Beneficial insects are associated with botanically rich margins with trees on small farms
Abstract Beneficial insect communities on farms are influenced by site- and landscape-level factors, with pollinator and natural enemy populations often associated with semi-natural habitat remnants. They provide ecosystem services essential for all agroecosystems. For smallholders, natural pest reg...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Nature Publishing Group
2021-07-01
|
Series: | Scientific Reports |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-94536-3 |
id |
doaj-b31b95ccd25342f492de0ec3dbc795e6 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-b31b95ccd25342f492de0ec3dbc795e62021-08-01T11:25:30ZengNature Publishing GroupScientific Reports2045-23222021-07-0111111110.1038/s41598-021-94536-3Beneficial insects are associated with botanically rich margins with trees on small farmsSarah E. J. Arnold0Filemon Elisante1Prisila A. Mkenda2Yolice L. B. Tembo3Patrick A. Ndakidemi4Geoff M. Gurr5Iain A. Darbyshire6Steven R. Belmain7Philip C. Stevenson8Natural Resources Institute, University of GreenwichThe Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and TechnologyThe Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and TechnologyLilongwe University of Agricultural and Natural Resources, BundaThe Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and TechnologySchool of Agricultural and Wine Sciences, Charles Sturt UniversityRoyal Botanic Gardens, KewNatural Resources Institute, University of GreenwichNatural Resources Institute, University of GreenwichAbstract Beneficial insect communities on farms are influenced by site- and landscape-level factors, with pollinator and natural enemy populations often associated with semi-natural habitat remnants. They provide ecosystem services essential for all agroecosystems. For smallholders, natural pest regulation may be the only affordable and available option to manage pests. We evaluated the beneficial insect community on smallholder bean farms (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and its relationship with the plant communities in field margins, including margin trees that are not associated with forest fragments. Using traps, botanical surveys and transect walks, we analysed the relationship between the floral diversity/composition of naturally regenerating field margins, and the beneficial insect abundance/diversity on smallholder farms, and the relationship with crop yield. More flower visits by potential pollinators and increased natural enemy abundance measures in fields with higher plant, and particularly tree, species richness, and these fields also saw improved crop yields. Many of the flower visitors to beans and potential natural enemy guilds also made use of non-crop plants, including pesticidal and medicinal plant species. Selective encouragement of plants delivering multiple benefits to farms can contribute to an ecological intensification approach. However, caution must be employed, as many plants in these systems are introduced species.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-94536-3 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Sarah E. J. Arnold Filemon Elisante Prisila A. Mkenda Yolice L. B. Tembo Patrick A. Ndakidemi Geoff M. Gurr Iain A. Darbyshire Steven R. Belmain Philip C. Stevenson |
spellingShingle |
Sarah E. J. Arnold Filemon Elisante Prisila A. Mkenda Yolice L. B. Tembo Patrick A. Ndakidemi Geoff M. Gurr Iain A. Darbyshire Steven R. Belmain Philip C. Stevenson Beneficial insects are associated with botanically rich margins with trees on small farms Scientific Reports |
author_facet |
Sarah E. J. Arnold Filemon Elisante Prisila A. Mkenda Yolice L. B. Tembo Patrick A. Ndakidemi Geoff M. Gurr Iain A. Darbyshire Steven R. Belmain Philip C. Stevenson |
author_sort |
Sarah E. J. Arnold |
title |
Beneficial insects are associated with botanically rich margins with trees on small farms |
title_short |
Beneficial insects are associated with botanically rich margins with trees on small farms |
title_full |
Beneficial insects are associated with botanically rich margins with trees on small farms |
title_fullStr |
Beneficial insects are associated with botanically rich margins with trees on small farms |
title_full_unstemmed |
Beneficial insects are associated with botanically rich margins with trees on small farms |
title_sort |
beneficial insects are associated with botanically rich margins with trees on small farms |
publisher |
Nature Publishing Group |
series |
Scientific Reports |
issn |
2045-2322 |
publishDate |
2021-07-01 |
description |
Abstract Beneficial insect communities on farms are influenced by site- and landscape-level factors, with pollinator and natural enemy populations often associated with semi-natural habitat remnants. They provide ecosystem services essential for all agroecosystems. For smallholders, natural pest regulation may be the only affordable and available option to manage pests. We evaluated the beneficial insect community on smallholder bean farms (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and its relationship with the plant communities in field margins, including margin trees that are not associated with forest fragments. Using traps, botanical surveys and transect walks, we analysed the relationship between the floral diversity/composition of naturally regenerating field margins, and the beneficial insect abundance/diversity on smallholder farms, and the relationship with crop yield. More flower visits by potential pollinators and increased natural enemy abundance measures in fields with higher plant, and particularly tree, species richness, and these fields also saw improved crop yields. Many of the flower visitors to beans and potential natural enemy guilds also made use of non-crop plants, including pesticidal and medicinal plant species. Selective encouragement of plants delivering multiple benefits to farms can contribute to an ecological intensification approach. However, caution must be employed, as many plants in these systems are introduced species. |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-94536-3 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT sarahejarnold beneficialinsectsareassociatedwithbotanicallyrichmarginswithtreesonsmallfarms AT filemonelisante beneficialinsectsareassociatedwithbotanicallyrichmarginswithtreesonsmallfarms AT prisilaamkenda beneficialinsectsareassociatedwithbotanicallyrichmarginswithtreesonsmallfarms AT yolicelbtembo beneficialinsectsareassociatedwithbotanicallyrichmarginswithtreesonsmallfarms AT patrickandakidemi beneficialinsectsareassociatedwithbotanicallyrichmarginswithtreesonsmallfarms AT geoffmgurr beneficialinsectsareassociatedwithbotanicallyrichmarginswithtreesonsmallfarms AT iainadarbyshire beneficialinsectsareassociatedwithbotanicallyrichmarginswithtreesonsmallfarms AT stevenrbelmain beneficialinsectsareassociatedwithbotanicallyrichmarginswithtreesonsmallfarms AT philipcstevenson beneficialinsectsareassociatedwithbotanicallyrichmarginswithtreesonsmallfarms |
_version_ |
1721246025360867328 |