Loading…
Effects of weed biodiversity on the ecosystem service of weed seed predation along a farming intensity gradient
Weed biodiversity plays a key role in supporting food webs and ecosystem services in agroecosystems. One important service, that reduces weed abundance, is the predation of weed seeds by invertebrates and vertebrates. In this context weed biodiversity may be supportive in maintaining seed predator p...
Saved in:
Published in: | Global ecology and conservation 2020-12, Vol.24, p.e01316, Article e01316 |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Citations: | Items that this one cites Items that cite this one |
Online Access: | Get full text |
Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
Summary: | Weed biodiversity plays a key role in supporting food webs and ecosystem services in agroecosystems. One important service, that reduces weed abundance, is the predation of weed seeds by invertebrates and vertebrates. In this context weed biodiversity may be supportive in maintaining seed predator prevalence. This however, can be highly influenced by farming systems. In the present study we examined the connections between weed diversity, carabid beetle diversity and weed seed predation (WSP) rate. Additionally, the influence of a farming intensity gradient on WSP rate and predator groups was evaluated. An on-farm experiment on the Eastern Swabian Alps was set up from 2015 to 2017, where we determined the weed diversity, carabid beetle diversity using pitfall traps and WSP rates and predator groups by utilizing seed cards and exclosure cages. There was a linear correlation between weed diversity and carabid beetle diversity as well as a pattern showing that intermediate diversity of carabid beetles (3–8 species) exhibited the highest WSP rates by invertebrates. However, a direct connection between weed diversity and WSP was not detected. Farming intensity had no consistent influence on WSP, rather year and specific agronomic measures like cover cropping most presumably affected WSP. Carabid beetle communities were similar in 2016 and 2017 with omnivorous species dominating in the conventional fields and granivorous species in extensively managed fields. The most efficient seed predators were vertebrates. The promotion of beneficial predators and ecosystem services like WSP is possible by designing appropriate management strategies. Key components of these strategies should be the conservation of plant diversity and the utilization of weed control strategies such as cover cropping that provide suitable habitats for beneficial predators.
•Weed biodiversity facilitates Carabid beetle diversity.•Intermediate diversity of Carabid beetles leads to highest weed seed predation rates.•Experimental year, rather than farming intensity, affects weed seed predation.•Vertebrates are more efficient seed predators than invertebrates. |
---|---|
ISSN: | 2351-9894 2351-9894 |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01316 |