The activity and diversity of ground arthropods in an agroforestry system

Abstract

Comparison of the activity and diversity of ground arthropods in an agroforestry system in northern England was made using pitfall traps. The system consisted of production hedges of timber trees (ash, cherry, sycamore and walnut) interspersed with hazel bushes, arable alleys between the hedges and control areas. The most common taxa were more active during their abundant periods in the arable alley than in the adjoining control area containing the same arable pea crop. The diversity of ground arthropods was generally higher in the arable alley than in the control area. The production hedges could play a very important part in maintaining and enriching populations of polyphagous predators close to an adjacent arable crop.