scholarly journals The occurrence of entomopathogenic fungi in soils from mid-field woodlots and adjacent small-scale arable fields

2013 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cezary Tkaczuk ◽  
Tomasz Krzyczkowski ◽  
Rudolf Wegensteiner
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Entomopathogenic Fungi ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Selective Medium ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Insect Larvae ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Colony Forming Units ◽  
Farmland Soil ◽  
Arable Fields

The aim of this study was to compare the species composition and the intensity of entomopathogenic fungi occurrence in the soil from mid-field woodlots and adjacent small farmlands. The study material consisted of soil samples taken from a mid-field woodlot and an adjacent small-scale arable field in three different localities in the vicinity of Siedlce. Entomopathogenic fungi were isolated from soil using two methods: the insect bait method and the selective medium. The comparative study showed that the soil from mid-field woodlots was characterized by a richer species composition of entomopathogenic fungi than of adjacent arable fields. A total of six fungal species representing the anamorphs of Hypocreales (Ascomycota) were isolated from the soil collected from mid-field woodlots: <em>B. bassiana, B. brongniartii, M. anisopliae, M. flavoviride, I. farinosa</em> and <em>I. fumosorosea</em>. The presence of only three species was reported in the farmland soil: <em>B. bassiana, M. anisopliae</em> and <em>I. fumosorosea</em>. This fact confirms the important role of semi-natural habitats as a source of biodiversity of entomopathogenic fungi in agricultural landscape. It was found that entomopathogenic fungi together formed more colony-forming units in the soil from arable fields than that of neighbouring mid-field woodlots. <em>B. bassiana</em> was the species of fungus which infected more bait insect larvae and formed significantly more colony-forming units (CFU) in the soil from mid-field woodlots than that of farmland in the localities studied, whereas the trend was the opposite in the case of <em>I. fumosorosea</em> and <em>M. anisopliae</em>. Given the presence of entomopathogenic fungi in the farmland soil in the three test places together, it was found that <em>I. fumosorosea</em> was dominant in the soil from the two arable fields, where this fungus infected more <em>G. mellenella</em> larvae and formed significantly more CFUs than the other species of fungi. <em>M. anisopliae</em> was the second most frequently isolated farmland species.

scholarly journals Traditional agricultural landscape and their management in less favoured areas in Slovakia

2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jana Špulerová ◽  
Monika Drábová ◽  
Juraj Lieskovský
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Policy ◽  
Common Agricultural Policy ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Arable Fields ◽  
The Common ◽  
Agriculture Abandonment ◽  
Almost All

Abstract Traditional agricultural landscapes are a mosaic of small-scale arable fields and permanent agricultural cultivations such as grasslands, vineyards and high-trunk orchards. Most of them are threatened by abandonment as they are usually situated in marginal mountain regions with less favourable conditions for agriculture. Our aim was to analyse the distribution of traditional agricultural landscapes in less favoured areas and the effects of the supportive measures of the Common Agricultural Policy, which are oriented towards helping farmers from these areas in maintaining traditional agriculture. Except for traditional agricultural vineyard landscapes, almost all TAL plots are situated in less favoured areas. Most of them are located in mountain areas with less favourable conditions for agriculture. Abandonment of traditional agricultural landscape inside the less favoured areas is significantly higher than in locations elsewhere. The supportive measures of the Common Agricultural Policy do not effectively mitigate this abandonment. If we would like to maintain traditional agricultural landscape in less favoured areas, it is necessary to stop the existing negative trend of abandonment and search for new ways to motivate farmers to continue their traditional farming by adjusting the conditions of the common agricultural policy to benefit small farmers as well.

scholarly journals Abundance of Entomopathogenic Fungi in Leaf Litter and Soil Layers in Forested Habitats in Poland

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 134
Author(s):  
Anna Majchrowska-Safaryan ◽  
Cezary Tkaczuk
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Entomopathogenic Fungi ◽  
Mixed Forest ◽  
Selective Medium ◽  
Soil Layers ◽  
Colony Forming Units ◽  
Plating Method ◽  
Different Depths ◽  
Forest Leaf Litter ◽  
Isolated Species

This study aims to determine the species composition and density of colony-forming units (CFU) of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) in leaf litter at different depths of the top layer of forest soils depending on the type of forest (coniferous, deciduous and mixed forest), and the date of sampling (spring, autumn). In each type of forest, leaf litter and soil were collected using a soil stick from four depths of soil: 0–5, 5–10, 10–15 and 15–20 cm. Entomopathogenic fungi were isolated by a soil or litter dilution plating method on a selective medium. Four fungal genera were found: Beauveria spp., Cordyceps spp., Metarhizium spp., and Lecanicillium spp. The density of EPF was usually higher in leaf litter than in the layers of soil below, and the most frequently isolated species from both environments were Beauveria spp. among soil samples from all forest types; Beauveria spp. were most abundant in the top layer (0–5 cm), and their density of CFUs gradually decreased deeper into the soil profile.

