Responses of predatory invertebrates to seeding density and plant species richness in experimental tallgrass prairie restorations

Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment
By: , and 

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Abstract

In recent decades, agricultural producers and non-governmental organizations have restored thousands of hectares of former cropland in the central United States with native grasses and forbs. However, the ability of these grassland restorations to attract predatory invertebrates has not been well documented, even though predators provide an important ecosystem service to agricultural producers by naturally regulating herbivores. This study assessed the effects of plant richness and seeding density on the richness and abundance of surface-dwelling (ants, ground beetles, and spiders) and aboveground (ladybird beetles) predatory invertebrates. In the spring of 2006, twenty-four 55 m × 55 m-plots were planted to six replicates in each of four treatments: high richness (97 species typically planted by The Nature Conservancy), at low and high seeding densities, and low richness (15 species representing a typical Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Reserve Program mix, CP25), at low and high seeding densities. Ants, ground beetles, and spiders were sampled using pitfall traps and ladybird beetles were sampled using sweep netting in 2007–2009. The abundance of ants, ground beetles, and spiders showed no response to seed mix richness or seeding density but there was a significant positive effect of richness on ladybird beetle abundance. Seeding density had a significant positive effect on ground beetle and spider species richness and Shannon–Weaver diversity. These results may be related to differences in the plant species composition and relative amount of grass basal cover among the treatments rather than richness.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Responses of predatory invertebrates to seeding density and plant species richness in experimental tallgrass prairie restorations
Series title Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment
DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2013.10.024
Volume 183
Year Published 2014
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Contributing office(s) Coop Res Unit Seattle
Description 10 p.
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment
First page 11
Last page 20
Country United States
State Nebraska
County Hall County
City Wood River
Other Geospatial Platte River
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