Record Display for the EPA National Library Catalog

RECORD NUMBER: 12 OF 104

Main Title An ecological assessment of insect diversity at organic central coast vegetable farms on two spatial scales /
Author Musgrave, Emily A.,
Publisher San Jose State University,
Year Published 2013
OCLC Number 870269921
Subjects Agricultural ecology--California--Pacific Coast ; Insects--Ecology--California--Pacific Coast ; Plant diversity--California--Pacific Coast ; Sustainable agriculture--Environmental aspects--California--Pacific Coast
Internet Access
Description Access URL
http://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/etd_theses/4298/
Holdings
Library Call Number Additional Info Location Last
Modified
Checkout
Status
ELBM  QL475.C2M87 2013 AWBERC Library/Cincinnati,OH 02/18/2014
Collation x, 84 pages : illustrations (some color), map : 28 cm
Notes
Includes bibliographical references (pages 80-84). Paper printout from PDF.
Contents Notes
Modern industrial agriculture is the principal cause of anthropogenic land use changes for terrestrial ecosystems. Approximately 40% of the planet's land surface, or half of the habitable area, is now composed of agricultural landscapes. The simplification and industrialization of agriculture are the biggest drivers of global biodiversity loss, especially on Californian's Central Coast. Diversified organic agriculture, however, may offer some refuge for non-crop species. In this study we analyzed insect and plant biodiversity on and adjacent to organic vegetable farms on the Central Coast of California at two spatial scales, the landscape-scale and a smaller within-farm scale. At the landscape-scale, insect data were collected using malaise traps across 35 organic farms in 2005 and 2006, and vegetation diversity was assessed using 0.5 km-radius circular plots. At the smaller farm-scale, insect biodiversity was assessed using 4.5 cm-radius pan traps to collect insects in a single heterogeneous organic farm in 2012, and vegetation was assessed in 1.5 m-radius circular plots. Non-crop vegetation biodiversity was associated with insect biodiversity at both scales, but landscape-scale results showed greater temporal and spatial variation than farm-scale results. Overall, the diverse farm systems enhanced the biological diversity and productivity of the agricultural landscape.