scholarly journals Predation on Drosophila suzukii within Hedges in the Agricultural Landscape

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 305
Author(s):  
Alexandra Siffert ◽  
Fabian Cahenzli ◽  
Patrik Kehrli ◽  
Claudia Daniel ◽  
Virginie Dekumbis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Gut Content ◽  
Drosophila Suzukii ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Host Fruit ◽  
Molecular Gut Content Analysis ◽  
Wild Fruits ◽  
Diverse Community

The invasive Drosophila suzukii feeds and reproduces on various cultivated and wild fruits and moves between agricultural and semi-natural habitats. Hedges in agricultural landscapes play a vital role in the population development of D. suzukii, but also harbor a diverse community of natural enemies. We investigated predation by repeatedly exposing cohorts of D. suzukii pupae between June and October in dry and humid hedges at five different locations in Switzerland. We sampled predator communities and analyzed their gut content for the presence of D. suzukii DNA based on the COI marker. On average, 44% of the exposed pupae were predated. Predation was higher in dry than humid hedges, but did not differ significantly between pupae exposed on the ground or on branches and among sampling periods. Earwigs, spiders, and ants were the dominant predators. Predator communities did not vary significantly between hedge types or sampling periods. DNA of D. suzukii was detected in 3.4% of the earwigs, 1.8% of the spiders, and in one predatory bug (1.6%). While the molecular gut content analysis detected only a small proportion of predators that had fed on D. suzukii, overall predation seemed sufficient to reduce D. suzukii populations, in particular in hedges that provide few host fruit resources.

scholarly journals Landscape structure affects the sunflower visiting frequency of insect pollinators

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Károly Lajos ◽  
Ferenc Samu ◽  
Áron Domonkos Bihaly ◽  
Dávid Fülöp ◽  
Miklós Sárospataki
Keyword(s):  
Landscape Structure ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Edge Density ◽  
Wild Bees ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Mass Flowering ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Pollinator Community ◽  
Foraging Ranges

AbstractMass-flowering crop monocultures, like sunflower, cannot harbour a permanent pollinator community. Their pollination is best secured if both managed honey bees and wild pollinators are present in the agricultural landscape. Semi-natural habitats are known to be the main foraging and nesting areas of wild pollinators, thus benefiting their populations, whereas crops flowering simultaneously may competitively dilute pollinator densities. In our study we asked how landscape structure affects major pollinator groups’ visiting frequency on 36 focal sunflower fields, hypothesising that herbaceous semi-natural (hSNH) and sunflower patches in the landscape neighbourhood will have a scale-dependent effect. We found that an increasing area and/or dispersion of hSNH areas enhanced the visitation of all pollinator groups. These positive effects were scale-dependent and corresponded well with the foraging ranges of the observed bee pollinators. In contrast, an increasing edge density of neighbouring sunflower fields resulted in considerably lower visiting frequencies of wild bees. Our results clearly indicate that the pollination of sunflower is dependent on the composition and configuration of the agricultural landscape. We conclude that an optimization of the pollination can be achieved if sufficient amount of hSNH areas with good dispersion are provided and mass flowering crops do not over-dominate the agricultural landscape.

Habitats for large branchiopods in the agricultural landscape of the Mureş Floodplain Natural Park: how long will they last?

Crustaceana ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 94 (7) ◽  
pp. 775-795
Author(s):  
Alfred-Ştefan Cicort-Lucaciu ◽  
Gabriel-Lucian Herlo
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Natural Landscape ◽  
Large Branchiopods ◽  
Natural Park ◽  
Black Spots ◽  
Chirocephalus Diaphanus ◽  
Floodplain Area ◽  
Large Branchiopod

Abstract In the last two hundred years, the Mureş River Floodplain has suffered major changes caused by dike constructions, meander cutting, and by the transformation of the natural landscape into an agricultural one. In this environmental context, we wanted to find out the degree to which large branchiopod species still survive in the Mureş Floodplain area. Every stagnant aquatic habitat encountered in 2019 in the Mureş Floodplain Natural Park was sampled. For the habitats where more species co-occur, urgent preservation actions must be taken. Most of the species prefer open habitats and have survived in the wheel ruts on agricultural lands. In the absence of natural habitats, the importance of this habitat type becomes a major one. The forest advantages species related to shady habitats, such as Chirocephalus diaphanus. We have found several individuals in the park that showed black spots on their bodies, characteristic of the black disease of fairy shrimp. The presence of the disease only in the populations from wheel ruts suggests that vehicles which make these ruts, could be the carriers of the disease.

