人工固沙植被恢复对地表节肢动物群落组成及多样性的影响

人工绿洲是干旱区主要的自然景观之一,为了维护绿洲稳定而营建的防护林强烈改变地表生态水文过程,进而影响着地上和地下生物多样性。然而,以往的研究对地上植被关注较多,而对土壤动物研究较少。以张掖绿洲外围人工固沙植被群落和天然固沙植被群落为研究对象,探讨人工固沙植被恢复对荒漠地表节肢动物群落组成及多样性的影响及不同动物类群对植被变化的响应模式。研究表明,天然固沙植被群落转变为人工固沙植被群落显著降低了地表节肢动物数量,但提高了地表节肢动物类群丰富度和多样性,这在5月份表现尤为明显。植被类型对地表节肢动物群落的影响不同,8月人工柽柳林群落地表节肢动物活动密度、类群丰富度和多样性均显著高于人工梭梭林群落。人工固沙植被恢复显著降低了适应荒漠环境的拟步甲科甲虫,而蚁科和部分蜘蛛的数量显著增加,它们对人工固沙植被恢复的响应模式不同决定了群落结构及多样性的变化规律。此外,研究还发现一些地表节肢动物类群对不同生境具有强烈的指示作用,如拟步甲科等可指示荒漠生境,潮虫科等可指示梭梭林生境,而蠼螋科和狼蛛科等可指示柽柳林生境。综上所述,人工栽植固沙灌木形成的固沙植被群落导致了一些适应荒漠环境的地表节肢动物类群的数量降低,但也为更多的地表节肢动物类群提供了适应栖居环境和充足的食物资源等,从而提高了地表节肢动物的多样性。     

河西走廊天然固沙植被区地表甲虫多样性及其对沙漠化的指示作用

干旱、半干旱区沙漠化强烈影响动植物分布及多样性,地表甲虫是荒漠中主要的动物类群,它们对沙漠化引起的植被和土壤环境变化响应十分敏感。鉴于此,以河西走廊中部张掖绿洲外围的天然固沙植被区作为研究区,依据沙漠化发育程度选择流动沙丘（ASD）、丘间低地（IL）、半固定（SFSD）和固定沙丘（FSD）4种生境,调查了地表甲虫群落组成及影响甲虫分布的植被和土壤环境。研究发现,4种生境地表甲虫群落组成明显不同并存在季节变异,5月ASD与IL、SFSD和FSD生境地表甲虫群落的相异性大于8月。5月和8月SFSD生境地表甲虫活动密度均显著高于其他生境,8月FSD生境地表甲虫多样性指数显著高于其他生境。不同大小甲虫对沙漠化的响应模式不同,大中型甲虫对沙漠化的响应较小型甲虫敏感,这在5月表现尤为明显。地表甲虫与环境因子的RDA分析结果表明,12个植被和土壤环境因子解释了49.8%的地表甲虫群落变异,其中植被环境解释了甲虫群落变异的16.3%,土壤环境解释了甲虫群落变异的4.2%,植被和土壤环境相互作用解释了甲虫群落变异的29.3%。pRDA分析结果表明,草本物种丰富度、灌木盖度、土壤有机碳含量和粗砂含量是影响地表甲虫分布的主要环境因子,它们解释了43.7%的地表甲虫群落变异。Pearson相关分析表明,草本物种丰富度与地表甲虫活动密度呈显著正相关,而与地表甲虫均匀度呈显著负相关;灌木盖度与地表甲虫多样性呈显著正相关;地表甲虫物种丰富度与灌木盖度和草本物种丰富度均呈显著正相关。此外,研究还发现戈壁琵甲、克氏扁漠甲、中华砚甲和甘肃齿足象可以用于指示FSD生境,东鳖甲属昆虫可以用于指数SFSD生境,谢氏宽漠王可以用于指示IL及ASD生境。     

