The impact of agricultural on the spatial structure of epigeic arthropods depending on management and crop cultivation methods

The study provides a comprehensive view of the agroecosystems of the Danube Uplands during 2017–2020. The research analyses in detail the impact of the spatial structure of stands and combined management practices on the abundance and biodiversity of epigeic arthropods under climate change conditions. During the monitored period, 25,709 individuals were recorded, classified into 23 taxonomic groups. 22 groups were identified in organic management and 21 groups in integrated management. The results show that the occurrence and abundance of individuals varied depending on the type of management, the crop grown and the monitored year. The overall abundance was clearly higher in favor of organic management, where 16,073 individuals were obtained, compared to integrated management with 9,636 individuals. In terms of crops, the combination of Vicia faba & Medicago sativa (thicker stand with better microclimatic conditions) proved to be more suitable for supporting biodiversity compared to Zea mays. Climatic factors also had a significant impact on population dynamics. The years 2019 and 2020 were the most significant in terms of abundance, which directly correlated with higher precipitation (625 mm and 669 mm) and stable average temperatures (8.5°C and 8.8°C). On the contrary, the drier years 2017 and 2018 lagged significantly in abundance. The ecological system in conjunction with the favorable climate demonstrated a positive impact on the dominant groups, especially Coleoptera, Acarina and Collembola. The identified epigeic groups represent a diversified component of the soil fauna with different sensitivity to environmental stress.