Abstract
Yellow or transparent? Comparison of sticky traps for monitoring functional arthropod diversity in an olive agroecosystem. A diverse and balanced arthropod community is known to play an important role in the olive canopy but monitoring methods are not always well defined. We monitored canopy arthropods in an olive orchard over two years, comparing the performance of yellow sticky traps and transparent sticky traps. Data used to compare the two types of traps were arthropod abundance, richness, diversity indices, species abundance distribution and aggregation of taxa in functional groups based on prioritized agroecosystem services. The total abundance of arthropods caught in the yellow traps was higher than that in the transparent traps but diversity in both traps was similar. Transparent traps may therefore be a valid option to assess biodiversity in an olive agrosystem as besides being less labor demanding than yellow traps, they are low cost and replicable, and do not damage the overall arthropod.
Highlights
Olive groves in the Mediterranean region often serve as the main land cover in a variety of agroecological zones, such as hilly areas and plain areas (Gkisakis et al, 2016)
A total of 75,936 individuals were captured in the yellow sticky traps (YST) (77.22 % of total catches) and 22,396 (22.78 %) in transparent sticky traps (TST)
Diptera was the most dominant taxon throughout the sampling period and for both trapping methods. It accounted for 52,767 catches, of which 39,588 (75.02 % of total catches) were in YST and 13,179 (24.98 %) were in TST
Summary
Olive groves in the Mediterranean region often serve as the main land cover in a variety of agroecological zones, such as hilly areas and plain areas (Gkisakis et al, 2016) Their ecological impact as functioning agroecosystems is of high value. Olive groves can provide ecosystem services such as reduction of soil erosion rate and enhancement of biodiversity, and they may have socio–economic relevance (Loumou and Giourga, 2003). These well–established agroecosystems are often at risk as intensive cultivation practices replace the traditional low–input olive cultivation, leading to a homogeneous landscape and significant biodiversity degradation (Sokos et al, 2013). Abundance and diversity of arthropod communities often becomes a useful aspect to assess the short– term impact of agricultural practices and reflect on the deeper changes in the ecosystem over a longer period of time (Missa et al, 2009)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