Scales of heterogeneity in prairie and forest

1999 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 370-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather R Kleb ◽  
Scott D Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Light Penetration ◽  
Pocket Gopher ◽  
Available N ◽  
Litter Mass ◽  
Thomomys Talpoides ◽  
Mixed Grass ◽  
Below Ground ◽  
Aspen Forest

Few studies have compared scales of heterogeneity among plant communities. We predicted that differences in the sizes of dominant species should allow us to detect small-scale (<256 cm) heterogeneity in mixed-grass prairie but not in adjacent aspen forest. We examined light penetration, soil moisture, available N, elevation, species composition, and plant mass at 10 locations in prairie and forest in both spring and summer. Variables were measured in 1-cm2 plots arranged in pairs separated by 0-256 cm. Several variables in prairie (elevation, litter mass, light penetration, and species composition) showed significant evidence for scale within the range examined. In contrast, only one variable in forest (light penetration in summer) showed evidence for scale in the same range. The scale of heterogeneity in prairie was consistent with the scale of two possible causes, species composition and elevation variability due to northern pocket gopher (Thomomys talpoides Richardson) activity, both of which varied significantly in prairie but not in forest. Whereas some aboveground factors (light and litter mass) varied within the range examined, belowground factors (water and N) did not, suggesting that the scale of heterogeneity differs between above- and below-ground factors. In total, the results suggest that differences in the scale of heterogeneity between prairie and forest reflect the relative sizes of the dominant plants.Key words: aspen, forest, heterogeneity, light, nitrogen, prairie, scale, soil, water.

scholarly journals The influence of field margins on the presence and spatial distribution of the European mole Talpa europaea L. within the agricultural landscape of northern Poland

2012 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 971-980 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewa Zurawska-Seta ◽  
T. Barczak
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Field Margins ◽  
Talpa Europaea ◽  
Northern Poland ◽  
European Mole ◽  
Arable Fields ◽  
Physical And Chemical ◽  
The Impact

European moles are widespread in both cultivated and uncultivated areas in Poland. Their occurrence and distribution in relation to the physical and chemical characteristics of soil has been already studied in previous research. However, there is still an open question about the impact of the structure of anthropogenic habitats produced by agriculture on moles. The main aim of this study is to assess the influence of different kinds of field margins on the presence and spatial distribution of the European mole Talpa europaea L. in farmlands. Methods included the monitoring of six investigative sites in northern Poland. Observations were made during three six-month periods in 2005-2008 of the presence or absence of moles as recognized by recent molehills and surface tunnels. There was a very clear tendency by moles to occupy areas within arable fields close to field boundaries with wide verges containing ruderal and woodland communities with a spacious zone of ecotones. Narrow boundary strips were avoided by moles. In conclusion, the conducted research confirms that field margins have an impact on the presence and spatial distribution of moles within ploughed lands. Our results may be helpful in improving the relation between agricultural development and biodiversity conservation, and the rational use of nature by humankind.

scholarly journals Local changes in communities of wild bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea, Apiformes): 30 years later

2014 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. 325-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Józef Banaszak ◽  
Halina Ratyńska
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Plant Succession ◽  
Permanent Plots ◽  
Wild Bees ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Increasing Trend ◽  
Quantitative Changes ◽  
Abundance And Diversity ◽  
Bee Communities ◽  
Forest Habitats

ABSTRACT Changes in communities of wild bees (Apiformes) were studied in relation to changes in vegetation in six permanent plots (natural forest habitats in the Wielkopolska National Park, and semi-natural habitats in the agricultural landscape near Turew) at the end of four decades (starting from the late 1970s). In 2008-2010, as many as 100 species of Apiformes were recorded there, which is more than reported in earlier decades. The most stable bee communities were those in forest habitats (oak-hornbeam forest, oak forest). Substantial qualitative and quantitative changes in vegetation and bee communities were recorded only after the renaturalisation of a former xerothermic grassland, which had become overgrown with shrubs and trees as a result of plant succession. Human interference (e.g. the felling of some trees growing along a road, clearance of understorey shrubs, ploughing of roadside margins) at selected refuge habitats in the agricultural landscape led to short-term fluctuations in bee abundance and diversity, but an increasing trend in abundance was noted.

Variability in organic matter lost by combustion in a boreal bog during the 2001 Chisholm fire

2003 ◽  
Vol 33 (12) ◽  
pp. 2509-2513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian W Benscoter ◽  
R Kelman Wieder
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Spatial Variability ◽  
Spatial Variation ◽  
Fire Severity ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Western Canada ◽  
Direct Combustion ◽  
Site Variation

Fire directly releases carbon (C) to the atmosphere through combustion of biomass. An estimated 1470 ± 59 km2 of peatland burns annually in boreal, western Canada, releasing 4.7 ± 0.6 Tg C to the atmosphere via direct combustion. We quantified within-site variation in organic matter lost via combustion in a bog peatland in association with the 116 000-ha Chisholm, Alberta, fire in 2001. We hypothesized that for peatlands with considerable small-scale microtopography (bogs and treed fens), hummocks will burn less than hollows. We found that hollows exhibit more combustion than hummocks, releasing nearly twice as much C to the atmosphere. Our results suggest that spatial variability in species composition and site hydrology within a landform and across a landscape could contribute to considerable spatial variation in the amounts of C released via combustion during peatland fire, although the magnitude of this variation may be dependent on fire severity.

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