Crop Diversity at the Landscape Level Affects the Composition and Structure of the Vegetation-Dwelling Arthropod Communities in Naked Oat (Avena Chinensis) Fields

Abstract

The expansion of agriculture and intensive mechanized production have resulted in the loss of habitats and biodiversity, which has led to the loss of ecological services such as the biological control of pests and diseases, and insect-borne pollination. Current studies mainly focus on the impact of small-scale crop diversity (such as intercropping) on ecological service but lack research on the effects of crop diversity at the landscape scale. In this study, vegetation-dwelling arthropods in naked oat (Avena chinensis) fields under different planting patterns were collected at different growth stages by standardized sweep netting sampling, and the differences in arthropod communities and temporal dynamics were analyzed. Taking this information as an example, the effects of crop diversity at the landscape scale caused by different planting patterns on arthropod communities were studied. It was found that herbivores were the most abundant functional group in the arthropod community in naked oat fields, accounting for 70.13% of the total abundance, followed by natural enemies, accounting for 23.45%, and, finally, other insects. The abundance and species richness of natural enemies in naked oat fields under diversified planting pattern were significantly higher than those under intensive planting pattern, while the abundance and species richness of herbivorous pests showed no significant difference between the two planting patterns. Planting patterns significantly affected the composition and structure of arthropod communities in naked oat fields. Significantly higher ratio of natural enemy to pest and more diverse natural enemies under the diversified planting pattern have shown better biological control potential and the significance of biodiversity protection.

Influence of ecological farming on the community structure of epigeic arthropods in crops Triticum aestivum and T. spelta

“…The establishment of semi-natural habitats, of ecotones and their protection, provides the species (plants, animals) in the agricultural landscape with food resources needed for survival and production. Ecotones provide food sources, refuges and migration corridors (Zhao et al, 2020). The most common structure of econes are field edges, which agricultural management subjects to disturbance activities such as fertilizer misplacement, pesticide drift and eutrophication (Kleijn & Snoeijing, 1997).…”

Flowering margins support natural enemies between cropping seasons

“…Natural enemies may obtain nectar, refuge, and other prey from non-crop vegetation, enhancing their abundance and effectiveness in pest management (Bianchi and Wäckers, 2008). Beneficial arthropod populations, such as natural enemies and pollinators, have suffered significant reduction as a result of agricultural intensification characterized by indiscriminate pesticide use and reduction in suitable foraging and nesting habitats (Tscharntke et al, 2005;Zhao et al, 2021). In a study by Lundgren (2009), the fecundity of female predatory and parasitic arthropods was attributed to the amount of food available at the adult stage.…”

Field margins and cropping system influence diversity and abundance of aphid natural enemies in Lablab purpureus

“…These parasitoids have been shown to benefit from access to nectar resources and alternative hosts (Gurr et al, 2017; Kishinevsky et al, 2017; Souza et al, 2019). Natural enemy diversity and abundance are dependent on non‐crop vegetation providing prey, food, refuge and habitats to diapause (Alignier et al, 2014; Langellotto & Denno, 2004; Zhao et al, 2021).…”