首页|Improving insect conservation values of agri-environment schemes through diversified seed mixtures

Improving insect conservation values of agri-environment schemes through diversified seed mixtures

扫码查看
? 2022 The AuthorsTo counteract ongoing biodiversity declines, many European countries have implemented agri-environment schemes (AES) such as ecological focus areas (EFAs), the efficiency of which is often questioned due to low levels of habitat quality. We established new grasslands (NG) using a more diverse seed mixture specifically adapted to mimic low-intensity meadows occurring in our study region in Lower Austria. We compared abundance, species richness, species assemblages and β diversity of solitary bees, bumblebees, syrphids, butterflies, orthopterans, true bugs and cicadas in currently subsidized legume-grass mixtures targeted at supporting pollinators (SG), old grasslands (OG) and NG over a two-year period. Bees, bumblebees and syrphids clearly profited from NG in terms of abundance and species richness, while SG were significantly less attractive. Butterflies were most abundant in OG and significantly less attracted to both SG and NG. True bugs were particularly attracted to NG and SG. However, we did not find any preference in cicadas. Orthopteran species richness was similar in all three types, but individual numbers were significantly lower in NG than in OG. OG and NG supported highly distinctive species assemblages. For solitary bees, syrphids, true bugs and cicadas distinctiveness of sites (β diversity) was more decisive for overall diversity than local diversity. We urge policy makers to put more effort into the establishment of EFAs by using high quality seed mixtures of regionally adapted species and increased plant diversity. Furthermore, preserving permanent grasslands, which support different sets of insect assemblages, should be focused as well to maximize biological conservation value.

beta diversityPhytophagous insectPollinatorSemi-natural grasslandSpecies assemblageSpecies richness

Maas B.、Rabl D.、Frank T.、Moser D.、Pachinger B.、Holzinger W.、Krautzer B.、Hussain R.I.、Brandl M.

展开 >

University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Department of Integrative Biology and Biodiversity Research Institute of Zoology

Department for Botany and Biodiversity Research University of Vienna

University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Department of Integrative Biology and Biodiversity Research Institute for Integrative Nature Conservation Research

?koteam Institute for Animal Ecology and Landscape Planning

Institute for Plant Production and Cultural Landscape Department for Ecological Restoration Agricultural Research and Education Centre Raumberg-Gumpenstein

展开 >

2022

Biological Conservation

Biological Conservation

SCI
ISSN:0006-3207
年,卷(期):2022.269
  • 4
  • 68