Between December 2019-April 2022, I was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of the Azores, Portugal, in Paulo Borges's group. I worked on the AgroEcoservices (Assessing ecosystem services and disservices provided by arthropod species in Azorean agroecosystems) project using multiple monitoring tools to quantify ecosystem services and disservices simultaneously.
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We listed arthropod species in several cultivated habitats (citrus orchards, vineyards, maize fields and pastures) and published an outreach book to inform farmers about the importance of arthropods and ecosystem services associated with their activity.
Moreover, we published a data paper (Borges et al. 2021, Biodiv Data J) and a dataset on GBIF: http://ipt.gbif.pt/ipt/resource?r=arthropods_agroecoservices&v=1.6
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We also tested monitoring tools based on the sentinel approach to quantify multiple ecological processes (herbivory, vertebrate and invertebrate predation, pollination, seed predation, decomposition and scavenging). A proof of concept where we compared these ecological processes in Azorean orchards and vineyards was recently published (Ferrante et al. 2022, Agric Ecosyst Environ).
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We quantified the effects of habitat conversion from native forests to agricultural habitats affected multiple ecosystem services and disservices. All ecosystem services and disservices measured showed idiosyncratic changes (i.e., no habitat had consistently higher levels for all ecosystem services). In particular, predation rates were significantly lower in the native forests than in cropland; herbivory and pollination were not significantly affected by habitat conversion; and decomposition and seed predation increased in high-elevation maize fields and pastures (Ferrante et al. 2022, Basic Appl Ecol).
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We tried to enhance ecosystem services in a manipulative experiment by sowing coriander strips within citrus orchards to attract beneficial arthropods. A manuscript has been recently submitted. We showed that vertebrates are important ecosystem service- and ecosystem disservice-providers on oceanic islands and that coriander strips do not enhance ESs in mixed orchards. We shared our results with local farmers and agricultural technicians during an open-day event in our demonstration plot.
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Moreover, we simulated the invasion by the butterfly Vanessa virginiensis on Terceira (this species is present on other Azorean islands) and provided novel data relevant for invasion biology theory and predator-prey ecology. We confirmed the existence of biotic resistance on a species-poor remoted island and showed that a novel morphological phenotype does not guarantee reduced predation pressure (Ferrante et al. 2022, Biol Inv). The beautiful sketch is a courtesy of Daniella Möller.
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Here is the list of outcomes of the AgroEcoservices project I co-authored during my stay at the University of the Azores, Portugal:​
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Ferrante M, Lövei GL, Nunes R, Monjardino P, Lamelas-López L, Möller D, Soares AO & Borges PAV (2022). Gains and losses in ecosystem services and disservices after converting native forest to agricultural land on an oceanic island. Basic and Applied Ecology.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2022.11.010
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Ferrante M, Lamelas-López L, Nunes R, Monjardino P, Lopes DJH, Soares AO, Lövei GL & Borges PAV (2022). A simultaneous assessment of multiple ecosystem services and disservices in vineyards and orchards on Terceira Island, Azores. Agriculture, Ecosystems, and Environment.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2022.107909
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Ferrante M, Nunes R, Lamelas-López L, Lövei GL, & Borges PAV (2022). A novel morphological phenotype does not ensure reduced biotic resistance on an oceanic island. