Landscape pattern affects species composition and abundance of ground-dwelling predator

•Complex landscape supports higher species diversity than simple landscape.•Landscape pattern affects species composition of ground-dwelling predators.•Landscape heterogeneity facilitates abundance of ground-dwelling predators.

Commercial wheat farms were studied in Yinchuan Plain of Northwest China to assess the effects of two agro-farming systems on ground-dwelling predators. Pitfall trap methods were employed to investigate ground-dwelling predators during a four-year study from 2009 to 2012. Results showed that 9 species of ground-dwelling predators (Calosma maderae, Chlaenius pallipes, Dolichus halensis, Scarites terricola, Pterostichus gebleri, Harpalus crates, Pardosa astrigera, Erigonidium graminicolum, and Erigone prominens) dominated in the total 49 species captured. The structurally complex landscape (CL) supported significantly higher species diversity of ground-dwelling predators than that in structurally simple landscape (SL). Furthermore, there were also significant differences in population density and richness of ground-dwelling predators between CL and SL system. Finally, an inventory of ground-dwelling predators associated with different agricultural management systems was developed based on experimental collection, and it will serve as the basis for the sustainable pest management in Northwest China.

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