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Species Enriched Grass–Clover Pastures Show Distinct Carabid Assemblages and Enhance Endangered Species of Carabid Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) Compared to Continuous Maize

Author

Listed:
  • Henriette Beye

    (Institute of Natural Resource Conservation, Landscape Ecology, Kiel University, 24118 Kiel, Germany)

  • Friedhelm Taube

    (Institute of Plant Production and Plant Breeding, Grass and Forage Science/Organic Agriculture, Kiel University, 24118 Kiel, Germany
    Grass Based Dairy Systems, Animal Production Systems Group, Wageningen University (WUR), 6700 HB Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Tobias W. Donath

    (Institute of Natural Resource Conservation, Landscape Ecology, Kiel University, 24118 Kiel, Germany)

  • Jan Schulz

    (Institute of Natural Resource Conservation, Landscape Ecology, Kiel University, 24118 Kiel, Germany)

  • Mario Hasler

    (Department of Statistics, Kiel University, 24118 Kiel, Germany)

  • Tim Diekötter

    (Institute of Natural Resource Conservation, Landscape Ecology, Kiel University, 24118 Kiel, Germany)

Abstract

There is an urgent global need for the ecological intensification of agricultural systems to reduce negative impacts on the environment while meeting the rising demand for agricultural products. Enriching grasslands with floral species is a tool to promote diversity and the associated services at higher trophic levels, and ultimately, to enhance the agricultural landscape matrix. Here, we studied an organic pastures-based dairy production system with plant species enhanced grass–clover pastures with respect to the effect on the activity density, functional traits, carabid assemblages, and species richness of carabid beetles. To understand the effect of land management on carabid beetles, we studied two types of grass–clover pastures with low and relatively high plant diversities in an integrated crop–livestock rotational grazing system (ICLS). As a comparison, organic permanent grasslands and conventionally managed maize were studied. We installed pitfall traps for three weeks in early summer, and for two weeks in autumn. In total, 11,347 carabid beetles of 66 species were caught. Grass–clover pastures did not differ in activity density, functional traits, habitat guilds, or species richness, but conventional maize did show a higher activity density in autumn and a higher proportion of eurytopic species and mobile species compared to grass–clover pastures. On grass–clover pastures, we found more endangered species, Carabus beetles, and a distinct carabid assemblage compared to maize. However, we attribute the lack of an effect of increased plant diversity of the grass–clover pastures on carabid species richness and functional traits to the intensive grazing regime, which resulted in the compositional and structural homogeneity of vegetation. Still, the presence of specialized and endangered species indicated the potential for organically managed grass–clover pastures to promote dispersal through an otherwise depleted and fragmented agricultural landscape. By increasing crop diversity in ICLS, more resources for foraging and nesting are created; therefore, organically managed grass–clover pastures add to the multi-functionality of agricultural landscapes.

Suggested Citation

  • Henriette Beye & Friedhelm Taube & Tobias W. Donath & Jan Schulz & Mario Hasler & Tim Diekötter, 2023. "Species Enriched Grass–Clover Pastures Show Distinct Carabid Assemblages and Enhance Endangered Species of Carabid Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) Compared to Continuous Maize," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-27, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:12:y:2023:i:4:p:736-:d:1106350
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cecilia Loza & Thorsten Reinsch & Ralf Loges & Friedhelm Taube & José Ignacio Gere & Christof Kluß & Mario Hasler & Carsten S. Malisch, 2021. "Methane Emission and Milk Production from Jersey Cows Grazing Perennial Ryegrass–White Clover and Multispecies Forage Mixtures," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-15, February.
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