Biodiversity-based ecosystem services in vineyards (Vinedivers)

Essential ecosystem services in viticultural landscapes result from diverse communities of organisms and their interactions. Traditional viticulture was part of a multifunctional agricultural system including low-input grasslands and fruit trees. Therefore, the high diversity of habitats resulted in a high functional biodiversity. However, in the last decades, land use changes, intensification and mechanisation of vineyard management caused a separation of production and conservation areas. Moreover, the fear of competition for water and nutrients between weeds and grapevines led to a low tolerance attitude against weeds in vineyards. As a result of management intensification with frequent tilling and/or intensive use of herbicides several ecosystem services are affected leading to high rates of soil erosion, degradation of soil structure and fertility, contamination of groundwater and high levels of agricultural inputs. In this part of the project we will examine to what extent differently managed vineyards affect the activity and diversity of earthworms and collembola. Earthworms and collembolan are sensitive bioindicators for soil health and essential soil organisms in vineyards across Europe. We will also investigate ecosystem services associated with soil faunal activity such as soil structure, the formation of stable soil aggregates, water infiltration and soil erosion. These effects will become increasingly important as more extreme precipitation events are predicted with climate change. Diversely structured, species-rich viticultural landscapes can reduce the need for external inputs while being a cultural heritage that provide aesthetic values for human well-being and recreation. Our project aims at analysing the implications of different management regimes (high intensity tilling regimes vs. green vineyards with cover crops or wild plants) in vineyards on the activity and diversity of earthworms, collembola and their associated ecosystem services at plot, field (vineyard) and landscape scales. Within one typical viticulture case-study region in Austria two different, representative ecological response units will be defined based on their structural diversity. In each of these units vineyards of two different levels of management intensity will be selected. In addition, a photo survey will be used to assess management effects on landscape aesthetics. A detailed engagement and dissemination plan for stakeholder at the different governance levels will accompany scientific research and will contribute to the implementation of best-practice recommendations for policy and farmers.

Viticultural landscapes are among the most picturesque landscape, especially, when they consist of a mosaic of other agriculturally used areas, hedges and solitary trees. This project is part of the BiodivERsA project VineDivers, which investigates effects of different soil management intensities in vineyards on above- and belowground biodiversity, interactions with landscape ecology, ecosystem services and socio-economic factors. The focus of this subproject was on effects on soil biota and processes. Therefore, differently managed commercial vineyards in differently complex landscapes were sampled in four viticultural regions in Austria, France, Romania and Spain. Intensively managed vineyards had bare ground all year round, extensively managed vineyards had permanent vegetation, while intermediate intensity had alternating tilled and vegetated inter-rows. Parameters on which soil management and landscape effects were assessed were soil biota (earthworms, springtails) and soil functions (litter decomposition). For these analyses also physical and chemical soil parameters and botanical assessments conducted by other VineDivers subprojects were used. In the surrounding landscape the proportion of agricultural and non- crop areas were mapped and analyzed using geographical information systems. Results showed that above- and belowground biodiversity responded differently to soil managment in different partner countries. While in Austrian vineyards permanently vegetated inter-rows did not increase soil biota, this was clearly the case in Romania and France. In Spanish vineyards earthworms and springtails seemed to play a small role due to dry soil conditions. Results refer to specific and interactions of regional soil conditions, regional biodiversity and also landscape ecological impacts. The study results were presented at several national and international conferences and were of great interest for local winemakers. Results can be used to formulate country-specific recommendation aiming for sustainable and biodiversity conserving vineyard management by including of important ecosystem services such as erosion prevention or socio-economical aspects.