The use of artificial habitats increases spider abundance and richness in a vineyard of Argentina

Abstract

Maintaining biodiversity in agricultural systems is essential, as it plays a key role in ecosystem services provision. However, it is declining at an unprecedented rate. Several methods can contribute to increasing species diversity in agroecosystems, including the use of artificial microhabitats. Studies focusing on biodiversity in vineyards have been carried out recently, mainly in Europe and North America, but are scarce in South America. In this study, we investigate whether introduced environmental variability and habitat complexity, using corrugated cardboard bands, enhances spider abundance and diversity in vineyards. Spiders were collected from grapevine plants, using two collecting methods (foliage beating and direct collection). Plants with and without cardboard bands (N = 30) were sampled in three different phenological stages of the vineyard (veraison, maturity and postharvest). Overall, we collected 904 spiders belonging to 35 species. We found that spider abundance and species richness significantly increased with cardboard bands. In addition, we identified particular species that prefer cardboard bands to build their shelters. Results suggest that cost-effective habitat manipulation can increase spider abundance in vineyards, which implies higher biodiversity conservation value and potential for improving biological control.

Ground-Dwelling Arachnids and Fire Disturbance: A Case Study in Northeastern Patagonia (Argentina)

“…In agreement with reports on other arid and semi-arid environments in Argentina, the arachnid assemblage in northeastern Patagonia was dominated by species of Philodromidae, Gnaphosidae, and Zodariidae [58][59][60][61][62]. Unlike other local studies that include arachnids as part of the ground-dwelling arthropod assemblages [40,63], this work found a low relative abundance of wolf spiders (Lycosidae).…”

Foliage and ground spiders respond differently to a semi‐natural habitat‐vineyard gradient

“…This species is very common in vineyards in California (USA) (Hogg et al, 2010) and other species within this genus have been recorded eating eggs and pupae of the moth L. botrana in vineyards in Europe, what makes them an interesting candidate for biological control of this pest (Reiff et al, 2021). In addition, C. inclusum and M. cetiformis were registered in high abundance in a previous study in the same vineyard (Pompozzi et al, 2021), demonstrating that both species are common in this crop.…”

“…As differential responses to non‐crop habitats were found among agroecosystems and regions, it is important to have information from different regions. Unfortunately, studies of arthropod biodiversity and the effects of SNHs within vineyards are very scarce in South America, also in Argentina (Pompozzi et al., 2021). For this reason, it is of great importance to increase research in the region and to pledge baseline knowledge on the biodiversity of this agroecosystem and to know how the management and landscape composition affects its associated biodiversity.…”

Forficula auricularia (Dermaptera) in orchards: Monitoring seasonal activity, the effect of pesticides, and the perception of European fruit growers on its role as a predator or pest

“…Cardboard traps have been widely used for field monitoring for decades with moderate differences in design and size. 19,33,64,65 Monitoring traps could also function secondarily as shelters, thus supporting the biocontrol potential of earwigs. According to our results, the presence of rolled traps significantly increased earwig abundances in trees.…”

“…Microclimatic conditions inside traps may also play an important role in an earwig's choice of a suitable shelter. Cardboard traps have been widely used for field monitoring for decades with moderate differences in design and size 19,33,64,65 . Monitoring traps could also function secondarily as shelters, thus supporting the biocontrol potential of earwigs.…”