Multivariate ordination identifies vegetation types associated with spider conservation in brassica crops.

ABSTRACT: Conservation biological control emphasizes natural and other non-crop vegetation as a source of natural enemies to focal crops. There is an unmet need for better methods to identify the types of vegetation that are optimal to support specific natural enemies that may colonize the crops. Here we explore the commonality of the spider assemblage-considering abundance and diversity (H)-in brassica crops with that of adjacent non-crop and non-brassica crop vegetation. We employ spatial-based multivariate ordination approaches, hierarchical clustering and spatial eigenvector analysis. The small-scale mixed cropping and high disturbance frequency of southern Chinese vegetation farming offered a setting to test the role of alternate vegetation for spider conservation. Our findings indicate that sp

SUBMITTER: Saqib HSA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5661431 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature