
| | - Erik Öckinger
- Department of EcologySwedish University of Agricultural Sciences Uppsala Sweden
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14
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dos Santos CF, Otesbelgue A, Blochtein B. The dilemma of agricultural pollination in Brazil: Beekeeping growth and insecticide use. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0200286. [PMID: 29979763 PMCID: PMC6034858 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Pollination by bees improves agricultural crop yields and improves the financial outlook of beekeepers because it increases honey production and hive rental revenues. However, in Brazil, with a few exceptions, these benefits have been neglected in recent years because beekeepers are more interested in honey production than in agricultural pollination. The excessive and indiscriminate use of insecticides on agricultural fields in Brazil appears to be one of the principal obstacles preventing partnership between farmers and beekeepers. The goal of this study was therefore to evaluate the most recent situation in Brazil in relation to the use of insecticides, agriculture and to honey production in comparison with other countries. Our results show that Brazil is the largest consumer of insecticides in the world and that consumption has increased by > 150% over 15 years. While countries with a high Human Development Index (i.e., a measure that can also be used to question national policy choices) are reducing their levels of insecticide use in agriculture, Brazil is going in the opposite direction. It is highly likely the increase seen in other countries is a result of alternative methods for pest control rather than a result of the amount of area under agricultural cultivation and their capability to shift their economies from agriculture to other sectors. The number of hives (23%) and the volume of honey production (72%) in Brazil have, however, increased over the same period, raising Brazil to the ninth highest honey producer in the world. Although the data on apiculture are promising, the growth in use of insecticides in Brazil is a cause for concern because they leave residuals on bee products, on crops, and in the environment. Civil society and government in Brazil should encourage reductions in insecticide use and better relations between agricultural farmers and beekeepers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Fernando dos Santos
- Departamento de Biodiversidade e Ecologia, Escola de Ciências, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- * E-mail: (CFS); (BB)
| | - Alex Otesbelgue
- Departamento de Biodiversidade e Ecologia, Escola de Ciências, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Betina Blochtein
- Departamento de Biodiversidade e Ecologia, Escola de Ciências, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- Instituto do Meio Ambiente, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- * E-mail: (CFS); (BB)
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15
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Wu P, Axmacher JC, Song X, Zhang X, Xu H, Chen C, Yu Z, Liu Y. Effects of Plant Diversity, Vegetation Composition, and Habitat Type on Different Functional Trait Groups of Wild Bees in Rural Beijing. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2018; 18:5047075. [PMID: 29982552 PMCID: PMC6030977 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/iey065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The loss of flower-rich habitats and agricultural intensification have resulted in significant losses of wild bee diversity from agricultural landscapes that is increasingly threatening the pollination of zoochorous agricultural crops and agricultural sustainability. However, the links of different wild bee functional trait groups with habitat types and plant resources in agricultural landscapes remain poorly understood, thus impeding the formulation of effective policies for bee conservation. We therefore analyzed how bees representing different functional groups responded to variations in habitat type, vegetation composition and plant diversity. Natural shrubland sustained the highest diversity in bees overall, in large-sized bees, solitary bees and belowground-nesting bees, while each habitat harbored unique species. In half of the functional bee groups, species were negatively linked to tree coverage and herb coverage, respectively, while plant diversity was positively related to all functional groups except large-sized bees and aboveground-nesting bees. Overall bee abundance was positively related to abundance of plants in the Sympetalae, and negatively related to abundance of plants in the Archichlamydeae. Different bee functional groups showed distinct preferences for different plant communities. In order to conserve the diversity of wild bees across functional groups to optimize associated pollination services, a diverse habitat mosaic, and particularly plant species in Sympetalae need to be promoted in agricultural landscapes. Future studies should aim to enhance our understanding of plant-pollinator associations and specific food requirement of different wild bee species for their effective conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panlong Wu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jan C Axmacher
- UCL Department of Geography, University College London, London WC1E, United Kingdom
| | - Xiao Song
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xuzhu Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Huanli Xu
- College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Chen Chen
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenrong Yu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yunhui Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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16
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca K. Tonietto
- Department of Biology; University of Michigan-Flint; Flint MI USA
- Plant Biology and Conservation; Northwestern University; Evanston IL USA
- Plant Science and Conservation; Chicago Botanic Garden; Glencoe IL USA
| | - Daniel J. Larkin
- Plant Science and Conservation; Chicago Botanic Garden; Glencoe IL USA
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology; University of Minnesota; St. Paul MN USA
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17
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Plas F, Klink R, Manning P, Olff H, Fischer M. Sensitivity of functional diversity metrics to sampling intensity. Methods Ecol Evol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.12728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fons Plas
- Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre Senckenberganlage 25 60325 Frankfurt Germany
| | - Roel Klink
- Division of Conservation Biology Institute of Ecology and Evolution University of Bern Erlachstrasse 9a 3012 Bern Switzerland
| | - Pete Manning
- Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre Senckenberganlage 25 60325 Frankfurt Germany
| | - Han Olff
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen PO Box 11103 9700CC Groningen The Netherlands
| | - Markus Fischer
- Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre Senckenberganlage 25 60325 Frankfurt Germany
- Institute of Plant Sciences University of Bern Altenbergrain 21 3013 Bern Switzerland
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18
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Hiraiwa MK, Ushimaru A. Low functional diversity promotes niche changes in natural island pollinator communities. Proc Biol Sci 2017; 284:rspb.2016.2218. [PMID: 28077773 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2016.2218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2016] [Accepted: 11/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Functional diversity loss among pollinators has rapidly progressed across the globe and is expected to influence plant-pollinator interactions in natural communities. Although recent findings suggest that the disappearance of a certain pollinator functional group may cause niche expansions and/or shifts in other groups, no study has examined this prediction in natural communities with high plant and pollinator diversities. By comparing coastal pollination networks on continental and oceanic islands, we examined how community-level flower visit patterns are influenced by the relative biomass of long-tongued pollinators (RBLP). We found that RBLP significantly correlated with pollinator functional diversity and was lower in oceanic than in continental islands. Pollinator niches shifted with decreasing RBLP, such that diverse species with various proboscis lengths, especially short-tongued species, increasingly visited long-tubed flowers. However, we found no conspicuous negative impacts of low RBLP and the consequent niche shifts on pollinator visit frequencies to flowers in oceanic island communities. Notably, fruit set significantly decreased as RBLP decreased in a study plant species. These results suggest that niche shifts by other functional groups can generally compensate for a decline in long-tongued pollinators in natural communities, but there may be negative impacts on plant reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masayoshi K Hiraiwa
- Graduate School of Human Development and Environment, Kobe University, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
| | - Atushi Ushimaru
- Graduate School of Human Development and Environment, Kobe University, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
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19
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Moretti M, Dias ATC, Bello F, Altermatt F, Chown SL, Azcárate FM, Bell JR, Fournier B, Hedde M, Hortal J, Ibanez S, Öckinger E, Sousa JP, Ellers J, Berg MP. Handbook of protocols for standardized measurement of terrestrial invertebrate functional traits. Funct Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 227] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Moretti
- Biodiversity and Conservation Biology Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL Zürcherstrasse 111 8903 Birmensdorf Switzerland
| | - André T. C. Dias
- Departamento de Ecologia Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcântara Gomes Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) Maracanã Rio de Janeiro Brazil
| | - Francesco Bello
- Institute of Botany Czech Academy of Sciences Dukelska 135 379 82 Třeboň Czech Republic
- Faculty of Sciences University of South Bohemia Na Zlate Stoce 1 370 05 České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - Florian Altermatt
- Department of Aquatic Ecology Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology 8600 Dübendorf Switzerland
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies University of Zurich Winterthurerstrasse 190 8057 Zürich Switzerland
| | - Steven L. Chown
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria3800 Australia
| | - Francisco M. Azcárate
- Terrestrial Ecology Group (TEG) Department of Ecology Universidad Autónoma de Madrid C/Darwin 2 28049 Madrid Spain
| | - James R. Bell
- Rothamsted Research West Common Harpenden HertfordshireAL5 2JQ UK
| | - Bertrand Fournier
- Laboratoire Chrono‐Environnement UMR 6249 CNRS Université de Bourgogne Franche‐Comté 16 route de Gray 25030 Besançon Cedex France
| | - Mickaël Hedde
- INRA AgroParisTech Université Paris‐Saclay UMR 1402 Ecosys Route de Saint‐Cyr RD 10 78026 Versailles Cedex France
| | - Joaquín Hortal
- Departamento de Biogeografía y Cambio Global Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN‐CSIC) C/Jose Gutierrez Abascal 2 28006 Madrid Spain
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (Ce3C) Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa (FCUL) Ed. C2, Campo Grande 1749‐06 Lisboa Portugal
| | - Sébastien Ibanez
- Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine CNRS UMR 5553 Université Savoie Mont Blanc 73376 Le Bourget‐du‐Lac France
| | - Erik Öckinger
- Department of Ecology Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences P.O. Box 7044 750 07 Uppsala Sweden
| | - José Paulo Sousa
- Centre for Functional Ecology Department of Life Sciences University of Coimbra 3000‐456 Coimbra Portugal
| | - Jacintha Ellers
- Department of Ecological Science Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam De Boelelaan 1085 1081 HV Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Matty P. Berg
- Department of Ecological Science Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam De Boelelaan 1085 1081 HV Amsterdam The Netherlands
- Conservation Ecology Group Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen Postbox 11103 9700 CC Groningen The Netherlands
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20
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Haughton AJ, Bohan DA, Clark SJ, Mallott MD, Mallott V, Sage R, Karp A. Dedicated biomass crops can enhance biodiversity in the arable landscape. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY. BIOENERGY 2016; 8:1071-1081. [PMID: 27867421 PMCID: PMC5101831 DOI: 10.1111/gcbb.12312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2015] [Revised: 10/09/2015] [Accepted: 10/12/2015] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Suggestions that novel, non-food, dedicated biomass crops used to produce bioenergy may provide opportunities to diversify and reinstate biodiversity in intensively managed farmland have not yet been fully tested at the landscape scale. Using two of the largest, currently available landscape-scale biodiversity data sets from arable and biomass bioenergy crops, we take a taxonomic and functional trait approach to quantify and contrast the consequences for biodiversity indicators of adopting dedicated biomass crops on land previously cultivated under annual, rotational arable cropping. The abundance and community compositions of biodiversity indicators in fields of break and cereal crops changed when planted with the dedicated biomass crops, miscanthus and short rotation coppiced (SRC) willow. Weed biomass was consistently greater in the two dedicated biomass crops than in cereals, and invertebrate abundance was similarly consistently higher than in break crops. Using canonical variates analysis, we identified distinct plant and invertebrate taxa and trait-based communities in miscanthus and SRC willows, whereas break and cereal crops tended to form a single, composite community. Seedbanks were shown to reflect the longer term effects of crop management. Our study suggests that miscanthus and SRC willows, and the management associated with perennial cropping, would support significant amounts of biodiversity when compared with annual arable crops. We recommend the strategic planting of these perennial, dedicated biomass crops in arable farmland to increase landscape heterogeneity and enhance ecosystem function, and simultaneously work towards striking a balance between energy and food security.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David A. Bohan
- INRA, UMR 1347 Agroécologie, Pôle ECOLDUR17 rue SullyDijon CEDEX21065France
| | | | - Mark D. Mallott
- Rothamsted ResearchWest CommonHarpendenHertfordshireAL5 2JQUK
| | | | - Rufus Sage
- Game and Wildlife Conservation TrustBurgate ManorFordingbridgeHampshireSP6 1EFUK
| | - Angela Karp
- Rothamsted ResearchWest CommonHarpendenHertfordshireAL5 2JQUK
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21
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Woodcock BA, Isaac NJB, Bullock JM, Roy DB, Garthwaite DG, Crowe A, Pywell RF. Impacts of neonicotinoid use on long-term population changes in wild bees in England. Nat Commun 2016; 7:12459. [PMID: 27529661 PMCID: PMC4990702 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 240] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2015] [Accepted: 07/05/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Wild bee declines have been ascribed in part to neonicotinoid insecticides. While short-term laboratory studies on commercially bred species (principally honeybees and bumblebees) have identified sub-lethal effects, there is no strong evidence linking these insecticides to losses of the majority of wild bee species. We relate 18 years of UK national wild bee distribution data for 62 species to amounts of neonicotinoid use in oilseed rape. Using a multi-species dynamic Bayesian occupancy analysis, we find evidence of increased population extinction rates in response to neonicotinoid seed treatment use on oilseed rape. Species foraging on oilseed rape benefit from the cover of this crop, but were on average three times more negatively affected by exposure to neonicotinoids than non-crop foragers. Our results suggest that sub-lethal effects of neonicotinoids could scale up to cause losses of bee biodiversity. Restrictions on neonicotinoid use may reduce population declines. Neonicotinoid as insecticide on oilseed rape can reduce bee colony density, but its effect at a large geographical scale is unclear. This study describes 18-year long wild bee tracking data in England and show neonicotinoid use is correlated with wild bee population declines at real landscape scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben A Woodcock
- NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Nicholas J B Isaac
- NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BB, UK
| | - James M Bullock
- NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BB, UK
| | - David B Roy
- NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BB, UK
| | | | - Andrew Crowe
- FERA Science Ltd., Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ, UK
| | - Richard F Pywell
- NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BB, UK
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22
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Pywell RF, Heard MS, Woodcock BA, Hinsley S, Ridding L, Nowakowski M, Bullock JM. Wildlife-friendly farming increases crop yield: evidence for ecological intensification. Proc Biol Sci 2016; 282:20151740. [PMID: 26423846 PMCID: PMC4614778 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2015.1740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Ecological intensification has been promoted as a means to achieve environmentally sustainable increases in crop yields by enhancing ecosystem functions that regulate and support production. There is, however, little direct evidence of yield benefits from ecological intensification on commercial farms growing globally important foodstuffs (grains, oilseeds and pulses). We replicated two treatments removing 3 or 8% of land at the field edge from production to create wildlife habitat in 50–60 ha patches over a 900 ha commercial arable farm in central England, and compared these to a business as usual control (no land removed). In the control fields, crop yields were reduced by as much as 38% at the field edge. Habitat creation in these lower yielding areas led to increased yield in the cropped areas of the fields, and this positive effect became more pronounced over 6 years. As a consequence, yields at the field scale were maintained—and, indeed, enhanced for some crops—despite the loss of cropland for habitat creation. These results suggested that over a 5-year crop rotation, there would be no adverse impact on overall yield in terms of monetary value or nutritional energy. This study provides a clear demonstration that wildlife-friendly management which supports ecosystem services is compatible with, and can even increase, crop yields.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Matthew S Heard
- NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Ben A Woodcock
- NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Shelley Hinsley
- NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Lucy Ridding
- NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK
| | | | - James M Bullock
- NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK
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23
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Eyre MD, Sanderson RA, McMillan SD, Critchley CNR. Crop cover the principal influence on non-crop ground beetle (Coleoptera, Carabidae) activity and assemblages at the farm scale in a long-term assessment. BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2016; 106:242-248. [PMID: 26786247 DOI: 10.1017/s0007485315001054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Ground beetle data were generated using pitfall traps in the 17-year period from 1993 to 2009 and used to investigate the effects of changes in surrounding crop cover on beetle activity and assemblages, together with the effects of weather variability. Beetles were recorded from non-crop field margins (overgrown hedges). Crop cover changes explained far more variation in the beetle assemblages recorded than did temperature and rainfall variation. A reduction in management intensity and disturbance in the crops surrounding the traps, especially the introduction and development of willow coppice, was concomitant with changes in individual species activity and assemblage composition of beetles trapped in non-crop habitat. There were no consistent patterns in either overall beetle activity or in the number of species recorded over the 17-year period, but there was a clear change from assemblages dominated by smaller species with higher dispersal capability to ones with larger beetles with less dispersal potential and a preference for less disturbed agroecosystems. The influence of surrounding crops on ground beetle activity in non-crop habitat has implications for ecosystem service provision by ground beetles as pest predators. These results are contrary to conventional assumptions and interpretations, which suggest activity of pest predators in crops is influenced primarily by adjacent non-crop habitat. The long-term nature of the assessment was important in elucidation of patterns and trends, and indicated that policies such as agri-environment schemes should take cropping patterns into account when promoting management options that are intended to enhance natural pest control.