辽东山区次生林与人工林大型地表节肢动物多样性

采用陷阱法在地表节肢动物活动高峰期(7—8月)对辽东山区蒙古栎(Quercus mongolica)林、胡桃楸(Juglans mandshurica)林和阔叶混交林3种次生林以及红松(Pinus koraiensis)人工林和落叶松(Larix spp.)人工林地表节肢动物群落进行了调查。共捕获地表节肢动物5135头,隶属于7纲18目66个类群,优势类群为蚁科(20.4%)、葬甲科(19.5%)、蜣螂科(17.2%)和步甲科(14.5%);地表节肢动物的功能群丰度依次为:腐食性杂食性捕食性植食性;系统聚类分析表明,地表节肢动物群落和地表甲虫群落均显示红松人工林、落叶松人工林和胡桃楸林群落结构聚为一类,蒙古栎林和阔叶混交林群落聚为一类;冗余度分析表明,凋落物厚度、植被盖度与树高因子可以解释地表节肢动物及地表甲虫群落差异的85.9%和81.9%。研究结果表明,研究区森林植被及凋落物状况、人为干扰是影响研究区大型地表节肢动物群落多样性的重要因素。     

北京野鸭湖湿地地表甲虫群落组成与空间分布格局

2007年4–10月在北京野鸭湖湿地两种保存较好的湿地植被类型和3种主要的退化植被类型中设立了32个样地, 采用陷阱法调查地表甲虫群落的组成, 并在科级水平上探讨了湿地退化及植被类型变化对地表甲虫群落组成的影响。整个采样周期共采集甲虫标本42科, 其中步甲科和隐翅虫科为优势科, 蚁形甲科、肖叶甲科和薪甲科为亚优势科。在所研究的5种植被类型中, 湿地景观保存较好的芦苇(Phragmites communis)带与球穗莎草(Cyperus glomeratus)带的甲虫群落活动密度、科丰富度和Shannon-Wiener多样性指数(H’)均无显著差异, 而上述两种植被类型的甲虫活动密度以及球穗莎草带的甲虫科丰富度均显著高于3种退化的植被类型。对地表甲虫群落组成与9个环境因子进行的典范对应分析(CCA)表明, 32个样地在CCA排序图中的分布与植被类型之间存在明显的对应关系, 土壤含水量、植物盖度、植物生物量和枯落物盖度是影响地表甲虫群落组成及空间分布的主要环境因子。相关和回归分析结果也显示, 甲虫群落的活动密度与土壤含水量、植物生物量和植物盖度均极显著或显著正相关, 科丰富度与植物生物量显著正相关, 多样性指数(H’)与植物盖度极显著负相关; 其中土壤含水量的变化能够解释甲虫群落活动密度总方差的57%。此外, 通过主成分分析获得了反映土壤含水量、植物生物量和植物盖度综合作用的环境变量WBC (Water-Biomass-Coverage)。依据地表甲虫活动密度与WBC的关系, 可将5种植被类型分为彼此差异极显著的3组。研究结果表明保持良好的湿地景观对于保护湿地甲虫具有重要意义。     

宁夏黄土丘陵区不同生态恢复生境地表甲虫多样性

为了解宁夏黄土丘陵区不同生境地表甲虫群落多样性变化规律及与环境因子的关系, 并探讨不同生态恢复措施对维持地表甲虫群落多样性的影响, 2013年7-8月, 作者利用陷阱法调查了该区6种生境内的地表甲虫群落多样性。结果表明: 灌草混交林地、乔灌混交林地、生态薪炭林地中地表甲虫物种丰富度和个体数量均较高, 天然封育草地、生态经济林地和水平农田中物种丰富度较低, 生态经济林地和水平农田中甲虫个体数量显著高于天然封育草地。不同生境间, 灌草混交林地、乔灌混交林地与生态薪炭林地之间、生态经济林地与水平农田之间甲虫群落组成相似性较高。多元回归分析表明, 草本层生物量、灌木层盖度及土壤含水量是影响甲虫物种丰富度的决定因素, 林冠层盖度和枯落物厚度是决定地表甲虫个体数量的重要因素。CCA分析表明, 枯落物盖度、枯落物厚度、林冠层盖度及草本层盖度是影响地表甲虫群落组成的重要环境因子。研究表明, 灌草混交林地为地表甲虫群落多样性维持较好的生境类型, 是宁夏黄土丘陵区典型生态恢复的最优模式。     

