Influence of habitat type and surrounding landscape on spider diversity in Swedish agroecosystems

• Published in: Agriculture, ecosystems & environment Vol. 122; no. 2; pp. 211 - 219
• Main Authors: Öberg, S., Ekbom, B., Bommarco, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.10.2007; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Activity density; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Arachnida; Araneae; Biological and medical sciences; Field margin; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agroecology; General agroecology. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development. Rural area planning. Landscaping; General agronomy. Plant production; General aspects; Generalities. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development; Invertebrates; Linyphiidae; Lycosidae; Predators; Species composition; Species richness; Spring cereals; Synecology; Predators; Activity density; Field margin; Spring cereals; Species composition; Araneae; Linyphiidae; Lycosidae; Species richness; Landscape; Araneida; Agroecosystem; Arachnida; Arthropoda; Ecosystem; Field edge; Habitat; Predator; Invertebrata; Ecological abundance
• ISSN: 0167-8809; 1873-2305
• DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2006.12.034

Lycosid and linyphiid spiders were collected over a full cropping season around Uppsala, Sweden, in eight organic spring sown cereal fields in three different habitat types: field margin, field, and the edge between the two. The sites were located in landscapes with different proportions of non-crops, forest, perennial crops, annual crops, and number and sizes of arable fields. The field margin, compared with the field habitat, was found to be important for the activity density of lycosids, and for the species richness and composition of linyphiids. Landscape parameters were central for the activity density of linyphiids and for the species richness and composition of Lycosidae. A diverse landscape with easy access to perennial crops and forest in addition to field margins will augment both the number of species and individuals of the two spider families.