Multifunctional areas as a tool to enhance biodiversity and promote conservation in alfalfa fields

Abstract

The present study analyses the effects of multifunctional areas (MA) for three years (2013–2015) on an intensive multi-crop farm in Portugal. The implementation of MA resulted in a wide range of enhancements in the insect community, such as significant effects as a reservoir, allowing an increase of 102.47% in the number of species and 97.64% of individuals. MA play an important role in conservation strategies and help increase the population of rare and threatened arthropod species.

Keywords

• agro-ecosystems
• sustainability
• insect conservation
• flower strips
• arable crops