Direct and indirect effects of linear non-cultivated habitats on epigaeic macroarthropod assemblages
Non-cultivated habitats are indispensable ecological spaces within agricultural landscapes that support biodiversity and associated ecosystem services on farmland, thereby contributing to sustainable agriculture. The abundance of taxonomic groups within these habitats serves as a reliable indicator...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Ecological Indicators |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24003285 |
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| author | Chuqiao Wang Zhenxing Bian Yufei Zhang Deyang Guan |
| author_facet | Chuqiao Wang Zhenxing Bian Yufei Zhang Deyang Guan |
| author_sort | Chuqiao Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Non-cultivated habitats are indispensable ecological spaces within agricultural landscapes that support biodiversity and associated ecosystem services on farmland, thereby contributing to sustainable agriculture. The abundance of taxonomic groups within these habitats serves as a reliable indicator of the diversity levels in epigaeic macroarthropod communities, while the functional groups offer insights into the trophic dynamics of macroarthropods. In recent decades, the impact of non-cultivated habitats on biodiversity within agricultural contexts has received increasing attention. However, few studies have focused on the pathways and factors that influence epigaeic macroarthropod assemblages in different non-cultivated habitats. In this study, Changtu County, a typical agricultural county in the Northeastern Black Soil Region of China, was selected as the study area. The functional and taxonomic groups of epigaeic macroarthropod abundance in different non-cultivated habitats were compared. The structural equation model (SEM) was used to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of non-cultivated habitat type, soil nutrients and vegetation structure reflecting major differences in non-cultivated habitat types on epigaeic macroarthropod assemblages. Our results showed that: (1) linear semi-natural non-cultivated habitats around fields can effectively enhance landscape connectivity. Among these habitats, woodlands (WL), grasslands (GL), and ditches (CD) with high herbaceous vegetation density are usually more favorable for biodiversity conservation in agricultural ecosystems. (2) While dirt roads (DR) and paved roads (PR) may affect the mobility and foraging ability of epigaeic macroarthropods, improving herbaceous vegetation structures along road margins (e.g., planting flowering plants, establishing vegetation buffer zones) can effectively enhance field biodiversity. (3) The characteristics of herbaceous vegetation community are the most important factors affecting the functional and taxonomic groups of epigaeic macroarthropods in different non-cultivated habitats, especially the herbaceous vegetation height (PAH) and species abundance (PAB). In addition, for epigaeic macroarthropods taxonomic groups, non-cultivated habitats affect them not only directly through herbaceous vegetation, but also indirectly through soil organic carbon (SOC). Our results emphasize that in the planning of agricultural landscapes, it is feasible to achieve a harmonious synergy between ecosystem stability and agricultural production through strategic allocation and alteration of herbaceous vegetation structure and soil conditions in different types of non-cultivated habitats. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:58:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-779af0580df04cddbfc523f2342a5253 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1470-160X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:58:39Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Ecological Indicators |
| spelling | doaj.art-779af0580df04cddbfc523f2342a52532024-04-12T04:44:49ZengElsevierEcological Indicators1470-160X2024-03-01160111871Direct and indirect effects of linear non-cultivated habitats on epigaeic macroarthropod assemblagesChuqiao Wang0Zhenxing Bian1Yufei Zhang2Deyang Guan3College of Land and Environment, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China; Key Laboratory of Cultivated Land System Protection, Department of Natural Resources of Liaoning Province, Shenyang 110866, ChinaCollege of Land and Environment, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China; Key Laboratory of Cultivated Land System Protection, Department of Natural Resources of Liaoning Province, Shenyang 110866, China; Correspondind authors at: College of Land and Environment, Shenyang Agricultural University, No. 120 Dongling Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang, Liaoning Province 110161, China.College of Land and Environment, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China; Key Laboratory of Cultivated Land System Protection, Department of Natural Resources of Liaoning Province, Shenyang 110866, ChinaCollege of Land and Environment, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China; Key Laboratory of Cultivated Land System Protection, Department of Natural Resources of Liaoning Province, Shenyang 110866, ChinaNon-cultivated habitats are indispensable ecological spaces within agricultural landscapes that support biodiversity and associated ecosystem services on farmland, thereby contributing to sustainable agriculture. The abundance of taxonomic groups within these habitats serves as a reliable indicator of the diversity levels in epigaeic macroarthropod communities, while the functional groups offer insights into the trophic dynamics of macroarthropods. In recent decades, the impact of non-cultivated habitats on biodiversity within agricultural contexts has received increasing attention. However, few studies have focused on the pathways and factors that influence epigaeic macroarthropod assemblages in different non-cultivated habitats. In this study, Changtu County, a typical agricultural county in the Northeastern Black Soil Region of China, was selected as the study area. The functional and taxonomic groups of epigaeic macroarthropod abundance in different non-cultivated habitats were compared. The structural equation model (SEM) was used to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of non-cultivated habitat type, soil nutrients and vegetation structure reflecting major differences in non-cultivated habitat types on epigaeic macroarthropod assemblages. Our results showed that: (1) linear semi-natural non-cultivated habitats around fields can effectively enhance landscape connectivity. Among these habitats, woodlands (WL), grasslands (GL), and ditches (CD) with high herbaceous vegetation density are usually more favorable for biodiversity conservation in agricultural ecosystems. (2) While dirt roads (DR) and paved roads (PR) may affect the mobility and foraging ability of epigaeic macroarthropods, improving herbaceous vegetation structures along road margins (e.g., planting flowering plants, establishing vegetation buffer zones) can effectively enhance field biodiversity. (3) The characteristics of herbaceous vegetation community are the most important factors affecting the functional and taxonomic groups of epigaeic macroarthropods in different non-cultivated habitats, especially the herbaceous vegetation height (PAH) and species abundance (PAB). In addition, for epigaeic macroarthropods taxonomic groups, non-cultivated habitats affect them not only directly through herbaceous vegetation, but also indirectly through soil organic carbon (SOC). Our results emphasize that in the planning of agricultural landscapes, it is feasible to achieve a harmonious synergy between ecosystem stability and agricultural production through strategic allocation and alteration of herbaceous vegetation structure and soil conditions in different types of non-cultivated habitats.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24003285Herbaceous vegetation StructureSoil NutrientsEpigaeic Macroarthropod AssemblagesNon-cultivated habitatsNortheastern Black Soil RegionChina |
| spellingShingle | Chuqiao Wang Zhenxing Bian Yufei Zhang Deyang Guan Direct and indirect effects of linear non-cultivated habitats on epigaeic macroarthropod assemblages Ecological Indicators Herbaceous vegetation Structure Soil Nutrients Epigaeic Macroarthropod Assemblages Non-cultivated habitats Northeastern Black Soil Region China |
| title | Direct and indirect effects of linear non-cultivated habitats on epigaeic macroarthropod assemblages |
| title_full | Direct and indirect effects of linear non-cultivated habitats on epigaeic macroarthropod assemblages |
| title_fullStr | Direct and indirect effects of linear non-cultivated habitats on epigaeic macroarthropod assemblages |
| title_full_unstemmed | Direct and indirect effects of linear non-cultivated habitats on epigaeic macroarthropod assemblages |
| title_short | Direct and indirect effects of linear non-cultivated habitats on epigaeic macroarthropod assemblages |
| title_sort | direct and indirect effects of linear non cultivated habitats on epigaeic macroarthropod assemblages |
| topic | Herbaceous vegetation Structure Soil Nutrients Epigaeic Macroarthropod Assemblages Non-cultivated habitats Northeastern Black Soil Region China |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24003285 |
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