Adjacent Native Vegetation Research Articles

Mixed effects of honey bees on pollination function in the Tibetan alpine grasslands

The global expansion of domesticated plant and animal species has profoundly impacted biodiversity and ecosystem functions. However, the spillover effect of non-native honey bees from mass-flowering crops into adjacent natural vegetation on pollination function within plant communities remains unclear. To address this, we conduct field experiments to investigate the ecological impacts of honey bees (Apis mellifera) and a mass-flowering crop (Brassica rapa var. oleifera) on pollinator communities, plant-pollinator interactions, and reproductive performance of wild plants in 48 pollinator-limited alpine grasslands. Our findings indicate that the transition of dominant pollinators from flies to honey bees enhances visitation fidelity of pollinator species and reconfigures pollination interactions due to an increase in competition between honey bees and native pollinator species. Additionally, honey bees increase, decrease or do not alter plant reproductive success, depending on the plant species. Here, we report the mixed effects of honey bees on pollination function in pollinator-limited alpine grasslands.

Nematode community response to intensive tomato production in the tropics

Soil biodiversity and food webs are altered by intensive farming practices. To assess the response of nematofauna to intensive tomato production, soil samples were collected from tomato fields and adjacent natural vegetation in Kirinyaga County, Kenya. Nematodes were assigned to different genera before computation of indices and metabolic footprints. In tomato, there was a high abundance of Meloidogyne and Rotylenchus. Population densities of Aporcelaimellus and Aporcelaimus were greater in natural vegetation. Natural vegetation had more cp 5 nematodes while higher proportions of cp 2 and cp 3 groups were observed in tomato. Omnivores and herbivores occurred in greater numbers in natural vegetation and tomato, respectively. Natural vegetation had a higher Maturity Index (MI), MI 2–5 and Structure Index. In the two systems, there were no differences in the Channel and Enrichment Indices but the Basal Index was higher in tomato. Herbivore footprint was greater in tomato while natural vegetation had greater structure and omnivore footprints. Soil food web in tomato was more degraded with high pest pressure while natural vegetation was highly structured. The results suggest that intensive tomato cultivation in Kirinyaga County, alters the nematode community and food web structure.

Observations on the utilisation of a restored wildlife corridor by echo‐locating microbats in North Queensland's Wet Tropics

SummaryMicrobat studies are uncommon in the Wet Tropics of north‐east Queensland, despite the group comprising 20% of the bioregion's mammal fauna. The significance of fragmentation and habitat connectivity to the echolocating insectivore group is unknown. Over a 12‐month period in 2021–2022, microbat presence was recorded in a 25‐year‐old restored wildlife corridor 1.2 km in length. We deployed Anabat detectors in the restored corridor, in adjacent open paddocks and in mature rainforest at either end of the corridor. Species in reference forest and corridor vegetation were consistently ‘clutter‐adapted’ bats, with low aspect ratio wings; there was little overlap with high aspect ratio species of the open pasture. Low aspect ratio microbats appear to respond to the similarity in structure between restored and adjacent natural vegetation. Re‐establishing structural and functional connectivity may improve the local persistence of ‘clutter‐adapted’ microbats.

Mammals of Cajuru State Forest and surroundings: a neglected but important Protected Area for the Cerrado conservation in the São Paulo state, Brazil

Abstract: The Cerrado has been severely impacted by anthropogenic disturbances, with a tiny proportion of its original extent remaining in its southern portions. In the state of São Paulo, only 7% of this vegetation remains and relatively little is known about the biodiversity of these fragments. To fill this knowledge gap, we inventoried medium and large-sized terrestrial mammals of a neglected region, including a sustainable use protected area, Cajuru State Forest (CSF), adjacent native vegetation remnants protected by the Native Vegetation Protection Law and owned by a paper and cellulose company (Dois Córregos Farm; DCF), and their surroundings. We recorded 20 native mammal species, five of which are endangered with extinction, including the giant anteater, puma, and maned wolf. We found no significant differences in species richness between CSF and DCF but we found higher estimated species richness for the surrounding areas. Besides encompassing a larger and more heterogeneous area, the surrounding area still has a relatively high proportion (>30%) of native vegetation, providing habitat and resources for many species. The estimated mammal species richness for the entire study area was similar to that found in the largest protected area of the Cerrado in São Paulo State, the Jataí Ecological Station and its surroundings. We conclude that our study area still harbors a relatively rich community of large mammals and is important for the conservation of endangered species. This finding is particularly timing since the current State administration is considering to transfer the economic exploitation of CSF to the private sector. We therefore endorse an existing proposal to uplist this protected area, which still lacks a management plan, to a more restricted management category. Besides actions regarding this governmental PA, we argue that it is also important to involve the private sector in a conservation plan for the region.

Species ethnobotanical values rather than regional species pool determine plant diversity in agroforestry systems

The conversion of natural systems into farms and agroecosystems is the main cause of biodiversity loss. In human-dominated landscapes, understanding the interactions between agroforestry systems and adjacent natural vegetation is fundamental to developing sustainable agricultural systems. Species can move between these two systems with natural systems providing the regional pool of species that shape the agricultural values and conservation value of the agroforestry systems. We investigated the influence of neighboring natural habitats on traditional agroforestry systems in the buffer zone of Pendjari Biosphere Reserve in Benin to understand the contribution of regional processes on the quality of agroforestry systems. We expected that agroforestry parklands adjacent to natural vegetation with high species diversity will also have higher plant species diversity. We found no similarity in plant species composition between agroforestry systems and adjacent natural habitats. A small proportion of species in adjacent natural habitats were found in agroforestry systems. The proportion of shared species was not significantly influenced by plant diversity in adjacent natural habitats or the distance from the agroforestry systems to the natural adjacent habitat. However, plant diversity in agroforestry systems was strongly associated with site ethnobotanical values indicating that farmers act as a supplemental but severe environmental filter of the regional species pool. Our study suggests that promoting the plantation of plants with high ethnobotanical use-value is a potentially viable strategy for sustainable agriculture and ecological restoration in Biosphere reserves.

Seed bank persistence of artificial vegetation under stochastic shock in desert regions

Seed bank persistence plays a significant role in maintaining the sustainability of artificial vegetation in desert regions. However, the periods of droughts after each rainfall event form a series of stochastic shocks and result in depletion of the seed bank. Understanding seed bank persistence under stochastic shocks is a crucial prerequisite to evaluation of the sustainability of artificial vegetation under ongoing drought, but few studies have addressed the response of soil seed bank persistence to frequent stochastic shocks in deserts. In this paper, a stochastic shock model describing the input–output process of the seed bank is proposed based on modern risk theory to explore seed bank persistence of artificial vegetation in desert regions. The existence condition of the seed bank and the lower bound of the probability of seed bank persistence under stochastic shock after a long time were theoretically determined. As a verification of the theoretical model, seed bank persistence of artificial sand-binding vegetation on the southeastern margin of the Tengger Desert in China was investigated based on field observation and experimental and empirical data. The numerical results reveal that the seed bank of artificial sand-binding vegetation will always exist under stochastic shocks with a probability greater than 95%, suggesting that in the long-term succession process the current artificial sand-binding vegetation will likely maintain the development trend toward the adjacent natural vegetation.

Effects of Robinia pseudoacacia on the undergrowth of herbaceous plants and soil properties in the Loess Plateau of China

Abstract Aims The introduction of Robinia pseudoacacia (RP) has some effects on undergrowth herbaceous plants (UH), soil properties and their relationships, which may be related to the vegetation zone. However, few studies have tested effects of RP on UH and soil over a large-scale area of the Loess Plateau. Methods The study area consisted of three vegetation zones (the steppe, forest-steppe and forest zone). Two canopy plant types were selected: RP stands and adjacent native vegetation. We measured five leaf functional traits: leaf carbon content (LC), leaf nitrogen content (LN), leaf phosphorus content (LP), specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf tissue density (LTD). The functional diversity, species diversity and community-weighted mean (CWM) traits were calculated. Important Findings (i) CWM.LN, CWM.LP and CWM.SLA increased significantly, whereas CWM.LC and CWM.LTD decreased significantly in the three vegetation zones, compared with the native communities. (ii) Species diversity, functional diversity and community biomass decreased in the steppe zone, increased in the forest zone, and did not differ significantly in the forest-steppe zone. (iii) We found only soil organic carbon (P < 0.05) and soil total nitrogen (P < 0.05) in the forest zone decreased significantly compared with the native plots. (iv) The relationship between UH and soil properties was affected by RP and the vegetation zone. Overall, the effect of RP on UH and soil properties was associated with the vegetation zone. This result is of great significance to the planning of restoration and reconstruction of artificial forests in the Loess Plateau.

Occurrence of Meloidogyne hapla relative to nematode abundance and soil food web structure in soil groups of selected Michigan vegetable production fields

Summary Despite considerable knowledge of distribution, biology and parasitic variability (PV) of Meloidogyne hapla in cropping systems, how its PV relates to soil health conditions remains unknown. This study investigated the relationship between the presence or absence of M. hapla with soil food web and the abundance of nematode community in muck (high organic matter) and mineral soils of 15 agricultural fields and adjacent natural vegetation across three vegetable production regions of Michigan, USA. Meloidogyne hapla was present in all regions and all muck soils, but only in some mineral soils. It was present in soils with degraded and disturbed soil food web conditions, but there was no pattern with nematode trophic group abundance. However, principal component analysis showed distinct relationships among M. hapla presence or absence, soils, nematode abundance parameters in agricultural and natural vegetation. The study lays down a foundation for more targeted investigations to understand any links between the PV of M. hapla and its soil environment.

Assessment of Biological Spectrum and Phenological Behaviours of Coastal Vegetation in East Midnapore District, Eastern India

The open coastlines of the world are dominated by sand dunes and salt marshes. They are the primary areas for human recreation and provide a wide range of frequently overlooked ecosystem services. Their intrinsic ecological significance lies in having unique biological assemblies and supporting a range of ecological processes, such as water filtration and nutrient cycling. In addition, in the coastal zone, these areas link marine and terrestrial systems. The objective of this paper is to check the psammophytic species diversity, conservation status and threat; and also prepare a biological spectrum m in the Costal East Midnapore (CEM) district's sand dune and salt marsh areas. A part of floristic inventories in the CEM, various field trips in different season were carried out, quadrate method is done to examine the ecological impact and richness. Specimens were collected, prepared voucher specimen and enlisted according APG IV classification system to prepare biological spectrum. CEM vegetation was diverse and composed of 162 species of 132 genera distributed among 52 families of 28 orders according to APG IV classification, of which 37 species were exotics. Fabales (19.14%) and Fabaceae (19.14%) were the dominant order and family. Biological spectrum shows the study area was classified as “thero-chamaephytic” type of phytoclimate. Mesophyll (24.07%) and lanceolate as well as oblong (19.14%) were found to be high in the leaf size spectrum and lamina. The area of study was highly ecotonal potential and fairly undisturbed. This study is useful in comparing and contrasting the adjacent natural vegetation along the gradients of the environment; and recommends effective long-term conservation and better management of the coastal area.

Habitat Utilization of Field Rats in Crop Fields and Adjacent Natural Vegetation in District Rawalpindi

Current study was designed to assess habitat utilization of field rats in crop fields and adjacent natural vegetation in District Rawalpindi. The rodents are widely distributed and a serious agricultural pest in Pakistan. Relative abundance of rodent populations changes seasonally under field conditions. The field trials were conducted in district Rawalpindi of the Pothwar area, Pakistan. Wild vegetation plays an important role for providing shelter/cover to the rodent during non-crop season. The dominant wild vegetation recorded from field boundaries were: Cynodon dactylon, Achyranthes aspera, Aerva javanica Saccharum griffithii, Dactyloctenium aegyptium, Dichanthium annulatum, Desmostachya bipinnata, Imperata cylindrical, Ziziphus nummularia, Sorghum halepense and Capparis deciduas. This vegetation provides shelter and food to rodents when there is no cultivation or at an early stage of crop growth.

Plant-parasitic nematode assemblages associated with glyphosate tolerant and conventional soybean cultivars in South Africa

Information about the non-target effects of glyphosate, a broad-spectrum systemic herbicide on soil-borne nematodes is scarce and not well documented for South African agricultural fields. In the present study, the abundance and identity of plant-parasitic nematodes in roots and rhizosphere soil of commercial glyphosate- tolerant (genetically modified; GM) and conventional (non-glyphosate-tolerant) soybean cultivars from cultivated fields were obtained for two consecutive growing seasons. Grass and soil from adjacent natural vegetation were sampled, representing the reference system. Thirty plant-parasitic nematode species, belonging to 13 genera were identified in the roots and rhizosphere soil of soybean cultivars and natural vegetation. In rhizosphere soil, Meloidogyne (for glyphosate-tolerant and conventional soybean), followed by Helicotylenchus (for glyphosate-tolerant soybean) and Scutellonema (for conventional soybean), were the predominant genera. Seven species, namely Pratylenchus flakkensis, Pratylenchus scribneri, Pratylenchus vulnus, Rotylenchus brevicaudatus, Telotylenchus avaricus, Tylenchorhynchus brevicaudatus and Quinisulcius capitatus are first reports for soybean in South Africa. Although it was not possible to define the impact of each ecosystem on the plant-parasitic nematode assemblages, this study suggested that glyphosate had no deleterious effects on plant-parasitic nematodes.

Complementary and protection value of a Biosphere Reserve buffer zone for increasing local representativeness of ground-living arthropods

Biosphere reserves (BRs) are areas of high biodiversity value that promote conservation and sustainable development. BRs consist of core, buffer, and transition zones. Buffer zones are where human and ecological activities overlap, and are key functional spaces that can have important complementarity value. We test this using ground-living arthropods in the highly biodiverse Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve in South Africa. We use generalized dissimilarity modelling to describe the compositional dissimilarity of assemblages as a function of environmental correlates between pairs of survey sites. Transformed spatial predictors were used as surrogates for biodiversity to assess complementarity. Important correlates of arthropod species turnover were related to mesoclimate, fire history, and geology. Buffer areas had important complementary value. Current habitat transformation across core and buffer zones does not change this, as results were the same when removing all transformed areas from the analyses. Important areas in buffer zones that increased local representativeness coincided with areas of increased intra-annual temperature variability. Orchards in transformed areas also influenced arthropod diversity in adjacent natural vegetation by <1km from orchard edges. This edge effect influenced both core and buffer sites due to the lack of a continuous buffer, indicating that the buffer zone is important for protecting the core. As fire management is an important correlate of arthropod turnover here, the complementary value of the buffer zone can have a strong temporal dimension. Given the important complementary value of the buffer zone, conservation management should not be restricted to core areas only, especially when maximising local representativeness.

Asphodelus fistulous L., a newly discovered plant invader in South Africa: Assessing the risk of invasion and potential for eradication

Background: Naturalised populations of Asphodelus fistulosus (onion weed) were recorded in South Africa for the first time during the early 1990s. Initial records lodged in 2012 indicated the presence of two populations. Five additional populations were found between 2012 and 2016, as a result of surveys and the distribution of awareness materials. All populations in South Africa occurred along roadsides, but in other parts of the world the species has demonstrated the ability to spread into adjacent native vegetation and crop fields.Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the risk of invasion and potential for eradication.Method: A risk assessment tool was used to establish invasion risk. Of the seven known populations, five test populations were selected to gather data on the feasibility for eradication. Randomised fixed plots were used to monitor the response of A. fistulosus populations to mechanical and chemical plant control methods and to track spread over time. The germinability of seeds was also tested.Results: The Standard Australian Risk Assessment method for invasive alien plants gave a relatively high score for the threat posed by this species. In this assessment, a threshold score is used to indicate sufficient invasive risk to fail a species as part of a preborder risk assessment. Invasiveness elsewhere (Australia and USA) contributed to the relatively high score. The bioclimatic modelling map highlighted the south-western region of South Africa as most suitable climatically for A. fistulosus. Both mechanical and chemical control methods were shown to be effective in killing live plants. Results, based on plant removal and monitoring, over a four-year research period suggest that suppression of reproduction is possible, partly as a result of high detectability and ease of control.Conclusion: It is recommended that A. fistulosus be listed as a National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act 10 of 2004 1a invasive species (eradication target) under national legislation, thus requiring compulsory management. We estimate that extirpation of all known populations of A. fistulosusmay be possible with continual effort at an annual investment of approximately ZAR 50 000 per year. Further surveillance for undiscovered populations and monitoring of known populations must be conducted to produce a definitive comment about the feasibility of countrywide eradication.

Fertilidade do solo e estoques de carbono e nitrogênio sob sistemas agroflorestais no Cerrado mineiro

Os sistemas agroflorestais são utilizados para diversificar a produção de alimentos, proporcionar aumento na biodiversidade da fauna e da flora e conservação do carbono e nutrientes no solo. Sendo assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a fertilidade e os estoques de carbono (C) e nitrogênio (N) do solo após dez anos de implantação de sistemas agroflorestais (SAFs) no Cerrado mineiro. O estudo foi realizado no Assentamento Agroextrativista Americana, localizado no município de Grão Mogol, mesorregião norte do Estado de Minas Gerais. Foram selecionados três SAFSs e duas áreas de vegetação nativa (VN) adjacentes, utilizadas como referência para o estudo, as quais foram agrupados em função da classe de solo: Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo e Cambissolo Háplico. A amostragem do solo foi realizada em março de 2013, dez anos após a implantação dos SAFs, em que amostras compostas foram retiradas das camadas 0-5 e 0-20 cm de profundidade para avaliação dos teores de nutrientes e densidade aparente, e na primeira camada os estoques de C e N do solo. Os SAFs que foram implantados com manejo baseado em desrama e manutenção da diversidade florística contribuíram com e melhoria da qualidade do solo e manutenção da fertilidade e estoques de C em níveis semelhantes à vegetação nativa. Já o SAF que foi implantado com a prévia supressão da vegetação nativa reduziu a diversidade arbórea e, consequentemente, os estoques de C ao longo do tempo. Porém, o manejo com culturas anuais e uso de leguminosas contribuiu para a melhoria da fertilidade do solo e incremento dos teores e estoques de N.

Ecosystem services and disservices by birds, bats and monkeys change with macadamia landscape heterogeneity

AbstractThe relative importance of ecosystem services and disservices can change with landscape structure in a poorly understood way.We compare the impact of biocontrol, provided by bats and birds, with that of crop raiding by vervet monkeys on yield in South African macadamia orchards. Insectivorous bats and birds are known to feed on macadamia pest insect species, like the macadamia nut borer or the green vegetable bug. Vervet monkeys move into the orchards during the day to feed on premature macadamia nuts. Bats, birds and monkeys benefit from patches of natural vegetation adjacent to orchards.With exclusion experiments (four treatments: day, night, day and night, control) we quantified the relative importance of biocontrol and crop raiding on yield, comparing two different landscape settings of the orchards, a natural and a human‐modified.Crop raiding occurred only close to natural vegetation and caused yield losses of about 26%. Biocontrol by bats and birds was higher near natural vegetation, but still significant in human‐modified landscapes, at up to 530 m distance to forest patches. Prevented biocontrol through the exclusion of bats and birds resulted in yield losses of up to 60%.Effects of biocontrol by bats and birds (USD ~5,000 ha/year) were economically more important than the losses of crop raiding (USD ~1,600 ha/year). As both are linked to the vicinity of forest patches, the removal of natural vegetation to limit monkey abundances would also limit biocontrol service provision.Synthesis and applications. This study highlights the high economic benefits of biocontrol by bats and birds, which outweighed negative impacts through yield losses caused by crop raiding monkeys. Management practices to prevent crop damage, such as guarding, excluding vertebrates or removal of adjacent natural vegetation, would also limit access for bats and birds and the great economic benefits provided by their biocontrol. Ecosystem services by bats and birds can be promoted by the exposure of artificial roost and nest sites, but research into species‐specific preferences is needed. The education of farmers is crucial, as many are unaware of the benefits from birds and bats and the fact that these benefits can outweigh the disadvantages of the monkeys’ crop raiding.

Choosing Native Species for Restoring Crested Wheatgrass Fields on the Great Plains of Northeast Montana

Large areas of the Northern Great Plains of North America were intentionally planted with the non-native crested wheatgrass 80–90 y ago. Land managers hope to restore these near-monoculture fields to more diverse native grassland. Our goal was to help guide selection of native species for restoration. We sampled vegetation at each of 24 fields planted with crested wheatgrass in the 1930's in northeast Montana across a range of soil textures. We documented composition at the edge of each crested field and in adjacent native vegetation, allowing us to rank native species as to their ability to persist with crested wheatgrass and determine how soil texture influences their ability to coexist with crested wheatgrass. We identified 29 native species that commonly re-established in crested wheatgrass fields. Sagebrush and several grasses occurred with similar abundance across all soils. Six forb species occurred preferentially on either heavy or light soils. Our results can be used to design seed mixes that will provide native species capable of coexisting with crested wheatgrass in eastern Montana. Application of our methods may be useful in other areas of the Great Plains.

First records of Sepedonea lindneri (Hendel, 1932) and Protodictya lilloana Steyskal, 1953 (Diptera, Sciomyzidae) from Uruguay with an overview on their biology

Sciomyzidae (Diptera) has been recorded in several countries of South America, but few species have been found in Uruguay. We report the first record of Sepedonea lindneri (Hendel, 1932) and Protodictya lilloana Steyskal, 1953 (Diptera, Sciomyzidae) from Uruguay. The specimens were collected in rice crops and in adjacent native vegetation with sweep net and vacuum sampler from December to March (2012–2015) in the Eastern region of the country. Photos of collection areas, habitus of adults and distribution map of the species are provided.

Predatory Mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) in Agro-Ecosystems and Conservation Biological Control: A Review and Explorative Approach for Forecasting Plant-Predatory Mite Interactions and Mite Dispersal

Phytoseiidae mites are efficient predators able to control pest mites and small arthropods in crops all over the world, using the three biological control strategies : (i) augmentation, (ii) classical and (iii) conservation. This paper focuses on this latter strategy. Most of those predatory mite species are generalist predators; they are naturally present in agro-ecosystems both on crops and adjacent natural vegetation. Because of such characteristics, their occurrence is usually associated to a lesser use of pesticides providing so ecosystem services. As a first baseline for managing their occurrence in agro-ecosystems, a review of the present knowledge of plants and predatory mite interactions and predator dispersal ability is proposed. In addition, based on the author own occurrence database, the study aims at analysing (i) plant traits and the potential co-evolutionary relationships between plants and predatory mite species and (ii) how this can be used for forecasting the plants favourable to key predatory mites. For this, some examples were taken, i.e. vine and citrus crops, and three species, Kampimodromus aberrans, Euseius stipulatus and Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) pyri. The main conclusion is that the occurrence database can help in determining the probability to find some predatory mite species on crops and non crop plants. However, because some elements are lacking, especially predatory mite density, plant traits and real overall distribution, it is at that time and using the analyses presently carried out, difficult to associate plant traits and plant phylogeny to Phytoseiidae diversity. Additional meta-analyses in collaboration with plant specialists would be required. Finally, the paper presents some examples of agroecosystem management at different scales (intercropping, agroforestry, borders management, landscape).

Disentangling the effects of farmland use, habitat edges, and vegetation structure on ground beetle morphological traits.

Land-use change due to agriculture has a major influence on arthropod biodiversity, and may influence species differently depending on their traits. It is unclear how species traits vary across different land uses and their edges, with most studies focussing on single habitat types and overlooking edge effects. We examined variation in morphological traits of carabid beetles (Coleoptera:Carabidae) on both sides of edges between woodlands and four adjoining, but contrasting farmland uses in an agricultural landscape. We asked: (1) how do traits differ between woodlands and different adjoining farmland uses (crop, fallow, restoration planting, and woody debris applied over crop), and do effects depend on increasing distances from the farmland-woodland edge? (2) Does vegetation structure explain observed effects of adjoining farmland use and edge effects on these traits? We found that carabid communities varied in body size and shape, including traits associated with diet, robustness, and visual ability. Smaller sized species were associated with woodlands and larger sized species with farmlands. Farmland use further influenced these associations, where woodlands adjoining plantings supported smaller species, while fallows and crops supported larger species. Vegetation structure significantly influenced body size, flying ability, and body shape, and helped explain the effects of farmland use and distance from edges on body size. We highlight the important role of vegetation structure, farmland use, and edge effects in filtering the morphological traits of carabid assemblages across a highly modified agricultural landscape. Our findings suggest that farmland management can influence body size and dispersal-related traits in farmland and adjacent native vegetation.

Incidence of Viruses in Two Large-Scale Plantings of Blackberry in South Carolina as Detected Through the Use of Sentinel Plants and RT-PCR

Some plants in two large-scale blackberry plantings established from virus-indexed planting material displayed symptoms typical of virus infection in the early days of the growing season immediately after planting. Groups of sentinel plants exposed within the plantings for 30-day periods over additional growing seasons, and subsequently screened for the presence of five viruses by reverse transcription PCR, detected Blackberry yellow vein-associated virus (BYVaV), Blackberry virus Y (BVY), Blackberry chlorotic ringspot virus (BCRV), Blackberry virus E (BVE), and Blackberry leaf mottle-associated virus (BLMaV). Because these viruses are thought to be transmitted through the actions of arthropods, and bearing in mind that the plantings had been established with virus-indexed material, it seems that the viruses must be moving into the new crops from adjacent native vegetation and once established moving freely within the crops. BYVaV has been reported from South Carolina previously. A recent publication reports the detection of BLMaV in samples originating from South Carolina and demonstrates transmission of the virus by mites. This is the first report of the detection of BCRV, BVY, and BVE within the state and provides support for the movement of the latter two viruses (BVY and BVE) within established plantings of blackberry as a result of vector activity.