胜山阔叶红松林蚂蚁巢穴对其他地表节肢动物多样性的影响

为了阐明蚂蚁巢穴对其他地表节肢动物群落组成和多样性的影响,于2019年在胜山自然保护区的原始阔叶红松林内开展实验,并采用陷阱法收集地表节肢动物.共捕获地表节肢动物92266只,分别为蜈蚣目、盲蛛目、马陆目、蜘蛛目,大头蚁属和步甲科、隐翅虫科、葬甲科这8个类群;蚂蚁巢穴存在及到蚂蚁巢穴的不同距离对其他地表节肢动物个体数量...     

祁连山国家公园煤矿修复对地表节肢动物多样性的影响

高寒山区煤矿覆土回填和种植草本植物能够快速改善环境,强烈影响地表节肢动物多样性及其生态功能,地表节肢动物对煤矿修复的响应还会因海拔及放牧扰动强度的变化而异。选择祁连山国家公园甘肃片区中部西营河和东大河保护站煤矿修复区和毗邻草地(对照区)为研究对象,利用陷阱法调查煤矿修复区及对照区地表节肢动物的种类组成和数量变化,解析地表节肢动物群落及关键类群对煤矿修复的响应模式,确定影响地表节肢动物多样性变化的关键要素。结果表明,煤矿修复缩小了修复区和对照区地表节肢动物群落差异,但煤矿修复区和对照区地表节肢动物群落组成明显不同并存在地域差异。西营河煤矿修复显著提高了地表节肢动物活动密度,而东大河保护站煤矿修复导致地表节肢动物活动密度略有降低,地表节肢动物类群丰富度、多样性和均匀度指数变化与活动密度相反。主要地表节肢动物科对煤矿矿区修复的响应模式不同并存在区域差异,西营河保护站煤矿修复显著提高了平腹蛛科、微蛛亚科和隐翅虫科的活动密度,但显著降低了硬体盲蛛科和象甲科的活动密度;东大河保护站煤矿修复显著提高了步甲科活动密度,但降低了蚁科和狼蛛科的活动密度。pRDA排序结果表明,海拔高度和全氮含量解释了西营河...     

西双版纳地区六种林型地表蜘蛛多样性比较研究

为探索地表蜘蛛多样性及其变化与森林类型和管理方式的关系, 在西双版纳勐仑自然保护区选择热带季节雨林、石灰山季节雨林和山地常绿阔叶林, 在自然保护区附近选择人工纯林、胶茶群落和橡胶林, 共6种林型, 每种林型选择3块样带, 共设置研究样地18块, 分别于2006年12月上旬（雾凉季）、2007年3月下旬（干热季）和2007年7月上旬（雨季）, 以单位地表面积法收集地表蜘蛛的物种组成和数量数据, 并以蜘蛛种类和数量分布为属性进行典范对应分析（CCA）, 探讨不同类型植被与地表蜘蛛多样性的关系。共采集蜘蛛标本9 849头, 用于统计分析的成熟蜘蛛3 119头, 归属于30科, 其中幽灵蛛科、皿蛛科、球蛛科和小密蛛科是地表蜘蛛的优势类群。各林型科的数量为: 热带季节雨林24科, 石灰山季节雨林22科, 山地常绿阔叶林22科, 人工纯林20科, 胶茶群落21科, 橡胶林19科; 各林型特有科数量: 热带季节雨林2科, 山地常绿阔叶林2科, 橡胶林1科; 而仅在雨林中分布的科4个（占全部30个科的13.3%）, 仅在自然林中分布的科6个（20.0%）, 仅在人工林中分布的科1个（3.3%）。从蜘蛛的数量分布看, 个体密度在热带季节雨林显著高于其他5种林型; 橡胶林多样性指数和丰富度指数显著低于3种自然林, 而均匀度指数的最低值也同样在橡胶林出现。CCA分析和聚类分析的结果表明, 6种林型趋于分成2组, 即: 自然林和人工林; 在自然林中两种次生林的相似程度更高; 人工林中人工纯林（非橡胶林）与胶茶群落的相似程度更高。以上结果表明: （1）森林砍伐后种植人工林措施改变了该地区地表蜘蛛群落的物种分布格局; （2）蜘蛛多样性随着人为干扰程度增加有减少的趋势; （3）减少人为干扰和增加植被群落多样性（橡胶林中种植茶树）对保护和恢复物种多样性有重要意义。     

