title: The impact of management strategies in apple orchards on the structural and functional diversity of epigeal spiders.
abstract: Apple orchards are agro-ecosystems managed with high levels of inputs and especially pesticides. Epigeal spider communities were sampled in three seasons using pitfall traps in 19 apple orchards with four different management strategies (abandoned, under organic, Integrated Pest Management or conventional protection) and thus significantly different pesticide usage. The abundance and diversity of the spider communities was the highest in abandoned orchards. Higher diversity and evenness values were the only difference in spider communities from the organic orchards compared to the other commercial orchards. The analysis of five ecological traits (proportion of aeronauts, type of diet, overwintering stages, body size and maternal care), however, clearly showed differences in the spiders from the organic orchards. The spider species in the other commercial orchards were smaller and have higher dispersal abilities. Seven bioindicator species were identified in abandoned orchards, two species in organic ones (only Lycosidae) and one species in conventional orchards (Linyphiidae).
authors.affiliation: UMR 7263 CNRS-IRD, IMBE, Université d'Avignon et des Pays de Vaucluse, 301 Rue Baruch de Spinoza, BP 21239, 84916, Avignon Cedex 09, France.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mazzia
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pasquet
authors.forename: Gaël
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Caro
authors.forename: Jodie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thénard
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Cornic
authors.forename: Mickaël
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hedde
authors.forename: Yvan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Capowiez
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000295:instrumentation; D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D005602:France; D027845:Malus / Q000254:growth & development; D058871:Organic Agriculture / Q000295:instrumentation; D010575:Pesticides / Q000633:toxicity; D012621:Seasons; D013112:Spiders / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides