Long‐term trends in the composition of aphidophagous coccinellid communities in Central Europe

• DOI: 10.1111/icad.12032
• Publication Date: 2013-03-28T07:16:34Z
• Authors: Alois Honek; Zdenka Martinkova; Pavel Kindlmann; Olga M. C. C. Ameixa; Anthony F. G. Dixon
• Keywords: Herbaceous plant

Abstract Coccinellids (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) provide important ecosystem services as biocontrol agents in contributing to the regulation of key agricultural pests. It is generally accepted that biodiversity native coccinellid communities has been declining during recent decades. Here, we present results a long‐term study and report an attempt determine whether changes land use have affected their composition. were sampled cereal crops, on wild herbaceous plants deciduous trees two periods (1976–1983 2002–2010). There are similar species‐rich coccinellids (average numbers species 3.18 3.06, respectively) poorer community cereals (2.63). Only few species, associated with particular types vegetation, differed absolute abundance first second period. was no obvious cause this variation abundance. Diversity higher than period (Shannon‐Wiener index 1.32 1.14 respectively), although number individuals lower catch per sampling session 10.0 18.6 respectively). Over 35 years study, compositions remained essentially more closely correlated ( R 2 = 0.97) 0.74) 0.67).