紫胶林-农田复合生态系统地表甲虫多样性——以云南绿春为例

为揭示紫胶林-农田复合生态系统地表甲虫多样性, 于2006-2007年在云南省绿春县牛孔乡采用陷阱法调查了天然紫胶林、人工紫胶林和旱地的地表甲虫群落。共采集标本1 678头, 分别隶属于24科120种, 其中步甲科(Carabidae)和金龟科(Scarabaeidae)种类最丰富, 均占全部种类的12.50%。拟步甲科(Tenebrionidae)个体数量最丰富, 占个体总数的64.48%; 金龟科次之, 占个体总数的17.58%。大多数科的物种数和个体数在不同土地利用生境中的分布没有显著差异, 而步甲科、隐翅甲科(Staphylinidae)、叩甲科(Elateridae)、拟步甲科、瓢虫科(Coccinellidae)和小蠧科(Scolytidae)在不同土地利用生境中的分布有显著差异。天然紫胶林地表甲虫个体数量最少, 物种较丰富, 优势度最低, 多样性最高; 人工紫胶林个体数和物种数均丰富, 优势度和多样性居中; 旱地个体数量最多, 物种最贫乏, 优势度最高, 多样性最低。种级水平的聚类分析体现出人工紫胶林与旱地之间在种类组成上距离较近; 而科级水平的聚类反映出人工紫胶林和天然紫胶林更接近。结果提示, 紫胶林-农田复合生态系统具有区域内土地利用方式多样化的特点; 天然紫胶林在维持地表甲虫多样性水平上具有重要作用, 而人工紫胶林虽具有积极作用, 但仍需进一步恢复。     

黄河下游农业景观中景观结构和生境特征对林表生蜘蛛多样性的影响

以捕食者来进行"自上而下"的生物防治是有效而经济的。蜘蛛作为农业景观中重要的捕食者,在不同的尺度上研究景观和环境要素对其多样性的影响是十分必要的。目前,有关黄河下游农业景观研究中,关于蜘蛛多样性的研究报道较少。针对黄河下游农业景观中林地生境的蜘蛛多样性展开研究,于2014年4月和7月采用陷阱法调查林地生境中蜘蛛种群的分布及其多样性,分析了对蜘蛛多样性影响最强烈的环境因子,以及不同蜘蛛种群对草本植被盖度的不同选择。结果发现:研究区林地生境内蜘蛛的优势种群为星豹蛛(Pardosa astrigena)、单带希托蛛(Hitobia unifascigera)、类水狼蛛(Pirata piratoides)和陕西近狂蛛(Drassyllus shaanxiensis)。不同尺度上的景观要素和环境要素(解释变量)对蜘蛛多样性的影响存在差异,且在不同的季节均为100 m尺度上的解释变量对蜘蛛多样性的影响最大。在100 m尺度上,不同的解释变量对蜘蛛多样性的影响也不同,春季林地中的植被盖度对其影响最大,路距和林地面积也有较为明显的影响,夏季林地中的植被高度和植被盖度对其影响最大,其余解释变量的影响则极小。不同的蜘蛛种群对草本植被盖度大小的偏好不同,多数蜘蛛偏好高的植被盖度,如星豹蛛和白纹舞蛛(Alopecosa albostriata)等,也有部分蜘蛛种群偏好中、低植被盖度,如赫氏花蟹蛛(Xysticus hedini Schenkel)、白斑猎蛛(Evarcha albaria)和皮雄红螯蛛(Araneae)。研究表明,黄河下游农业景观林地生境中,不同的景观要素和环境要素在不同尺度和不同季节上对蜘蛛多样性的影响具有显著的差异,草本植被对蜘蛛多样性的影响极为显著。因此在研究区内合理规划林地的建设,加强草本植被的保护,提高林地捕食者的数量,有助于生物防治工作的发展和生物多样性保护工作的进行。     