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Affiliation(s)
- M D Eyre
- Nafferton Ecological Farming Group,University of Newcastle upon Tyne,Nafferton Farm,Stocksfield,Northumberland NE43 7XD,UK
| | - R A Sanderson
- School of Biology,Ridley Building,University of Newcastle,Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU,UK
| | - S D McMillan
- ADAS UK Ltd.,Alcester Road,Stratford-Upon-Avon,Warwickshire CV37 9RQ,UK
| | - C N R Critchley
- ADAS UK Ltd.,c/o Newcastle University,NEFG Offices,Nafferton Farm,Stocksfield,Northumberland NE43 7XD,UK
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24
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25
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Spake R, Barsoum N, Newton AC, Doncaster CP. Drivers of the composition and diversity of carabid functional traits in UK coniferous plantations. FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT 2016; 359:300-308. [PMID: 26865748 PMCID: PMC4705869 DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2015.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2015] [Accepted: 10/06/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Functional diversity (FD) is increasingly used as a metric to evaluate the impact of forest management strategies on ecosystem functioning. Management interventions that aim to maximise FD require knowledge of multiple environmental drivers of FD, which have not been studied to date in temperate coniferous production forests. We quantified the relative importance of abiotic (forest management) and biotic (ground vegetation community) drivers of carabid FD and trait distribution in 44 coniferous plantation forest stands across the UK. Carabid FD declined with canopy cover and carabid body length correlated negatively with the percentage of open semi-natural area surrounding a plot. We conclude that forest management could enhance carabid FD through initiatives that emulate natural disturbance regimes through gap creation. We found that neither functional nor taxonomic metrics of vegetation diversity correlated with carabid FD, suggesting that restoration of plant communities, a major goal of forest restoration efforts, will not necessarily enhance carabid FD in coniferous plantations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Spake
- Centre for Biological Sciences, Institute for Life Sciences Building 85, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Nadia Barsoum
- Centre for Ecosystems, Society and Biosecurity, Forest Research, Alice Holt Lodge, Farnham, Surrey GU10 4LH, UK
| | - Adrian C. Newton
- Centre for Conservation Ecology and Environmental Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth University, Talbot Campus, Fern Barrow, Poole, Dorset BH12 5BB, UK
| | - C. Patrick Doncaster
- Centre for Biological Sciences, Institute for Life Sciences Building 85, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
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26
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Declining resilience of ecosystem functions under biodiversity loss. Nat Commun 2015; 6:10122. [PMID: 26646209 PMCID: PMC4686828 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2015] [Accepted: 11/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The composition of species communities is changing rapidly through drivers such as habitat loss and climate change, with potentially serious consequences for the resilience of ecosystem functions on which humans depend. To assess such changes in resilience, we analyse trends in the frequency of species in Great Britain that provide key ecosystem functions—specifically decomposition, carbon sequestration, pollination, pest control and cultural values. For 4,424 species over four decades, there have been significant net declines among animal species that provide pollination, pest control and cultural values. Groups providing decomposition and carbon sequestration remain relatively stable, as fewer species are in decline and these are offset by large numbers of new arrivals into Great Britain. While there is general concern about degradation of a wide range of ecosystem functions, our results suggest actions should focus on particular functions for which there is evidence of substantial erosion of their resilience. Global change may affect the resilience of ecosystem functions by altering community composition. Here, Oliver et al. show that in Great Britain since the 1970s there have been significant net declines among animal species that provide key ecosystem functions such as pollination and pest control.
