Exploring multitrophic interactions in oilseed rape fields reveals the prevailing role of Carabidae

• DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8229
• Publication Date: 2021-10-21T09:08:09Z
• Authors: Lola Serée; Antoine Gardarin; Olivier Crouzet; Aude Barbottin; Muriel Valantin‐M...; François Chiron
• Keywords: Intraguild predation; Arthropod; Guild

In cropped fields, birds are often at the highest position in food chain, feeding on pest arthropods and their intermediate predators a process known as intraguild predation. The net effects of bird predation phytophagous insect populations (feeding plants) difficult to predict without comprehensively describing prey-predator communities complex interplay. We sampled arthropod 30 oilseed rape fields spring 2019 2020 France. To assess top-down control by birds, we used vertebrate exclusion experiment. Using taxonomic functional trait-based approach, determined direct indirect influences arable crops. observed negative relationship between abundance Carabidae insects but not with other predator group suggesting key role agroecosystem. found no statistical evidence from toward predators. Despite lack overall effect diversity prey, highlighted complementarity (through evenness) insects. This result suggests that species could help reduce populations. analyzed agricultural practices these multitrophic interactions, showing pesticide intensity only had detrimental abundance, while frequency tillage did affect studied communities. Complementary indices depict helpful better understand mechanisms underlying trophic relationships.