Muriel Guernion

A Thesaurus for Soil Invertebrate Trait-Based Approaches

Soil invertebrates are known to be much involved in soil behaviour and therefore in the provision of ecosystem services. Functional trait-based approaches are methodologies which can be used to understand soil invertebrates’ responses to their environment. They (i) improve the predictions and (ii) are less dependent on space and time. The way traits have been used recently has led to misunderstandings in the integration and interpretation of data. Trait semantics are especially concerned. The aim of this paper is to propose a thesaurus for soil invertebrate trait-based approaches. T-SITA, an Internet platform, is the first initiative to deal with the semantics of traits and ecological preferences for soil invertebrates. It reflects the agreement of a scientific expert community to fix semantic properties (e.g. definition) of approximately 100 traits and ecological preferences. In addition, T-SITA has been successfully linked with a fully operational database of soil invertebrate traits. Such a link enhances data integration and improves the scientific integrity of data.

Effects of vegetation management intensity on biodiversity and ecosystem services in vineyards: A meta‐analysis

Abstract At the global scale, vineyards are usually managed intensively to optimize wine production without considering possible negative impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services (ES) such as high soil erosion rates, degradation of soil fertility or contamination of groundwater. Winegrowers regulate competition for water and nutrients between the vines and inter‐row vegetation by tilling, mulching and/or herbicide application. Strategies for more sustainable viticulture recommend maintaining vegetation cover in inter‐rows, however, there is a lack of knowledge as to what extent this less intensive inter‐row management affects biodiversity and associated ES. We performed a hierarchical meta‐analysis to quantify the effects of extensive vineyard inter‐row vegetation management in comparison to more intensive management (like soil tillage or herbicide use) on biodiversity and ES from 74 studies covering four continents and 13 wine‐producing countries. Overall, extensive vegetation management increased above‐ and below‐ground biodiversity and ecosystem service provision by 20% in comparison to intensive management. Organic management together with management without herbicides showed a stronger positive effect on ES and biodiversity provision than inter‐row soil tillage. Soil loss parameters showed the largest positive response to inter‐row vegetation cover. The second highest positive response was observed for biodiversity variables, followed by carbon sequestration, pest control and soil fertility. We found no trade‐off between grape yield and quality vs. biodiversity or other ES. Synthesis and applications. Our meta‐analysis concludes that vegetation cover in inter‐rows contributes to biodiversity conservation and provides multiple ecosystem services. However, in drier climates grape yield might decrease without irrigation and careful vegetation management. Agri‐environmental policies should therefore focus on granting subsidies for the establishment of locally adapted diverse vegetation cover in vineyard inter‐rows. Future studies should focus on analysing the combined effects of local vineyard management and landscape composition and advance research in wine‐growing regions in Asia and in the southern hemisphere.

Hainan earthworm community and the comparison with other East and Southeast Asia countries for geographic distribution and endemic rate

Abstract This paper presents an up-to-date list of the terrestrial earthworms of Hainan Island, which is the second largest island of China and separated by Qiongzhou Strait from the Leizhou Peninsula, Guangdong Province. Actually, 45 species are already known in this island, 60% of which is native species. Ten new species which were collected in the fieldwork in 2006 are also included in the list. Of these 45 species, 82% belongs to the family Megascolecidae, with the dominant genus Amynthas (70%). Some of the species also disperse in other regions of the Southeast Asia and China mainland, except 5 species only have a limited distribution. The endemism rate of Hainan (60%) is similar with that of China mainland (66%) and Taiwan (58%), but its endemism rate of Amynthas (77%) is much higher. All of these results maybe have some links with the geographical history of Hainan Island.

Soil biota in vineyards are more influenced by plants and soil quality than by tillage intensity or the surrounding landscape

Tillage is known for its adverse effects on soil biota, at least in arable agroecosystems. However, in vineyards effects might differ as tillage is often performed during dry periods or only in every other inter-row allowing species to re-colonise disturbed areas. We examined the response of earthworms (lumbricids), springtails (collembola) and litter decomposition to periodically mechanically disturbed (PMD) and permanently green covered (PGC) vineyard inter-rows and assessed whether site effects are altered by the surrounding landscape. In commercial vineyards in Austria we sampled earthworms by handsorting, springtails by soil coring and pitfall trapping and installed litter decomposition bags. Earthworm species diversity increased with plant biomass under PMD but not under PGC; earthworm density was unaffected by tillage but increased with plant biomass mainly at high soil quality (soil fertility index). Springtail species diversity was unaffected by tillage; springtail densities (mainly larger species) were reduced under PGC. Litter decomposition was little affected by investigated parameters. Landscape heterogeneity affected the functional diversity of surface springtails, but did not influence soil-dwelling springtails, earthworms or litter decomposition. We conclude that effects on soil biota of periodical tillage in vineyards need not necessarily be detrimental and will be modified by plant biomass and soil quality.

The Perception of Viticultural Landscapes as a Method of Promoting and Supporting Local Economic Activities Through Multifunctional Landscapes

Abstract The perception of landscape and consumption behaviour in relation to landscape was estimated using a questionnaire-based survey with 17 photographs: 15 photos from Romanian representative landscape units, 1 photo representing a foreign landscape (Hungary), and 1 marketing photo. The photo documentation was conducted in sixteen vineyards ecosystems from Târnave Viticultural Region - Transylvania (NW-Romania). The most representative landscape was the photo that had the specifications and criteria: low practices intensity with low landscape complexity; and the less representative landscape was the photo that had the specifications and criteria: photo capturing hiking, walking, tourism, and recreational activities in a viticulture landscape. The landscape could influence the following aspects of communities’ livelihood: establishments and development of enterprises, tourism and recreation businesses, and the place to live. The words used by interviewed people to point out the landscape were interpreted from the point of view of the concept of multifunctionality.

Phylogenetic study of some Aporrectodea species based on molecular markers

Abstract The Nicodrilus genus is not accepted in the nomenclature according to ICZN; Aporrectodea term is used. However, according to Bouché, Aporrectodea and Allolobophora genera are not homogeneous and are supposed as polyphyletic genera. The aim is to study the phylogenetic structure of Aporrectodea genus in order to verify its cladistic nature and its taxonomical validity. In this work, five species, belonging to the Aporrectodea genus, as the most common in France are studied. First, we use usual morphological characteristics to identify each species. Species life history traits are included among morphological characteristics (e.g. clitellum, puberculum and pores position, Morren’s gland, body size). Then, we pursue a molecular approach on individuals sampled in France. Molecular phylogenetic analyses are based on the sequences of nuclear (rDNA 28S) and mitochondrial (COI, rDNA 16S) gene regions and performed with maximum likelihood and bayesian inference. Phylogenetic analyses revealed two deep sister clades, Aporrectodea caliginosa species complex in one hand, and A. giardi, A. longa and A. nocturna in the other hand. The status of A. nocturna is recognized instead of A. longa and A. giardi ones. Our study cannot confirm the validity of Aporrectodea genus but highlights different lineages within species such as A. longa and A. caliginosa. Markers characterization ensures a molecular genotyping in lumbricids and begins to reveal intraspecific variabilities degrees unsuspected.