![]() ![]() The restoration of semi-natural habitats in agricultural areas is a key aspect of agro-ecology 14, 15. In order to stop the loss of arthropod biomass and diversity, and their related services, various agricultural practices have been developed to increase sustainability and conservation of biodiversity and its functions within agricultural ecosystems. ![]() Their loss is therefore expected to have serious economic consequences in addition to ecological consequences 13. Moreover, arthropods provide ecosystem services that directly affect production (pollination, pest regulation, recycling of organic matter, bioturbation) 11, 12. Given their role as decomposers 6, 7, herbivores 6, predators 8, pollinators 9, 10 and prey of many vertebrate taxa, the general decline of arthropods threatens the functioning of ecosystems in agricultural but also in natural environmental contexts. This is due to the homogenisation of landscapes leading to the loss of semi-natural habitats, the toxicity of pesticides and the mechanisation of farming practices, reducing diversity and abundance of plants on which arthropods directly depend 4, 5. Although multi-causal, arthropod decline is strongly associated with the intensification of agricultural practices since the Green Revolution 3. The decline of arthropod populations observed in many parts of the world over the past decades is a major component of the sixth mass extinction currently observed 1, 2. Our results demonstrate the benefits of a softer soil management preserving a diverse vegetation cover for the conservation of arthropods in Mediterranean vineyards. Using a path analysis, we also highlighted the central role of inter-row vegetation management in trophic and non-trophic relationships between vegetation and arthropods, and between arthropod groups. Plant species richness was the most important vegetation parameter, with a positive effect on spiders, harvestmen, hemipterans and beetles (ground and canopy) abundances. ![]() We recorded a general positive effect of a decrease in soil perturbation intensity and corresponding higher vegetation cover on arthropod abundance. Here we examined the effects of vegetation cover and soil management on the abundance of ground- (spiders, beetles, Hemiptera and harvestmen) and canopy-dwelling (wild bees, green lacewings, beetles and Hemiptera) arthropods in three categories of vineyards: (i) vineyards with no vegetation, (ii) partially vegetated (every second inter-row is vegetated) and (iii) all inter-rows are vegetated. In vineyards, vegetation cover is commonly used for production purposes, to reduce soil compaction by machinery use and soil erosion. Biodiversity-friendly farming practices are taking centre stage in the recovery process. The decline of arthropod populations observed in many parts of the world is a major component of the sixth mass extinction with intensive agriculture being one of its main drivers. ![]()
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