Ecological Infrastructures May Enhance Lepidopterans Predation in Irrigated Mediterranean Farmland, Depending on Their Typology and the Predator Guild

José Carlos Franco, Manuela Branco, Sofia Conde, André Garcia, Maria Rosário Fernandes, José Lima Santos, Tainan Messina, Gonçalo Duarte, André Fonseca, Vera Zina and Maria Teresa Ferreira
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José Carlos Franco: Forest Research Centre, School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal
Manuela Branco: Forest Research Centre, School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal
Sofia Conde: Forest Research Centre, School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal
André Garcia: Forest Research Centre, School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal
Maria Rosário Fernandes: Forest Research Centre, School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal
José Lima Santos: Forest Research Centre, School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal
Tainan Messina: Forest Research Centre, School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal
Gonçalo Duarte: Forest Research Centre, School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal
André Fonseca: Forest Research Centre, School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal
Vera Zina: Forest Research Centre, School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal
Maria Teresa Ferreira: Forest Research Centre, School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 7, 1-19

Abstract: Ecological infrastructures (EIs) are considered relevant components in agricultural landscapes to support biodiversity and ecosystem services. We used the predatory attacks on lepidopteran dummies as a proxy to assess predation rates in the agricultural matrix and different EIs types according to their location and vegetation structure. We aimed at comparing the effect of different types of EI on the predation intensity in two intensively irrigated agricultural areas located in the Sorraia and Tagus river valleys in central Portugal. We hypothesized that: (1) the predation rate would be higher near EIs compared with the agricultural matrix, (2) the positive effect of EIs on predation rate would differ with their typologies, and (3) the EIs’ proximity and proportion in the surrounding landscape would have a positive effect on the predation rate in agricultural fields. The EI typologies influenced differently the predator groups and the overall predation rate. Major differences were observed for bird predation, being higher in woody EIs. A positive correlation between predation rate and EIs area of the surrounding landscape, as well as a negative correlation with the distance to the nearest riparian and woody EIs, was observed for birds. The observed dissimilarities in the predators’ response may be related to habitat differences and its functional connectivity. The overall monthly low predation rates are possibly related to the intensive agricultural system and the small area occupied by EIs.

Keywords: artificial sentinel prey; dummy caterpillars; ecosystem services; greening; predators (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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