Abstract
The decline of arthropod populations observed in many parts of the world is a major component of the sixth mass extinction with intensive agriculture being one of its main drivers. Biodiversity-friendly farming practices are taking centre stage in the recovery process. In vineyards, vegetation cover is commonly used for production purposes, to reduce soil compaction by machinery use and soil erosion. Here we examined the effects of vegetation cover and soil management on the abundance of ground- (spiders, beetles, Hemiptera and harvestmen) and canopy-dwelling (wild bees, green lacewings, beetles and Hemiptera) arthropods in three categories of vineyards: (i) vineyards with no vegetation, (ii) partially vegetated (every second inter-row is vegetated) and (iii) all inter-rows are vegetated. We recorded a general positive effect of a decrease in soil perturbation intensity and corresponding higher vegetation cover on arthropod abundance. Plant species richness was the most important vegetation parameter, with a positive effect on spiders, harvestmen, hemipterans and beetles (ground and canopy) abundances. Using a path analysis, we also highlighted the central role of inter-row vegetation management in trophic and non-trophic relationships between vegetation and arthropods, and between arthropod groups. Our results demonstrate the benefits of a softer soil management preserving a diverse vegetation cover for the conservation of arthropods in Mediterranean vineyards.
Highlights
IntroductionThe decline of arthropod populations observed in many parts of the world is a major component of the sixth mass extinction with intensive agriculture being one of its main drivers
The decline of arthropod populations observed in many parts of the world over the past decades is a major component of the sixth mass extinction currently observed[1,2]
Using taxonomic and functional approaches, we studied the response of arthropods and the organisation of trophic relationships to three modes of inter-row management: mechanical soil management to remove vegetation, partially vegetated and all inter-rows vegetated
Summary
The decline of arthropod populations observed in many parts of the world is a major component of the sixth mass extinction with intensive agriculture being one of its main drivers. Multi-causal, arthropod decline is strongly associated with the intensification of agricultural practices since the Green R evolution[3] This is due to the homogenisation of landscapes leading to the loss of semi-natural habitats, the toxicity of pesticides and the mechanisation of farming practices, reducing diversity and abundance of plants on which arthropods directly depend[4,5]. Given their role as decomposers6,7, herbivores6, predators8, pollinators[9,10] and prey of many vertebrate taxa, the general decline of arthropods threatens the functioning of ecosystems in agricultural and in natural environmental contexts. These contrasting results demonstrate the need to improve the understanding of vegetation effects on arthropods, and to investigate
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