The importance of canopy complexity in shaping seasonal spider and beetle assemblages in saltmarsh habitats

1. Habitat structure, including vegetation structural complexity, largely determines invertebrate assemblages in semi‐natural grasslands. The importance of structural complexity to the saltmarsh invertebrate community, where the interplay between vegetation characteristics and tidal inundation is key, is less well known. 2. It was hypothesised that canopy complexity would be a more important predictor of spider and beetle assemblages than simple vegetation attributes (e.g. height, community type) and environmental variables (e.g. elevation) alone, measured in two saltmarsh regions, south‐east (Essex) and north‐west (Morecambe Bay) U.K. Canopy complexity (number of non‐vegetated ‘gaps’ in canopy ≥ 1 mm wide) was assessed using side‐on photography. Over 1500 spiders and beetles were sampled via suction sampling, winter and summer combined. 3. In summer, saltmarshes with abundant spider and beetle populations were characterised by high scores for canopy complexity often associated with tussocky grass or shrub cover. Simple vegetation attributes (plant cover, height) accounted for 26% of variation in spider abundance and 14% in spider diversity, rising to 46% and 41%, respectively, with the addition of canopy complexity score. Overwintering spider assemblages were associated with elevation and vegetation biomass. Summer beetle abundance, in particular the predatory and zoophagous group, and diversity were best explained by elevation and plant species richness. 4. Summer canopy complexity was identified as a positive habitat feature for saltmarsh spider communities (ground‐running hunters and sheet weavers) with significant ‘added value’ over more commonly measured attributes of vegetation structure.     

Factors influencing the appearance of spider (Araneae) and beetle (Coleoptera) assemblages in nests of great reed warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus

The appearance of spider (Araneae) and beetle (Coleoptera) assemblages found in nests of great reed warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus was studied, firstly to investigate breeding success and the amount of precipitation as potential factors which might affect the abundance and species richness of both groups. In addition, we compared the diversity of spider and beetle assemblages between nests found in different reed habitats, and considered the position of nests (above water or dry ground). In this study we selected five different randomly chosen reed habitats: two mining ponds, two small canals and one large canal. Great Reed Warbler nests were collected either shortly after fledging, or after the clutch had failed. Altogether, 12 species of spider and 19 species of beetle were collected. In both groups there was no significant difference in abundance between successful, lost and cuckoo-parasitized nests; however, there was a significant difference in species richness between the three nest categories in spider assemblages, which was not the case in beetle assemblages. The amount of precipitation did not affect beetle or spider abundance; only the species richness of spiders showed significant growth. Furthermore, we found no significant relationship between vegetation cover and the species richness and abundance of spiders and beetles. The diversity of both groups differed significantly according to reed habitat: beetle assemblages were most diverse by the large canal and spiders at the mining ponds.     

