An Ecological Assessment of Insect Diversity at Organic Central Coast Vegetable Farms on Two Spatial Scales
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San Jose State University SJSU ScholarWorks Master's Theses Master's Theses and Graduate Research Spring 2013 An Ecological Assessment of Insect Diversity at Organic Central Coast Vegetable Farms on Two Spatial Scales Emily Musgrave San Jose State University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/etd_theses Recommended Citation Musgrave, Emily, "An Ecological Assessment of Insect Diversity at Organic Central Coast Vegetable Farms on Two Spatial Scales" (2013). Master's Theses. 4298. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31979/etd.yw3p-kgs5 https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/etd_theses/4298 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Master's Theses and Graduate Research at SJSU ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of SJSU ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. AN ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF INSECT DIVERSITY AT ORGANIC CENTRAL COAST VEGETABLE FARMS ON TWO SPATIAL SCALES A Thesis Presented to The Faculty of the Department of Environmental Studies San Jose State University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science by Emily A. Musgrave May 2013 © 2013 Emily A. Musgrave ALL RIGHTS RESERVED The Designated Thesis Committee Approves the Thesis Titled AN ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF INSECT DIVERSITY AT ORGANIC CENTRAL COAST VEGETABLE FARMS ON TWO SPATIAL SCALES by Emily A. Musgrave APPROVED FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES SAN JOSÉ STATE UNIVERSITY May 2013 Dr. Rachel O’Malley Department of Environmental Studies Dr. Lynne Trulio Department of Environmental Studies Dr. Deborah Letourneau Department of Environmental Studies University of California, Santa Cruz #$564#%6 AN ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF INSECT DIVERSITY AT ORGANIC CENTRAL COAST VEGETABLE FARMS ON TWO SPATIAL SCALES D[Emily A. Musgrave Modern industrial agriculture is the principal cause of anthropogenic land use changes for terrestrial ecosystems. Approximately 40% of the planet’s land surface, or half of the habitable area, is now composed of agricultural landscapes. The simplification and industrialization of agriculture are the biggest drivers of global biodiversity loss, especially on Californian’s Central Coast. Diversified organic agriculture, however, may offer some refuge for non-crop species. In this study we analyzed insect and plant biodiversity on and adjacent to organic vegetable farms on the Central Coast of California at two spatial scales, the landscape-scale and a smaller within-farm scale. At the landscape-scale, insect data were collected using malaise traps across 35 organic farms in 2005 and 2006, and vegetation diversity was assessed using 0.5 km-radius circular plots. At the smaller farm-scale, insect biodiversity was assessed using 4.5 cm-radius pan traps to collect insects in a single heterogeneous organic farm in 2012, and vegetation was assessed in 1.5 m-radius circular plots. Non-crop vegetation biodiversity was associated with insect biodiversity at both scales, but landscape-scale results showed greater temporal and spatial variation than farm-scale results. Overall, the diverse farm systems enhanced the biological diversity and productivity of the agricultural landscape. #%-019.'&)'/'065 I would not have been able to complete this thesis without the support and guidance of my advisers, peers, friends and family, and I will never forget their unwavering words of encouragement and motivation throughout this endeavor. I would like to begin by thanking my thesis committee members, Dr. Rachel O’Malley, Dr. Deborah Letourneau and Dr. Lynne Trulio. Their constant optimism and confidence helped me persevere throughout this process. The knowledge they imparted to me and the wisdom I have gained working with them will stay with me throughout my life. I would also like to thank the College of Social Sciences at San Jose State University for providing me with financial support that allowed me to purchase the equipment for this study. I’m also grateful to the Department of Environmental Studies for allowing me to use their field equipment. This study would not have been possible without the cooperation and help of Thomas Broz, who allowed me to use his farm for my study and was supportive and helpful throughout the data collection process. I am also very grateful to the group of undergraduate students in the Sustainable Agriculture Class who helped me collect my field data. Lastly, I would like to thank my family and friends for providing the intellectual and emotional support I needed to accomplish this monumental goal. My parents’ steadfast support has allowed me to pursue my educational goals, and their continued guidance and help—emotionally, intellectually and financially—have been the stepping stones for my success in the Master’s program at San Jose State University. I will be v forever grateful to them. I’m thankful for my sister and brother-in-law, for their guidance, expertise, and emotional support throughout the thesis-writing process. I am also very grateful to my fiancée for his unfaltering support and dedication throughout my career at San Jose State University. I would like to thank Miranda Melen, a friend and peer who has been a constant source of knowledge and encouragement during my time in this program. Lastly, I am very thankful to have been able to participate in the Environmental Studies Master’s Program at San Jose State University. It has enriched and fulfilled my life in more ways than I thought possible, and has given me the knowledge and excitement to continue in this field. vi 6#$.'1(%106'065 Page List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... ix List of Figures ......................................................................................................................x Chapter INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................1 Motivation scope ...................................................................................................1 Background ...........................................................................................................3 LITERATURE REVIEW ....................................................................................................8 Biodiversity of agricultural systems .....................................................................8 Global environmental footprint of modern agriculture .......................................11 Agriculture as a driver of global biodiversity loss ..............................................13 Natural enemies in agricultural systems .............................................................14 Plant diversity and pests......................................................................................17 Importance of Diptera (flies) in agroecosystems ................................................18 Multi-functional aspects of agricultural production ...........................................19 Agriculture in the United States ..........................................................................23 California agriculture ..........................................................................................26 Agriculture on the Central Coast ........................................................................27 California Central Coast ecosystems ..................................................................29 The agricultural crisis: The need for an interdisciplinary approach ...................34 PROBLEM STATEMENT ................................................................................................35 vii Framework of study ............................................................................................35 Objectives ...........................................................................................................35 Hypotheses ..........................................................................................................36 METHODS ........................................................................................................................37 Study system .......................................................................................................37 Research design ..................................................................................................42 RESULTS ..........................................................................................................................46 H1a,b landscape-scale biodiversity .....................................................................46 Farm-scale biodiversity-H2a,b ............................................................................59 DISCUSSION ....................................................................................................................73 Recommendations ...............................................................................................78 References ..........................................................................................................................80 viii LIST OF TABLES Page 1. Endemic Species of the Central Coast ................................................................30 2. Special Status Invertebrates of the Central Coast ...............................................31 3. Common Insect Morphospecies at the Landscape-scale ....................................49 4. Overview of Landscape-scale