title: The Influence of Vegetation and Landscape Structural Connectivity on Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea and Hesperiidae), Carabids (Coleoptera: Carabidae), Syrphids (Diptera: Syrphidae), and Sawflies (Hymenoptera: Symphyta) in Northern Italy Farmland.
abstract: Landscape structure as well as local vegetation influence biodiversity in agroecosystems. A study was performed to evaluate the effect of floristic diversity, vegetation patterns, and landscape structural connectivity on butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea and Hesperiidae), carabids (Coleoptera: Carabidae), syrphids (Diptera: Syrphidae), and sawflies (Hymenoptera: Symphyta). Vegetation analysis and insect samplings were carried out in nine sites within an intensively farmed landscape in northern Italy. Plant species richness and the percentage of tree, shrub, and herb cover were determined by means of the phytosociological method of Braun-Blanquet. Landscape structural connectivity was measured as the total length of hedgerow network (LHN) in a radius of 500 m around the center of each sampling transect. Butterflies species richness and abundance were positively associated both to herb cover and to plant species richness, but responded negatively to tree and shrub cover. Shrub cover was strictly correlated to both species richness and activity density of carabids. The species richness of syrphids was positively influenced by herb cover and plant richness, whereas their abundance was dependent on ligneous vegetation and LHN. Rarefaction analysis revealed that sawfly sampling was not robust and no relationship could be drawn with either vegetation parameters or structural connectivity. The specific responses of each insect group to the environmental factors should be considered in order to refine and optimize landscape management interventions targeting specific conservation endpoints.
authors: Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, University of Bologna, viale Fanin, 42 - 40127 Bologna, Italy.
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Burgio
authors: Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, University of Bologna, viale Fanin, 42 - 40127 Bologna, Italy.
authors: Daniele
authors: D
authors: Sommaggio
authors: Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche ed Ambientali, University of Bologna, via Irnerio, 42 - 40126 Bologna, Italy.
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Marini
authors: Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche ed Ambientali, University of Bologna, via Irnerio, 42 - 40126 Bologna, Italy.
authors: Giovanna
authors: G
authors: Puppi
authors: Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche ed Ambientali, University of Bologna, via Irnerio, 42 - 40126 Bologna, Italy.
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Chiarucci
authors: Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche ed Ambientali, University of Bologna, via Irnerio, 42 - 40126 Bologna, Italy.
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Landi
authors: Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, via de Pisis, 24 - 44100 Ferrara, Italy.
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Fabbri
authors: Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, via de Pisis, 24 - 44100 Ferrara, Italy.
authors: Fausto
authors: F
authors: Pesarini
authors: ISPRA, via Ca' Fornacetta, 9 - 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia, Bologna, Italy.
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Genghini
authors: Centro Agricoltura Ambiente "G. Nicoli", via Argini Nord, 3351 - 40014 Crevalcore, Bologna, Italy.
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Ferrari
authors: Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, University of Bologna, viale Fanin, 42 - 40127 Bologna, Italy.
authors: Enrico
authors: E
authors: Muzzi
authors: Laboratory of Entomology, University of Wageningen, Droevendaalsesteeg 1 - 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Joop C
authors: JC
authors: van Lenteren
authors: Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, University of Bologna, viale Fanin, 42 - 40127 Bologna, Italy. antonio.masetti@unibo.it.
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Masetti
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D002080:Butterflies / Q000145:classification*; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000145:classification*; D004175:Diptera / Q000145:classification*; D017753:Ecosystem; D006927:Hymenoptera / Q000145:classification*; D007558:Italy; D010944:Plants / Q000145:classification*
keywords: agri-environment scheme; agroecosystem; hedgerow network; insect biodiversity; rural landscape