Dynamic effects of ground-layer plant communities on beetles in a fragmented farming landscape

Vegetation effects on arthropods are well recognized, but it is unclear how different vegetation attributes might influence arthropod assemblages across mixed-agricultural landscapes. Understanding how plant communities influence arthropods under different habitat and seasonal contexts can identify vegetation management options for arthropod biodiversity. We examined relationships between vegetation structure, plant species richness and plant species composition, and the diversity and composition of beetles in different habitats and time periods. We asked: (1) What is the relative importance of plant species richness, vegetation structure and plant composition in explaining beetle species richness, activity-density and composition? (2) How do plant-beetle relationships vary between different habitats over time? We sampled beetles using pitfall traps and surveyed vegetation in three habitats (woodland, farmland, their edges) during peak crop growth in spring and post-harvest in summer. Plant composition better predicted beetle composition than vegetation structure. Both plant richness and vegetation structure significantly and positively affected beetle activity-density. The influence of all vegetation attributes often varied in strength and direction between habitats and seasons for all trophic groups. The variable nature of plant-beetle relationships suggests that vegetation management could be targeted at specific habitats and time periods to maximize positive outcomes for beetle diversity. In particular, management that promotes plant richness at edges, and promotes herbaceous cover during summer, can support beetle diversity. Conserving ground cover in all habitats may improve activity-density of all beetle trophic groups. The impacts of existing weed control strategies in Australian crop margins on arthropod biodiversity require further study.     

人工柠条-荒漠草地交错带拟步甲昆虫群落多样性

选取宁夏东部盐池县人工柠条灌丛-荒漠草地交错带为研究样地,以距离梯度形式,利用巴氏诱罐法对拟步甲科昆虫群落多样性进行了调查,研究了边缘效应对拟步甲昆虫群落多样性的影响。共采集拟步甲昆虫1405只,分属8属13种。结果表明,克小鳖甲和弯齿琵甲个体数量分别占总个体数的32.74%和43.27%,为该地区的优势种类。拟步甲昆虫在人工柠条灌丛-荒漠草地交错带的分布可分为3种类型,优势种克小鳖甲和弯齿琵甲属于栖息地广布型,但二者并没有表现出十分均匀的适应性,而且他们在各样带的分布呈显著负相关,克小鳖甲的分布趋向于沙生荒漠环境,弯齿琵甲的分布趋向于柠条灌丛;常见种蒙古漠王、小皮鳖甲的分布偏向于喜好荒漠草地;异距琵甲、奥氏真土甲、网目土甲和淡红毛隐甲的分布则偏向于喜好柠条灌丛。拟步甲昆虫丰富度与Shannon-Wiener多样性沿边缘分别向柠条灌丛和荒漠草地内部降低,个体数量总体上沿柠条灌丛、交错带向荒漠草地内部降低,但各样带差异不显著。从季节动态看,荒漠草地和柠条灌丛物种多样性季节变化相似,3种生境拟步甲活动密度季节变化相似。边缘效应强度分析呈现边缘正效应。CCA排序图显示分类地位相近的物种在生态适应上具有趋同性。多元回归分析表明,植被密度影响拟步甲昆虫群落的优势种和个体数量,植被盖度和高度分别影响拟步甲群落的均匀度和丰富度。主坐标分析(PCo A)排序表明人工柠条灌丛-荒漠草地交错带的拟步甲昆虫群落组成与柠条灌丛内部没有明显分化,但趋于向柠条灌丛生境演替。     