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27
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28
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Knapp M, Řezáč M. Even the smallest non-crop habitat islands could be beneficial: distribution of carabid beetles and spiders in agricultural landscape. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0123052. [PMID: 25859850 PMCID: PMC4393288 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0123052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2014] [Accepted: 02/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Carabid beetles and ground-dwelling spiders inhabiting agroecosystems are beneficial organisms with a potential to control pest species. Intensification of agricultural management and reduction of areas covered by non-crop vegetation during recent decades in some areas has led to many potentially serious environmental problems including a decline in the diversity and abundance of beneficial arthropods in agricultural landscapes. This study investigated carabid beetle and spider assemblages in non-crop habitat islands of various sizes (50 to 18,000 square metres) within one large field, as well as the arable land within the field, using pitfall traps in two consecutive sampling periods (spring to early summer and peak summer). The non-crop habitat islands situated inside arable land hosted many unique ground-dwelling arthropod species that were not present within the surrounding arable land. Even the smallest non-crop habitat islands with areas of tens of square metres were inhabited by assemblages substantially different from these inhabiting arable land and thus enhanced the biodiversity of agricultural landscapes. The non-crop habitat area substantially affected the activity density, recorded species richness and recorded species composition of carabid and ground-dwelling spider assemblages; however, the effects were weakened when species specialised to non-crop habitats species were analysed separately. Interestingly, recorded species richness of spiders increased with non-crop habitat area, whereas recorded species richness of carabid beetles exhibited an opposite trend. There was substantial temporal variation in the spatial distribution of ground-dwelling arthropods, and contrasting patterns were observed for particular taxa (carabid beetles and spiders). In general, local environmental conditions (i.e., non-crop habitat island tree cover, shrub cover, grass cover and litter depth) were better determinants of arthropod assemblages than non-crop habitat island size, indicating that the creation of quite small but diversified (e.g., differing in vegetation cover) non-crop habitat islands could be the most efficient tool for the maintenance and enhancement of diversity of ground-dwelling carabids and spiders in agricultural landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Knapp
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
- * E-mail:
| | - Milan Řezáč
- Group Functional Biodiversity, Crop Research Institute, Prague, Czech Republic
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29
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Stephens PA, Pettorelli N, Barlow J, Whittingham MJ, Cadotte MW. Management by proxy? The use of indices in applied ecology. J Appl Ecol 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Philip A. Stephens
- School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Durham University; Mountjoy Science Site Durham DH1 3LE UK
| | - Nathalie Pettorelli
- Zoological Society of London; Institute of Zoology; Regent's Park London NW1 4RY UK
| | - Jos Barlow
- Lancaster Environment Centre; Lancaster University; Lancaster LA1 4YQ UK
- Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi; Av. Magalhães Barata 376 Belém Pará CEP 66040-170 Brazil
| | | | - Marc W. Cadotte
- Department of Biological Sciences; University of Toronto; Scarborough 1265 Military Trail Toronto ON M1C 1A4 Canada
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology; University of Toronto; 25 Willcocks Street Toronto ON M5S 3B2 Canada
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Rader R, Birkhofer K, Schmucki R, Smith HG, Stjernman M, Lindborg R. Organic farming and heterogeneous landscapes positively affect different measures of plant diversity. J Appl Ecol 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Romina Rader
- Landscape Ecology; Department of Physical Geography and Quaternary Geology; Stockholm University; Stockholm Sweden
- Ecosystem Management; School of Environmental and Rural Science; University of New England; Armidale Australia
| | | | - Reto Schmucki
- Landscape Ecology; Department of Physical Geography and Quaternary Geology; Stockholm University; Stockholm Sweden
| | - Henrik G. Smith
- Department of Biology; Lund University; Lund Sweden
- Centre for Environmental and Climate Research; Lund University; Lund Sweden
| | - Martin Stjernman
- Department of Biology; Lund University; Lund Sweden
- Centre for Environmental and Climate Research; Lund University; Lund Sweden
| | - Regina Lindborg
- Landscape Ecology; Department of Physical Geography and Quaternary Geology; Stockholm University; Stockholm Sweden
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