Abandoned fields and high plant diversity support high spider diversity within an agricultural mosaic in a biodiversity
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ORIGINAL PAPER
Abandoned fields and high plant diversity support high spider diversity within an agricultural mosaic in a biodiversity hotspot K. Jurie Theron1
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Rene´ Gaigher1
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James S. Pryke1
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Michael J. Samways1
Received: 7 February 2020 / Revised: 24 August 2020 / Accepted: 3 September 2020 Ó Springer Nature B.V. 2020
Abstract Protected areas alone cannot conserve all biodiversity; we must also conserve biodiversity within production landscapes. Little is known about spider diversity in the Cape Floristic Region (CFR) biodiversity hotspot and factors driving spider diversity in transformed landscapes. Here, we assess spatial patterns of spiders in different transformed biotopes bordering remnant fynbos natural vegetation patches, determine direction of associated edge effects, and identify environmental factors influencing spider local distribution. Spiders were sampled along replicated transects running from remnant patches into three different transformed biotopes: old-fields (abandoned farmland), vineyards, and alien tree plantations. Spider Shannon diversity within old-fields and plantations did not differ from remnant patches, which had the highest diversity, whereas vineyards had the lowest. Overall, spider diversity was consistently high around habitat boundaries, regardless of land use type. Vineyards showed sharp declines in spider diversity along the remnantvineyard transect, compared to other transects. Spider assemblages within vineyards was significantly different compared to remnant patches and old-fields, whereas other land-uses showed greater similarity. Plant species richness within the transformed biotope core increased overall spider diversity, benefiting plant-dwelling assemblages, but negatively influencing ground-dwelling assemblages. Herbaceous plant cover was driving assemblages within vineyards, whereas Restionaceae plant cover drove assemblages within oldfields. Furthermore, amount of natural vegetation in the landscape influenced spider assemblages within transformed biotopes. Our results show that old-fields have great potential to increase structural and functional connectivity within agricultural mosaics, and their rehabilitation is recommended. Furthermore, increasing plant diversity throughout the transformed landscape can soften the landscape and benefit spider diversity. Keywords Araneae Cape Floristic Region Habitat boundaries Old-fields Supplementary habitat Surrounding habitat
Communicated by Nigel E. Stork. & K. Jurie Theron [email protected] 1
Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa
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Biodiversity and Conservation
Introduction Rapid anthropogenic change has resulted in loss of biodiversity (Pimm et al. 2014), with insects of particular concern (Cardoso et al. 2020). Private and proclaimed protected areas alone will not conserve all biological diversity as [ 80% of land is not formally protected (Fischer et al. 2013).
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