Effect of Cover Cropping on the Abundance, Community Composition and Functional Diversity of Ground-Dwelling Arthropods in a Mediterranean Olive Grove

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Effect of Cover Cropping on the Abundance, Community Composition and Functional Diversity of Ground-Dwelling Arthropods in a Mediterranean Olive Grove

Abstract

Cover cropping is increasingly recognized as a biodiversity-friendly practice in Mediterranean agriculture. However, its impact on ground-dwelling arthropods in olive groves remains insufficiently studied. This study assesses the effects of two perennial cover crops, tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and white clover (Trifolium repens) on the abundance, community composition, and functional diversity of ground-dwelling arthropods in a traditional olive grove in Crete, Greece. From April to September 2023, arthropods were sampled bi-weekly using pitfall traps and classified by taxonomic identity and functional traits, with particular focus on spiders (Araneae) and ground beetles (Carabidae). Cover cropping significantly increased total arthropod abundance compared to a control, with clover favoring omnivores and saprophages, and fescue promoting predatory taxa. Fescue plots exhibited the highest abundance of spiders and carabids, as well as greater carabid species richness and functional diversity. Although spider beta diversity differed across treatments, their functional diversity remained unchanged. Our findings indicate that perennial cover crops, especially fescue, enhance ground predator diversity and may contribute to natural pest regulation in Mediterranean olive groves, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional management.

Angelioudakis, T., Koliopoulos, G., & Stathakis, T. (2025). Effect of Cover Cropping on the Abundance, Community Composition and Functional Diversity of Ground-Dwelling Arthropods in a Mediterranean Olive Grove. Diversity, 17(9), 621. https://doi.org/10.3390/d17090621