Maintaining steep slope viticulture for spider diversity

Abstract

Many species-rich ecosystems are threatened by the abandonment or change of commonly-used agricultural practices. Steep slope viticulture, a traditional land use type of important cultural landscapes in Germany, declined strongly in recent decades due to insufficient profitability. The change of cultivation type from vertically planted to modern terraced vineyards may help to reduce the further abandonment of viticulture in these exceptionally species-rich landscapes by keeping management economically viable. However, little is known about the effects of a change of vineyard management type on biodiversity. We determined the effects of vineyard management types (terraced vs. vertically planted) in contrast to vineyard fallows, local habitat characteristics and the surrounding landscape on ground-dwelling spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) in 45 study sites along the Upper Middle Rhine Valley in Germany. A diverse landscape mosaic of vineyard fallows, forests and vineyards created heterogeneity and contributed to a high species diversity irrespective of the vineyard type. Vineyard fallows supported highly distinct spider communities, including some late-successional species, whereas on managed sites and on terraced vineyards in particular, many xerophilic species, which are adapted to open habitat structures, prevailed. We conclude that management in steep slope viticulture is crucial to maintain open habitat structures and conserve associated spider species. Likewise, preserving vineyard fallows and overall landscape heterogeneity remains important to maintaining beta diversity and a large species pool.

Keywords

• Araneae
• Vineyard terraces
• Land abandonment
• Traditional land use
• Biodiversity conservation
• Steep slope viticulture