Potential ecosystem service delivery by endemic plants in New Zealand vineyards: successes and prospects

Abstract

Vineyards worldwide occupy over 7 million hectares and are typically virtual monocultures, with high and costly inputs of water and agro-chemicals. Understanding and enhancing ecosystem services can reduce inputs and their costs and help satisfy market demands for evidence of more sustainable practices. In this New Zealand work, low-growing, endemic plant species were evaluated for their potential benefits as Service Providing Units (SPUs) or Ecosystem Service Providers (ESPs). The services provided were weed suppression, conservation of beneficial invertebrates, soil moisture retention and microbial activity. The potential Ecosystem Dis-services (EDS) from the selected plant species by hosting the larvae of a key vine moth pest, the light-brown apple moth (Epiphyas postvittana), was also quantified. Questionnaires were used to evaluate winegrowers’ perceptions of the value of and problems associated with such endemic plant species in their vineyards. Growth and survival rates of the 14 plant species, in eight families, were evaluated, with Leptinella dioica (Asteraceae) and Acaena inermis ‘purpurea’ (Rosaceae) having the highest growth rates in terms of area covered and the highest survival rate after 12 months. All 14 plant species suppressed weeds, with Leptinella squalida, Geranium sessiliforum (Geraniaceae), Hebe chathamica (Plantaginaceae), Scleranthus uniflorus (Caryophyllaceae) and L. dioica, each reducing weed cover by >95%. Plant species also differed in the diversity of arthropods that they supported, with the Shannon Wiener diversity index (H′) for these taxa ranging from 0 to 1.3. G. sessiliforum and Muehlenbeckia axillaris (Polygonaceae) had the highest invertebrate diversity. Density of spiders was correlated with arthropod diversity and G. sessiliflorum and H. chathamica had the highest densities of these arthropods. Several plant species associated with higher soil moisture content than in control plots. The best performing species in this context were A. inermis ‘purpurea’ and Lobelia angulata (Lobeliaceae). Soil beneath all plant species had a higher microbial activity than in control plots, with L. dioica being highest in this respect. Survival proportion to the adult stage of the moth pest, E. postvittana, on all plant species was poor (<0.3). When judged by a ranking combining multiple criteria, the most promising plant species were (in decreasing order) G. sessiliflorum, A. inermis ‘purpurea’, H. chathamica, M. axillaris, L. dioica, L. angulata, L. squalida and S. uniflorus. Winegrowers surveyed said that they probably would deploy endemic plants around their vines. This research demonstrates that enhancing plant diversity in vineyards can deliver SPUs, harbour ESPs and therefore deliver ES. The data also shows that growers are willing to follow these protocols, with appropriate advice founded on sound research.

Effects of vegetation management intensity on biodiversity and ecosystem services in vineyards: A meta‐analysis

“…Vineyards could theoretically offer rather attractive and stable habitats for a range of species, especially in inter-rows covered by diverse plant species, which are favourable for pollinators (Kehinde & Samways, 2014a) and invertebrates that provide pest control services (Shields, Tompkins, Saville, Meurk, & Wratten, 2016).…”

Assessing Ecosystem Services and Multifunctionality for Vineyard Systems

“…Careful vineyard management can provide the service of disease control (Figure 4). For example, maintaining natural habitat or a diversity of agricultural crops near vineyards can help provide from disease control services in vineyard systems (Shields et al, 2016). Management practices to increase the biological degradation of vine debris can decrease harmful fungus abundance (Jacometti et al, 2007).…”

Identifying plant DNA in the faeces of a generalist insect pest to inform trap cropping strategy

“…), leafhoppers (Erythroneura spp.) and other phytophagous insects (Shields et al 2016). Inter-row vegetation and any surviving weeds could also act as alternative food sources for generalist insect pests, thereby potentially reducing economic damage.…”