Ground dwelling insects,spiders,and other arthropods play an important role in agroecosystems as predators and saprophytic organisms.Their presence on the soil surface helps the biological control of pests,enhances or...Ground dwelling insects,spiders,and other arthropods play an important role in agroecosystems as predators and saprophytic organisms.Their presence on the soil surface helps the biological control of pests,enhances organic matter decomposition and promotes biodiversity.Soil disturbance,particularly tilling and mowing has greatly affected the assemblage and abundance of epigeic arthropods.This study aimed to determine the effects of herbaceous vegetation cover mowing height on arthropods abundance and structure in olive orchards.The experimental site was divided into three zones(Z1,Z2,and Z3)regarding mowing heights(0 cm,10 cm,and 15 cm).This research was done in 2019 from the beginning of May untill the end of September.During this research,1490 individuals were recorded belonging to 6 classes,11 orders and 13 families.The number of individuals was higher in the zones Z2 and Z3 comparing with Z1.The highest number of individuals showed woodlices(Isopoda)comprising 67,5%of all individuals collected.There were significant differences in the number of Carabidae,Bleteliidae and Forficulidae between the zones of research.Unlike Forficulidae,higher heights of mown positively affected the population of Carabidae and Blateliidae.展开更多
Background:Only a few decades ago,colorful,small-scale,heterogeneous,and species-rich hay meadows or extensive pastures were common,but have often been replaced by species-poor,uniform,large-scale multicut meadows.Tec...Background:Only a few decades ago,colorful,small-scale,heterogeneous,and species-rich hay meadows or extensive pastures were common,but have often been replaced by species-poor,uniform,large-scale multicut meadows.Technological advancements and improved efficiency in grassland management have come at the cost of biodiversity.Methods:In Germany,150 grassland plots have been investigated since 2006.Using these extensive data,we propose a new compound index for estimating the site-specific mowing intensity in order to facilitate assessment of the impact of mowing intensity on biodiversity and ecosystem processes.Our index integrates the various qualitative components of mowing machine type,mowing height and use of a conditioner,with the annual number of cuts.Results:The newly proposed index achieves a much finer gradation of mowing intensity compared to the previous quantification based on the number of cuts only.Furthermore,a decrease in plant and arthropod species was observed at higher mowing intensity.Conclusions:The proposed mowing intensity index offers enhanced precision in calculations and can easily be integrated into assessments of land-use intensity in grasslands.Further,it could serve as a basis for providing subsidies to farmers,who adopt low-impact mowing practices.展开更多
An evaluation was performed on the influence of mowing height (2.5,5.0 or 7.5 cm) and mowing frequency (weekly or fortnightly) on levels of ergot alkaloids (ergine and ergonovine) formed in drunken horse grass,Achnath...An evaluation was performed on the influence of mowing height (2.5,5.0 or 7.5 cm) and mowing frequency (weekly or fortnightly) on levels of ergot alkaloids (ergine and ergonovine) formed in drunken horse grass,Achnatherum inebrians,grown under greenhouse conditions.Samples were taken monthly and alkaloids were extracted and analyzed by reverse-phase HPLC.Alkaloid levels increased more or less linearly with plant age over the first four months following establishment.Levels were higher in samples cut fortnightly compared to those cut weekly,and were higher when plants were cut at a mowing height of 7.5 cm vs.2.5 cm.In most cases,the highest alkaloid levels observed were almost three times those of the lowest.If plant protection applications are developed for the endophytic fungus,Neotyphodium gansuense,it will be necessary to be aware of the potential role of plant husbandry practices (e.g.,defoliation frequency and intensity) for reducing or enhancing levels of plant alkaloids.Similar husbandry factors may affect alkaloid levels in other Neotyphodium-grass associations,which would be interesting for further study.展开更多
文摘Ground dwelling insects,spiders,and other arthropods play an important role in agroecosystems as predators and saprophytic organisms.Their presence on the soil surface helps the biological control of pests,enhances organic matter decomposition and promotes biodiversity.Soil disturbance,particularly tilling and mowing has greatly affected the assemblage and abundance of epigeic arthropods.This study aimed to determine the effects of herbaceous vegetation cover mowing height on arthropods abundance and structure in olive orchards.The experimental site was divided into three zones(Z1,Z2,and Z3)regarding mowing heights(0 cm,10 cm,and 15 cm).This research was done in 2019 from the beginning of May untill the end of September.During this research,1490 individuals were recorded belonging to 6 classes,11 orders and 13 families.The number of individuals was higher in the zones Z2 and Z3 comparing with Z1.The highest number of individuals showed woodlices(Isopoda)comprising 67,5%of all individuals collected.There were significant differences in the number of Carabidae,Bleteliidae and Forficulidae between the zones of research.Unlike Forficulidae,higher heights of mown positively affected the population of Carabidae and Blateliidae.
基金Deutsche ForschungsgemeinschaftBundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung。
文摘Background:Only a few decades ago,colorful,small-scale,heterogeneous,and species-rich hay meadows or extensive pastures were common,but have often been replaced by species-poor,uniform,large-scale multicut meadows.Technological advancements and improved efficiency in grassland management have come at the cost of biodiversity.Methods:In Germany,150 grassland plots have been investigated since 2006.Using these extensive data,we propose a new compound index for estimating the site-specific mowing intensity in order to facilitate assessment of the impact of mowing intensity on biodiversity and ecosystem processes.Our index integrates the various qualitative components of mowing machine type,mowing height and use of a conditioner,with the annual number of cuts.Results:The newly proposed index achieves a much finer gradation of mowing intensity compared to the previous quantification based on the number of cuts only.Furthermore,a decrease in plant and arthropod species was observed at higher mowing intensity.Conclusions:The proposed mowing intensity index offers enhanced precision in calculations and can easily be integrated into assessments of land-use intensity in grasslands.Further,it could serve as a basis for providing subsidies to farmers,who adopt low-impact mowing practices.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2007CB108902)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 30771531)+1 种基金Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (Grant No. NCET-08-0256)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Grant No. LZUJBKY-2009-156)
文摘An evaluation was performed on the influence of mowing height (2.5,5.0 or 7.5 cm) and mowing frequency (weekly or fortnightly) on levels of ergot alkaloids (ergine and ergonovine) formed in drunken horse grass,Achnatherum inebrians,grown under greenhouse conditions.Samples were taken monthly and alkaloids were extracted and analyzed by reverse-phase HPLC.Alkaloid levels increased more or less linearly with plant age over the first four months following establishment.Levels were higher in samples cut fortnightly compared to those cut weekly,and were higher when plants were cut at a mowing height of 7.5 cm vs.2.5 cm.In most cases,the highest alkaloid levels observed were almost three times those of the lowest.If plant protection applications are developed for the endophytic fungus,Neotyphodium gansuense,it will be necessary to be aware of the potential role of plant husbandry practices (e.g.,defoliation frequency and intensity) for reducing or enhancing levels of plant alkaloids.Similar husbandry factors may affect alkaloid levels in other Neotyphodium-grass associations,which would be interesting for further study.