Abstract
Agrochemical-free rice farming has attracted interest for restoring paddy field biodiversity and producing safe food. Odonata are commonly used as a biodiversity indicator in these low-input farms. However, the effect of agrochemical-free rice farming on odonate diversity has rarely been assessed over the entire emergence period of these insects. We investigated whether different farming practices, such as conventional or natural (agrochemical-and fertilizer-free) cultivation, and associated water management strategies affect the emergence rates of Odonata in paddy field landscapes in central Japan. Weekly exuviae sampling in 2017 and 2019 suggested that odonate assemblages differed between conventional and natural paddy fields, with a higher number of taxa emerging from natural paddy fields. Contrary to expectations, conventional paddy fields had equivalent or higher emergence rates of all Odonata and two numerically dominant Sympetrum species. Peak emergence periods for numerically dominant taxa differed between the farming types, with the emergence of three Sympetrum species peaking in late June in conventional paddy fields and that of S. frequens peaking in early to mid-July in natural paddy fields. Our findings suggest that both conventional and natural paddy fields are important habitats for Odonata in Japan.
Highlights
Land-use change has led to a 61% decline in natural wetlands in Japan [1]
Paddy fields were established to meet rising food demands, these anthropogenic wetlands serve as refuge habitats for aquatic and semi-aquatic wildlife including waterfowl, amphibians, fish, spiders, and insects [2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9]
Increased attention has been given to the social–ecological restoration of Satoyama landscapes in Japan, which comprise paddy fields, cropland, irrigation ponds, streams and ditches, secondary forests, and grasslands around human settlements in rural areas [10]
Summary
Land-use change has led to a 61% decline in natural wetlands in Japan [1]. Paddy fields were established to meet rising food demands, these anthropogenic wetlands serve as refuge habitats for aquatic and semi-aquatic wildlife including waterfowl, amphibians, fish, spiders, and insects [2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9]. Increased attention has been given to the social–ecological restoration of Satoyama landscapes in Japan, which comprise paddy fields, cropland, irrigation ponds, streams and ditches, secondary forests, and grasslands around human settlements in rural areas [10]. Wildlife-friendly farming is one tool used to meet restoration goals. Examples of wildlifefriendly rice farming practices include agrochemical-free farming (i.e., natural or organic farming), agrochemical-reduction farming, and winter flooding practices [10]
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