Soil Arthropods in the Douro Demarcated Region Vineyards: General Characteristics and Ecosystem Services Provided

Fátima Gonçalves, Cristina Carlos, Luís Crespo, Vera Zina, Amália Oliveira, Juliana Salvação, José Alberto Pereira and Laura Torres
Additional contact information
Fátima Gonçalves: Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Agronomy Department, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Cristina Carlos: Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Agronomy Department, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Luís Crespo: Laboratory for Integrative Biodiversity Research (LIBRe), Finnish Museum of Natural History (LUOMUS), University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 17, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
Vera Zina: Forest Research Centre, School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal
Amália Oliveira: MED—Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, University of Évora, Núcleo da Mitra, Apartado 94, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
Juliana Salvação: Independent Forestry and GIS Consultant, Rua da Telheira, n°4, 5000-471 Vila Real, Portugal
José Alberto Pereira: Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Campus de Santa Apolónia, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
Laura Torres: Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Agronomy Department, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 14, 1-35

Abstract: Viticulture is one of the oldest and most profitable forms of agriculture; it is also one of the most intensive farming systems. As intensive cultivation threatens the environment, there is increasing interest in the concept of sustainability within the wine industry, as well as new business opportunities, as customers begin to pay more attention to environmental and sustainability issues. Recognizing the key role of soil quality in environmentally and economically sustainable viticulture makes it essential to understand better soil arthropod communities, given their crucial functions in maintaining soil quality and health. The ‘Douro Demarcated Region’ (DDR) in northern Portugal offers good potential, in regards to biodiversity, due to its significant areas of non-crop habitats. This work aims to compile information on soil arthropod communities (both soil surface and soil-living) collected in the DDR vineyard agroecosystems. A description of the ecosystem services provided by them, as a basis for the development and implementation of sustainable viticulture systems, is also an objective of this work. An important set of soil arthropods necessary for the delivery of vital ecosystem services for viticulture, with particular reference to supporting and regulating services, occurred in this ecosystem. Eight classes were chiefly represented in a sample of about 167,000 arthropod specimens: Arachnida, Chilopoda, Diplopoda, Entognatha, Insecta, Malacostraca, Pauropoda, and Symphyla. The most representative were Entognatha and Insecta in soil-surface arthropods, and Arachnida and Entognatha in soil-living arthropods. The presence of recognized groups as bioindicators in agroecosystems, such as soil quality indicators, is also revealed. This knowledge is expected to contribute to a more efficient and sustainable management of the viticultural ecosystem.

Keywords: ecosystem engineers; litter transformers; nutrients; soil-surface arthropods; soil-living arthropods; bioindicators (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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