荒漠草原区柠条固沙人工林地表草本植被季节变化特征

研究荒漠草原人工林固沙区地表草本植被季节变化特征及其和柠条林龄的关系,对于分析柠条人工林地表草本植物的季节适应性和制订合理的人工林管理措施均具有重要的科学意义。选择6、15、24年生和36年生柠条人工林为研究对象,通过调查每个样地5月、8月和10月地表草本植物密度、物种数、盖度和高度,分析了荒漠草原区柠条人工固沙林生长过程中地表草本植被季节变化特征及其影响因素。结果表明,地表草本植物物种数在柠条林龄6和15a时受季节改变的影响较小,在24a之后受到季节变化的显著影响(P0.05)。地表草本植物密度在柠条林龄6a时受季节改变的影响较小,但在15a之后季节变化显著影响地表草本植物个体数分布(P0.05),而且在10月具有最多的地表草本植物个体数。地表草本植被盖度和高度均受到季节变化的显著影响(P0.05),而受林龄的影响较小;不同年龄林地地表草本植被盖度和高度均表现为10月和8月较高,5月较低。研究表明,荒漠草原柠条人工林固沙区,柠条林发育生长和灌木形态的改变不仅影响土壤营养条件,而且还可以调控由于季节改变而引起的土壤温湿度变化,柠条林龄和季节更替二者交互作用,共同影响地表草本植被的季节变化特征。     

Even the Smallest Non-Crop Habitat Islands Could Be Beneficial: Distribution of Carabid Beetles and Spiders in Agricultural Landscape

Carabid beetles and ground-dwelling spiders inhabiting agroecosystems are beneficial organisms with a potential to control pest species. Intensification of agricultural management and reduction of areas covered by non-crop vegetation during recent decades in some areas has led to many potentially serious environmental problems including a decline in the diversity and abundance of beneficial arthropods in agricultural landscapes. This study investigated carabid beetle and spider assemblages in non-crop habitat islands of various sizes (50 to 18,000 square metres) within one large field, as well as the arable land within the field, using pitfall traps in two consecutive sampling periods (spring to early summer and peak summer). The non-crop habitat islands situated inside arable land hosted many unique ground-dwelling arthropod species that were not present within the surrounding arable land. Even the smallest non-crop habitat islands with areas of tens of square metres were inhabited by assemblages substantially different from these inhabiting arable land and thus enhanced the biodiversity of agricultural landscapes. The non-crop habitat area substantially affected the activity density, recorded species richness and recorded species composition of carabid and ground-dwelling spider assemblages; however, the effects were weakened when species specialised to non-crop habitats species were analysed separately. Interestingly, recorded species richness of spiders increased with non-crop habitat area, whereas recorded species richness of carabid beetles exhibited an opposite trend. There was substantial temporal variation in the spatial distribution of ground-dwelling arthropods, and contrasting patterns were observed for particular taxa (carabid beetles and spiders). In general, local environmental conditions (i.e., non-crop habitat island tree cover, shrub cover, grass cover and litter depth) were better determinants of arthropod assemblages than non-crop habitat island size, indicating that the creation of quite small but diversified (e.g., differing in vegetation cover) non-crop habitat islands could be the most efficient tool for the maintenance and enhancement of diversity of ground-dwelling carabids and spiders in agricultural landscapes.     

Communities of ground‐dwelling arthropods in conventional and transgenic maize: background data for the post‐market environmental monitoring

To verify the validity of concerns about environmental safety of maize expressing insecticidal Cry toxins (referred to as Bt maize), we compared communities of ground beetles (Carabidae), rove beetles (Staphylinidae) and spiders (Araneae) in plots planted either with Bt maize cultivar YieldGard^® or with the non‐transgenic parental cultivar Monumental. Each cultivar was grown on 5 plots of 0.5 ha for three consecutive years. To increase the field load of Cry toxin, the fully grown maize of the first study year was shredded to small pieces that were ploughed into the soil. Arthropods were collected in pitfall traps and determined to the species level. The abundance and species richness of all studied groups greatly varied over the season and between the seasons but without statistically significant differences between the Bt and non‐Bt plots. A single spider species and three ground beetle species dominated in the catches every year, whereas a set of 1–4 most abundant rove beetle species changed every year. Frequently occurring species were typical for most of Europe. The total counts of ground beetles, rove beetles and spiders collected once or twice per season are proposed to serve as bioindicators in the post‐market environmental monitoring (PMEM).