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The effect of different vineyard management systems on the epigaeic arthropod assemblages in the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa

Thesis (MScConsEcol (Conservation Ecology and Entomology)--Stellenbosch University, 2008.

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Main Author: Gaigher, Rene
Other Authors: Samways, Michael J.
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University 2008
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access_status_str Open Access
author Gaigher, Rene
author2 Samways, Michael J.
author_browse Gaigher, Rene
Samways, Michael J.
author_facet Samways, Michael J.
Gaigher, Rene
author_sort Gaigher, Rene
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv Stellenbosch University
description Thesis (MScConsEcol (Conservation Ecology and Entomology)--Stellenbosch University, 2008.
format Thesis
id oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/1565
institution Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:45:08.467Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
publishDate 2008
publishDateRange 2008
publishDateSort 2008
publisher Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
publisherStr Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
record_format dspace
source_str SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
spelling oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/1565 The effect of different vineyard management systems on the epigaeic arthropod assemblages in the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa Gaigher, Rene Samways, Michael J. Stellenbosch University. Faculty of AgriSciences. Dept. of Conservation Ecology and Entomology. Vineyard management Stellenbosch Biodiversity conservation Stellenbosch Epigaeic anthropods Dissertations -- Conservation ecology and entomology Theses -- Conservation ecology and entomology Thesis (MScConsEcol (Conservation Ecology and Entomology)--Stellenbosch University, 2008. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa, where wine grape production and biodiversity conservation are of major importance, innovative management of the landscape is necessary to integrate the two activities. Alternative farming, such as organic and biodynamic farming, focuses on the preservation of biological processes in agroecosystems with the aim of increasing the sustainability of these sytems. It has been demonstrated in other regions that alternative farming can enhance biodiversity. This study assessed the potential of alternative vineyard management to conserve biodiversity, in particular epigaeic arthropod diversity, relative to the more widespread integrated vineyard management in the CFR. A hierarchical design was used, consisting of three localities, with three land-uses nested within each locality. The land-uses were alternative vineyards, integrated vineyards and natural vegetation sites as reference habitats. Sampling was done in June and October 2006 using pitfall traps. Nested ANOVAs were used to test for differences in abundance and species richness of the total assemblages, functional feeding guilds and selected generalized predatory taxa. Assemblage patterns were assessed using hierarchical agglomerative clustering and non-metric multidimensional scaling. Canonical correspondence analyses were used to evaluate the effects of environmental variables, management practices and landscape variables on community composition. Alternative vineyards supported a significantly higher overall arthropod abundance and species richness, more diverse predatory, saprophagous, phytophagous and omnivorous guilds, as well as more abundant and speciose spider and rove beetle assemblages than the integrated vineyards. Integrated vineyards harboured a greater abundance of predators, whereas results for nectarivores, wood borers, parasitoids and carabid beetles were variable. The differences could be explained in part by higher non-crop vegetation complexity and reduced management intensity of the alternative vineyards. Community composition was influenced by a combination of management practices, the surrounding landscape and geographic locality, which highlighted the interdependence of the cultivated land and its surroundings. Masters 2008-09-11T10:24:15Z 2010-06-01T08:27:30Z 2008-09-11T10:24:15Z 2010-06-01T08:27:30Z 2008-12 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/1565 en Stellenbosch University application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
spellingShingle Vineyard management Stellenbosch
Biodiversity conservation Stellenbosch
Epigaeic anthropods
Dissertations -- Conservation ecology and entomology
Theses -- Conservation ecology and entomology
Gaigher, Rene
The effect of different vineyard management systems on the epigaeic arthropod assemblages in the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa
title The effect of different vineyard management systems on the epigaeic arthropod assemblages in the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa
title_full The effect of different vineyard management systems on the epigaeic arthropod assemblages in the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa
title_fullStr The effect of different vineyard management systems on the epigaeic arthropod assemblages in the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa
title_full_unstemmed The effect of different vineyard management systems on the epigaeic arthropod assemblages in the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa
title_short The effect of different vineyard management systems on the epigaeic arthropod assemblages in the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa
title_sort effect of different vineyard management systems on the epigaeic arthropod assemblages in the cape floristic region south africa
topic Vineyard management Stellenbosch
Biodiversity conservation Stellenbosch
Epigaeic anthropods
Dissertations -- Conservation ecology and entomology
Theses -- Conservation ecology and entomology
url http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/1565
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