Perennial Flowering Plants Sustain Natural Enemy Populations in Gobi Desert Oases of Southern Xinjiang, China

Abstract

Natural habitats play crucial roles in biodiversity conservation and shape the delivery of ecosystem services in farming landscapes. By providing diverse resources to foraging natural enemies, they can equally enhance biological pest control. In this study, we described the plant community and foliage-dwelling invertebrate predators within non-crop habitats of the Gobi Desert oases in southern Xinjiang, China. We assessed whether plant-related variables (i.e., species identity, flowering status) and herbivore abundance affect natural enemy identity and abundance. A total of 18 plant species belonging to 18 genera and 10 families were commonly encountered, with Apocynum pictum (Apocynaceae), Phragmites communis (Poaceae), Karelinia caspia (Asteraceae), and Tamarix ramosissima (Tamaricaceae) as the dominant species. Certain plant species (P. communis) primarily provide shelter, while others offer (floral, non-floral) food resources or alternative prey. Predatory ladybeetles and spiders were routinely associated with these plants and foraged extensively within adjacent field crops. Plant traits and herbivore abundance explained up to 44% (3%–44%) variation in natural enemy community and exhibited consistent, year-round effects. Among all plant species, A. pictum consistently had a significantly higher abundance of resident natural enemies, except for August 2019. Our study underlines how perennial flowering plants, such as A. pictum, are essential to sustain natural enemy communities and related ecosystem services in arid settings. This work not only informs sustainable pest management initiatives but also shows how non-crop habitats at the periphery of agricultural fields underpin ecological resilience under adverse climatic conditions.

Volatiles from essential oils of three Lamiaceae plants repel the winged cotton aphid, disturb its feeding behavior and reduce its fecundity

“…Although Aphis gossypii is a polyphagous pest, they primarily cause severe damage only to cotton plants. Around cotton fields, there are other host crops such as fruit trees, corn, and wheat, [73][74][75] but Aphis gossypii poses minimal threat to these crops. Additionally, around cotton fields there are untilled areas dominated by weeds that are suitable hosts for Aphis gossypii.…”

Plant-Rich Field Margins Influence Natural Predators of Aphids More Than Intercropping in Common Bean

“…The presence of non-crop habitats surrounding or within arable land has been associated with increasing arthropod NEs of pests by providing floral resources, thus sustaining their populations [ 25 , 26 ]. For instance, important NEs such as parasitoids use nectar to fulfil their nutrition requirements at some stages of their development while spiders, lady beetles, rove beetles, syrphid flies, true bugs and lacewings use non-crop habitats to provide them with refuge, alternative hosts, pupation and overwintering sites [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 ]. It has been found that populations of NEs in field crops decline as the distance from the field margin increases and this demonstrates the essential function of field margins in maintaining NEs [ 38 ].…”

Field margin Plants support arthropod natural enemies in smallholder common bean farming systems in northern Tanzania

“…The presence of noncrop habitats surrounding or within arable land has been associated with increasing arthropod NEs of pests by providing floral resources and sustaining their populations (Chaplin-Kramer et al, 2011;González et al, 2022). For instance, spiders, lady beetles, rove beetles, syrphid flies, true bugs and lacewings use non-crop habitats to provide them refuge, alternative hosts, pupation and overwintering sites (Baggen & Gurr, 1998;Bianchi et al, 2006;Chaplin-Kramer et al, 2011;González et al, 2022;Landis et al, 2000;Long et al, 1998;Liu et al, 2022;Nicholls et al, 2001;Olson & Wäckers, 2007;Pywell et al, 2005;Thies & Tscharntke, 1999;Thomson & Hoffman, 2009;. However, floral resources provide different benefits to specific taxa of NEs (Wäckers, 2004) and thus NEs would respond differently to the proportions of non-crop habitats.…”