Large carabids enhance weed seed removal in organic fields and in large-scale, but not small-scale agriculture
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Large carabids enhance weed seed removal in organic fields and in large-scale, but not small-scale agriculture Christina Fischer Pe´ter Bata´ry
. Friederike Riesch
. Teja Tscharntke
.
Received: 18 November 2019 / Accepted: 9 November 2020 Ó The Author(s) 2020
Abstract Context Biological weed control by seed predators is an ecosystem service reducing weed population densities in agricultural landscapes. Drivers of seed predation are manifold and may change with spatial scales considered. Objectives We aimed at identifying the functional identity of seed predators, food web interactions and feeding links between weed and wheat seeds, considering the causal relationships between local and landscape-scale patterns.
Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-020-01157-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. C. Fischer (&) Restoration Ecology, Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management, Technische Universita¨t Mu¨nchen, Emil-Ramann-Str. 6, 85354 Freising, Germany e-mail: [email protected] C. Fischer Faunistics and Wildlife Conservation, Department of Agriculture, Ecotrophology, and Landscape Development, Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Strenzfelder Allee 28, 06406 Bernburg, Germany
Methods We investigated direct and indirect effects of local management intensity in winter wheat fields (organic vs. conventional farming), local crop characteristics (wheat density and height), edge effects, landscape composition (measured as land-use diversity) and configuration (edge length) on carabid beetles of different body size (large vs. small carabids), and removal of weed and wheat seeds. Results We showed the importance of indirect localand landscape-scale effects for weed seed removal via the activity density, but not assemblage composition, of large, but not small carabids, which was driven by few ubiquitous species. The activity density of large carabids increased with decreasing wheat density and increasing wheat height, which was highest in organic fields and in landscapes with low compositional and T. Tscharntke P. Bata´ry Agroecology, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Goettingen, Grisebachstr. 6, 37077 Go¨ttingen, Germany P. Bata´ry ‘‘Lendu¨let’’ Landscape and Conservation Ecology, Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Alkotma´ny u. 2-4, 2163 Va´cra´to´t, Hungary
F. Riesch Grassland Science, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Goettingen, Von-Siebold-Str. 8, 37075 Go¨ttingen, Germany
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Landscape Ecol
configurational heterogeneity. Further, the availability of nutrient-rich wheat seeds enhanced weed seed removal rates. Conclusions We found highest weed seed removal via large carabids in organic fields in large-scale agricultural landscapes. Predator body size and species identity as well as the availability of additional food items need to be taken into account for better predicting the biolog
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