Canopy arthropod declines along a gradient of olive farming intensification
Abstract Arthropod declines have been linked to agricultural intensification. However, information about the impacts of intensification is still limited for many crops, as is our understanding of the responses of different arthropod taxa and trophic groups, thus hindering the development of effectiv...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-21480-1 |
| _version_ | 1798029860592943104 |
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| author | Sasha Vasconcelos Sílvia Pina José M. Herrera Bruno Silva Pedro Sousa Miguel Porto Nereida Melguizo-Ruiz Gerardo Jiménez-Navarro Sónia Ferreira Francisco Moreira Ruben Heleno Mattias Jonsson Pedro Beja |
| author_facet | Sasha Vasconcelos Sílvia Pina José M. Herrera Bruno Silva Pedro Sousa Miguel Porto Nereida Melguizo-Ruiz Gerardo Jiménez-Navarro Sónia Ferreira Francisco Moreira Ruben Heleno Mattias Jonsson Pedro Beja |
| author_sort | Sasha Vasconcelos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Arthropod declines have been linked to agricultural intensification. However, information about the impacts of intensification is still limited for many crops, as is our understanding of the responses of different arthropod taxa and trophic groups, thus hindering the development of effective mitigation measures. We investigated the impacts of olive farming intensification on canopy-dwelling arthropods in the Mediterranean region. Intensification involves the increased use of agrochemicals, mechanisation and irrigation, but also structural changes from traditional orchards with low densities of large and old trees, to intensive and superintensive orchards with high to very high densities of smaller and younger trees, respectively. Canopy arthropods were vacuum-sampled at 53 sites representing the three orchard intensification levels, in spring, summer and autumn 2017. We evaluated how the arthropod community varied across intensification levels, and in response to orchard structure, management and landscape context. We found no changes in the diversity of arthropod taxa across intensification levels after correcting for sample coverage, but arthropod abundance declined markedly along the intensification gradient. Decreased abundance was associated with changes in orchard structure, lower herbaceous cover, and higher herbicide and insecticide use. The abundance of a specialized olive pest was lower in landscapes with higher woodland cover. The negative effects of intensification were stronger in spring and summer than in autumn, and parasitoids and predators were particularly affected. Overall, results suggest that retaining herbaceous cover, reducing agrochemical inputs and preserving natural woody elements in the landscape, may contribute to mitigate impacts of olive farming intensification on canopy arthropods, particularly on beneficial species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T19:32:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a55982d5102841f4aa12b00e83d2ebbc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T19:32:04Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-a55982d5102841f4aa12b00e83d2ebbc2022-12-22T04:06:58ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-10-0112111410.1038/s41598-022-21480-1Canopy arthropod declines along a gradient of olive farming intensificationSasha Vasconcelos0Sílvia Pina1José M. Herrera2Bruno Silva3Pedro Sousa4Miguel Porto5Nereida Melguizo-Ruiz6Gerardo Jiménez-Navarro7Sónia Ferreira8Francisco Moreira9Ruben Heleno10Mattias Jonsson11Pedro Beja12CIBIO, Centro de Investigação Em Biodiversidade E Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade Do PortoCIBIO, Centro de Investigação Em Biodiversidade E Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade Do PortoMediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, University of ÉvoraMediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, University of ÉvoraCIBIO, Centro de Investigação Em Biodiversidade E Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade Do PortoCIBIO, Centro de Investigação Em Biodiversidade E Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade Do PortoMediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, University of ÉvoraMediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, University of ÉvoraCIBIO, Centro de Investigação Em Biodiversidade E Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade Do PortoCIBIO, Centro de Investigação Em Biodiversidade E Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade Do PortoCentre for Functional Ecology, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Department of Life Sciences, University of CoimbraDepartment of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural SciencesCIBIO, Centro de Investigação Em Biodiversidade E Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade Do PortoAbstract Arthropod declines have been linked to agricultural intensification. However, information about the impacts of intensification is still limited for many crops, as is our understanding of the responses of different arthropod taxa and trophic groups, thus hindering the development of effective mitigation measures. We investigated the impacts of olive farming intensification on canopy-dwelling arthropods in the Mediterranean region. Intensification involves the increased use of agrochemicals, mechanisation and irrigation, but also structural changes from traditional orchards with low densities of large and old trees, to intensive and superintensive orchards with high to very high densities of smaller and younger trees, respectively. Canopy arthropods were vacuum-sampled at 53 sites representing the three orchard intensification levels, in spring, summer and autumn 2017. We evaluated how the arthropod community varied across intensification levels, and in response to orchard structure, management and landscape context. We found no changes in the diversity of arthropod taxa across intensification levels after correcting for sample coverage, but arthropod abundance declined markedly along the intensification gradient. Decreased abundance was associated with changes in orchard structure, lower herbaceous cover, and higher herbicide and insecticide use. The abundance of a specialized olive pest was lower in landscapes with higher woodland cover. The negative effects of intensification were stronger in spring and summer than in autumn, and parasitoids and predators were particularly affected. Overall, results suggest that retaining herbaceous cover, reducing agrochemical inputs and preserving natural woody elements in the landscape, may contribute to mitigate impacts of olive farming intensification on canopy arthropods, particularly on beneficial species.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-21480-1 |
| spellingShingle | Sasha Vasconcelos Sílvia Pina José M. Herrera Bruno Silva Pedro Sousa Miguel Porto Nereida Melguizo-Ruiz Gerardo Jiménez-Navarro Sónia Ferreira Francisco Moreira Ruben Heleno Mattias Jonsson Pedro Beja Canopy arthropod declines along a gradient of olive farming intensification Scientific Reports |
| title | Canopy arthropod declines along a gradient of olive farming intensification |
| title_full | Canopy arthropod declines along a gradient of olive farming intensification |
| title_fullStr | Canopy arthropod declines along a gradient of olive farming intensification |
| title_full_unstemmed | Canopy arthropod declines along a gradient of olive farming intensification |
| title_short | Canopy arthropod declines along a gradient of olive farming intensification |
| title_sort | canopy arthropod declines along a gradient of olive farming intensification |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-21480-1 |
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