Effects of Semi-Natural Habitats on Carabids and Their Potential
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Effects of semi-natural habitats on carabids and their potential to control slugs in agricultural landscapes by Moritz S. Fußer from Filderstadt / Germany Accepted Dissertation thesis for the partial fulfilment of the requirements for a Doctor of Natural Sciences Fachbereich 7: Natur- und Umweltwissenschaften Universität Koblenz-Landau Thesis examiners Prof. Dr. Martin H. Entling, University Koblenz Landau Dr. Jens Schirmel, University Koblenz-Landau Date of oral examiation: 29th March 2019 Statutory declaration I declare that I have authored this thesis independently, that I have not used any other than the declared sources / resources, and that I have explicitly marked all material which has been quoted either literally or by content from the used sources. I also certify that this dissertation thesis does not contain any material that has been submitted for the award of any other degree at any university or other institution. Karlsruhe, 21.12.2018 2 Author’s contribution In chapter 2 Moritz S. Fußer collected data in 2014. Sonja C. Pfister collected data in 2013 and 2014. Moritz S. Fußer carried out laboratory work, statistical analysis and led the writing. Jens Schirmel contributed to statistical analysis and writing. Martin H. Entling coordinated the study and contributed to statistical analysis and writing. Sonja C. Pfister, Jens Schirmel and Martin H. Entling participated in the design of the study. In chapter 3 Moritz S. Fußer carried out field and laboratory work, statistical analysis and led the writing. Jens Schirmel contributed to statistical analysis and writing. Martin H. Entling coordinated the study and contributed to writing. Moritz S. Fußer, Jens Schirmel, Sonja C. Pfister and Martin H. Entling participated in the design of the study. In chapter 5 Moritz S. Fußer conceived the ideas as well as the design methodology and carried out field work and contributed to writing. Sebastian Wendland participated in the field work, carried out laboratory work as well as statistical analysis and led the writing. Patrick Baudy, Jens Schirmel and Martin H. Entling contributed to statistical analysis and writing. In chapter 4 Moritz Fußer carried out field and laboratory work, statistical analysis and led the writing. Jens Schirmel contributed to statistical analysis and writing. Martin H. Entling coordinated the study and contributed to writing. John M. Holland and Philippe Jeanneret contributed to writing. Jens Schirmel, Sonja C. Pfister and Martin H. Entling participated in the design of the study. In chapter 5 Moritz S. Fußer conceived the ideas as well as the design methodology and carried out field work and contributed to writing. Sebastian Wendland participated in the field work, carried out laboratory work as well as statistical analysis and led the writing. Patrick Baudy, Jens Schirmel and Martin H. Entling contributed to statistical analysis and writing. 3 Content Chapter 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 11 1.1. Natural pest control as an ecosystem service ............................................................................. 11 1.2. Carabids as slug control agents .................................................................................................. 12 1.3. Slugs as major pests in agriculture ............................................................................................. 13 1.4. Importance of semi-natural habitats to support pest control ...................................................... 13 1.5. Carabids in agricultural landscapes and the importance of semi-natural habitats ...................... 15 1.6. Objectives of the thesis ............................................................................................................... 16 1.7. References .................................................................................................................................. 18 Chapter 2 Effects of landscape composition on carabids and slugs in herbaceous and woody field margins .................................................................................................................................................. 25 2.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 26 2.2 Material and methods ...................................................................................................................... 28 2.2.1 Study area ..................................................................................................................................... 28 2.2.2 Landscape analysis and semi-natural habitat selection ................................................................ 29 2.2.3 Animal sampling .......................................................................................................................... 29 2.2.4 Data analysis................................................................................................................................. 30 2.3 Results ............................................................................................................................................. 30 2.3.1 Effects of semi-natural habitats and landscape composition on carabids..................................... 30 2.3.2. Effects of semi-natural habitats and landscape composition on slugs ..................................... 33 2.3.3. Predator-prey-ratios ................................................................................................................. 33 2.4 Discussion ....................................................................................................................................... 34 2.5 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................... 36 2.6 References ....................................................................................................................................... 37 2.7 Appendix ......................................................................................................................................... 41 Chapter 3 Effects of field margin type and landscape composition on predatory carabids and slugs in wheat fields............................................................................................................................................ 48 3.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 49 3.2 Material and methods ...................................................................................................................... 51 3.2.1 Study area ..................................................................................................................................... 51 3.2.2 Site selection................................................................................................................................. 51 3.2.3 Animal sampling .......................................................................................................................... 52 3.2.4 Data analysis................................................................................................................................. 52 3.3 Results ............................................................................................................................................. 53 3.3.1 Predatory carabids ........................................................................................................................ 53 4 3.3.2 Slugs ............................................................................................................................................. 56 3.4 Discussion ....................................................................................................................................... 58 3.5 References ....................................................................................................................................... 60 3.6 Appendix ......................................................................................................................................... 65 Chapter 4 Interactive effects of local and landscape factors on farmland carabids ............................... 67 4.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 68 4.2 Materials and methods ..................................................................................................................... 70 4.2.1 Study site selection ....................................................................................................................... 70 4.2.2 Carabid sampling .......................................................................................................................... 71 4.2.3 Statistical analysis ........................................................................................................................ 71 4.3 Results ............................................................................................................................................. 72 4.4 Discussion ....................................................................................................................................... 76 4.4.1 Effects of distance from