Evaluating a trait‐based approach to compare natural enemy and pest communities in agroforestry vs. arable systems

摘要: Diversified farming systems, for example those that incorporate agroforestry elements, have been proposed as a solution could maintain and improve multiple ecosystem services. However, habitat diversification in around arable fields has complex inconsistent effects on invertebrate crop pests their natural enemies. This hinders the development of policy recommendations to promote adoption such management strategies provision pest control Here, first time we conducted trait-based approach investigate effect system plant, herbivore enemy communities. We then evaluated this by comparing results generated using traditional taxonomic approach. At each three working farms, sampled within an field (a diverse comprising alleys crops separated tree rows), paired non-diversified area farm (arable field). Each 96 sample points was between eight ten times, yielding 393,318 specimens from 344 groups. Diet specialization or granivory, lack pupal stage, wing traits invertebrates, along with late flowering, short flowering duration, creeping habit perenniality plants, were more strongly associated than fields. hypothesize is result reduced disturbance increased complexity system. Taxonomic richness diversity higher compared fields, but these stronger at lower trophic levels. functional trait enemies significantly suggesting improved level biocontrol, which not detected metrics. Of key taxa, suppressed system, whilst two abundant, Trait-based approaches can provide better mechanistic understanding enemies, therefore recommend application testing future studies diversified systems.