Comparison of arthropod communities between high and low input maize farms in Mexico
Abstract Background Animal communities are vulnerable to agricultural practices. Intensive farming considerably reduces overall arthropod diversity, but not necessarily pest abundance. Natural control of herbivores in agroecosystems is accomplished by predators and parasitoids, but in intensified ag...
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CABI
2021-10-01
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| Series: | CABI Agriculture and Bioscience |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s43170-021-00060-9 |
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| author | E. del-Val E. Ramírez M. Astier |
| author_facet | E. del-Val E. Ramírez M. Astier |
| author_sort | E. del-Val |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Animal communities are vulnerable to agricultural practices. Intensive farming considerably reduces overall arthropod diversity, but not necessarily pest abundance. Natural control of herbivores in agroecosystems is accomplished by predators and parasitoids, but in intensified agricultural regimes, the chemical control used to reduce pest abundances also affects pests’ natural enemies. To achieve more sustainable agriculture, there is a need to better understand the susceptibility of predators to conventional management. Methods In order to quantify the arthropod diversity associated with different schemes of agricultural management of maize, we evaluated agricultural fields under two contrasting management regimens in Michoacán, México during the spring–summer cycle of 2011. Arthropod communities were evaluated in plots with conventional high-input versus low-input agriculture in two sites—one rainfed and one with irrigation. The experimental units consisted of twelve 1 ha agricultural plots. To sample arthropods, we used 9 pitfall traps per agricultural plot. Results During the sampling period, we detected a total of 14,315 arthropods belonging to 12 Orders and 253 morphospecies. Arthropod community composition was significantly different between the sites, and in the rain-fed site, we also found differences between management practices. Predators, particularly ants, were more abundant in low-input sites. Herbivory levels were similar in all fields, with an average of 18% of leaf area lost per plant. Conclusions Our results suggest that conventional farming is not reducing herbivore abundances or damage inflicted to plants, but is affecting arthropod predators. We discuss repercussions for sustainable agriculture. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c199184e7d7c4504b3a52c6c06647187 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2662-4044 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | CABI |
| record_format | Article |
| series | CABI Agriculture and Bioscience |
| spelling | doaj-art-c199184e7d7c4504b3a52c6c066471872025-02-02T01:02:39ZengCABICABI Agriculture and Bioscience2662-40442021-10-012111010.1186/s43170-021-00060-9Comparison of arthropod communities between high and low input maize farms in MexicoE. del-Val0E. Ramírez1M. Astier2Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoInstituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoCentro de Investigaciones en Geografía Ambiental, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoAbstract Background Animal communities are vulnerable to agricultural practices. Intensive farming considerably reduces overall arthropod diversity, but not necessarily pest abundance. Natural control of herbivores in agroecosystems is accomplished by predators and parasitoids, but in intensified agricultural regimes, the chemical control used to reduce pest abundances also affects pests’ natural enemies. To achieve more sustainable agriculture, there is a need to better understand the susceptibility of predators to conventional management. Methods In order to quantify the arthropod diversity associated with different schemes of agricultural management of maize, we evaluated agricultural fields under two contrasting management regimens in Michoacán, México during the spring–summer cycle of 2011. Arthropod communities were evaluated in plots with conventional high-input versus low-input agriculture in two sites—one rainfed and one with irrigation. The experimental units consisted of twelve 1 ha agricultural plots. To sample arthropods, we used 9 pitfall traps per agricultural plot. Results During the sampling period, we detected a total of 14,315 arthropods belonging to 12 Orders and 253 morphospecies. Arthropod community composition was significantly different between the sites, and in the rain-fed site, we also found differences between management practices. Predators, particularly ants, were more abundant in low-input sites. Herbivory levels were similar in all fields, with an average of 18% of leaf area lost per plant. Conclusions Our results suggest that conventional farming is not reducing herbivore abundances or damage inflicted to plants, but is affecting arthropod predators. We discuss repercussions for sustainable agriculture.https://doi.org/10.1186/s43170-021-00060-9Low-input agricultureConventional agricultureSustainabilityHerbivoresPredatorsInsects |
| spellingShingle | E. del-Val E. Ramírez M. Astier Comparison of arthropod communities between high and low input maize farms in Mexico CABI Agriculture and Bioscience Low-input agriculture Conventional agriculture Sustainability Herbivores Predators Insects |
| title | Comparison of arthropod communities between high and low input maize farms in Mexico |
| title_full | Comparison of arthropod communities between high and low input maize farms in Mexico |
| title_fullStr | Comparison of arthropod communities between high and low input maize farms in Mexico |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparison of arthropod communities between high and low input maize farms in Mexico |
| title_short | Comparison of arthropod communities between high and low input maize farms in Mexico |
| title_sort | comparison of arthropod communities between high and low input maize farms in mexico |
| topic | Low-input agriculture Conventional agriculture Sustainability Herbivores Predators Insects |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s43170-021-00060-9 |
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