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Agricultural management should aim at high densities of beneficial organisms such as spiders. Here, we asked whether spiders in vineyards can be promoted either by using novel disease resistant grape varieties that allow for a reduced number of fungicide applications, or by minimal pruning which enhances the structural complexity of the grapevine canopy. We compared spider communities in vineyards planted with fungus-resistant varieties (PIWIs) to vineyards with traditional grapevine varieties, and minimally pruned vineyards to vertical shoot positioned vineyards. Densities of Theridiidae were more than doubled in fungus-resistant grape varieties, but the remaining families were not significantly affected. Minimal pruning enhanced Philodromidae and Dictynidae but reduced Salticidae. However, neither pruning method, nor the reduced fungicide use in PIWI vineyards, had significant effects on overall spider abundance or species richness. Hence, effects of vineyard management were family-specific and possible consequences for pest regulation will thus depend on the pest control potential of the involved families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Spider communities were affected by organic management and landscape composition. • Organic management enhanced spider species richness moderately. • Unlike other cropping systems, organic management did not enhance spider densities. • The dominant spider Pardosa agrestis was enhanced by high cover of other vineyards. • Proximity of semi-natural habitats enhanced spiders other than P. agrestis. Organic management has the potential to mitigate negative impacts of intensive farming on biodiversity. We aimed to determine the effects of management system (organic vs. conventional), local habitat conditions and the surrounding landscape on ground-dwelling spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) in vineyards. We studied spider species richness, abundance and community composition in fifteen pairs of conventional and organic vineyards along a gradient of landscape composition in Germany. In spite of positive effects of organic management on the inter-row vegetation and soil organic matter, this management system only moderately enhanced species richness of spiders compared to conventional vineyards and did not have the strong positive effects on spider densities known from other cropping systems. Instead, due to high densities of the dominant species Pardosa agrestis , spider abundance was highest in landscapes with high vineyard cover. Densities of spiders other than P. agrestis increased with proximity to semi-natural habitats (SNH). Spider community composition was shaped by management system and cover of SNH. Our results suggest that organic vineyards still promote spiders relative to conventional vineyards, but less strongly than in other cropping systems. In addition, semi-natural habitats enhance the spider fauna in viticultural landscapes and may thus facilitate natural pest control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic farming is a promising but still debated option to ensure sustainable agriculture. However, whether organic farming fosters synergies or mitigates tradeoffs between biodiversity, ecosystem services and crop production has rarely been quantified. Here, we investigate relationships between multitrophic diversity (14 taxa above and belowground), yield, natural pest control and soil quality (14 proxies of ecosystem services) in organic and conventional vineyards along a landscape gradient. Organic farming enhanced biodiversity and pest control, but decreased wine production. Compared to conventional systems, multitrophic diversity was 15 % higher, and pest control services were 9 % higher in organic systems, while wine production was 11 % lower. Regardless of management type, we found a strong tradeoff between wine production and pest control, but not between wine production and biodiversity. The landscape context was not a strong moderator of organic farming effects across taxa groups and ecosystem services, but affected specific taxa and ecosystem services, especially natural pest control. Our study reveals that wine production and biodiversity conservation do not necessarily exclude each other, which implies the existence of a safe operating space where biodiversity and wine production can be combined. We conclude that organic farming can contribute to improve the sustainability of viticulture, but needs to be complemented by management options at the local and landscape scales in order to fully balance biodiversity conservation with the simultaneous provision of multiple ecosystem services. • We study how organic farming affects biodiversity and ecosystem services in vineyards. • We compared biodiversity and multifunctionality in organic vs. conventional vineyards. • Organic farming promoted biodiversity and pest control but decreased wine production. • Organic farming did not influence linkages between biodiversity and ecosystem services. • We found a tradeoff wine production/pest control but not wine production/biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable land use in agricultural landscapes is essential to counteract the global decline of biodiversity, as well to ensure ecosystem services like natural pest control. Phytoseiid mites are key natural enemies of pest mites in vineyards but how local management and landscape context affect phytoseiid mites remains poorly known. In this study, we examined the effects of farming systems, inter-row management and landscape composition on phytoseiid mite communities in 156 vineyards across five European wine-growing regions. Our results showed that phytoseiid communities were mainly dominated by one or two phytoseiid species across Europe and that local management was a major factor affecting population densities. According to the wine-growing regions, phytoseiid mite densities benefited from integrated pest management or conventional farming compared to organic farming and from spontaneous vegetation cover compared to seeded cover crops. Moreover, mite densities benefited from increasing proportions of vineyards at the landscape scale. The farming systems effects were most likely related to the positive impact of the lower pesticide use in integrated and conventional vineyards. The positive effect of spontaneous vegetation cover could be related to a better supply of nutritive pollen as food resource compared to seeded cover crops, which depends on the plant species in the inter-row. Our findings indicated accordingly that a reduced pesticide use, and inter-row management are crucial factors for promoting pest control by predatory mites in European vineyards. Moreover, the proportion of viticultural area in the landscape is a considerable factor to retain stable phytoseiid mite populations. • Local management influenced predatory mite populations across European vineyards. • Farming systems with less pesticide use favoured phytoseiid mites in vineyards. • Spontaneous vegetation in the inter-row increased predatory mite populations. • Phytoseiid mites benefitted from a higher proportion of vineyards in the landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]