RESUMO
In the European Mediterranean Region, palm trees are a common element in cities and semi-urban landscapes and have become important habitat structures for local fauna. This study aimed to monitor the invertebrate and vertebrate fauna occurring on and associated with ornamental palms of the genus Phoenix, over the course of one year. Five study sites were used in southern Spain, with varying levels of management. Several complementary methods were applied monthly in order to assess the vertebrates and invertebrates associated with the full seasonal cycle of palms, including flowering and fruiting. The study resulted in the identification of 216 invertebrate families from seven different classes and 89 vertebrate species, consisting of 62 bird, 20 mammal (including bats), six reptile and one amphibian species associated with Phoenix palms. It thus highlights that Phoenix palms provide a habitat for many species and individuals over the course of one year.
RESUMO
The introduction of temporary grassland into an annual crop rotation is recognized to improve soil ecosystem services, and resulting legacies can be beneficial for the following crops. In this context, the aim of the present study was to evaluate legacy effects of introducing temporary grassland into an annual crop rotation on five ecosystem services (i) soil structure maintenance (aggregate stability), (ii) water regulation (saturated hydraulic conductivity), (iii) biodiversity conservation (microbial biomass and microbial metabolic activity, as well as microorganism, enchytraeid, springtail and earthworm communities), (iv) pathogen regulation (soil suppressiveness to Verticillium dahliae), and (v) forage production and quality. Three crop rotation schemes, maintained for twelve years, were compared in four random blocks, one being an annual crop rotation without grassland (0%), another with a medium percentage of grassland (50%, corresponding to 3 years of continuous grassland in the crop rotation), and a third one with a high percentage of grassland in the crop rotation (75%, corresponding to 6 years of continuous grassland in the crop rotation). The results showed that the grassland introduction into an annual crop rotation improved, whatever the duration of the grassland, soil structure maintenance and biodiversity conservation, while it decreased pathogen regulation and did not modify water regulation. Comparing the two crop rotations that included grassland, indicated a stronger beneficial grassland legacy effect for the higher proportion of grassland concerning soil structure maintenance and biodiversity conservation. By contrast, water regulation, pathogen regulation and forage production were not affected by the legacy of the 75% grassland during the rotation. Overall, our findings demonstrated the extent to which grassland legacies are affecting the current state of soil properties and possible ecosystem services provided. To improve ecosystem services, soil management should take legacy effects into account and consider longer timeframes to apply beneficial practices.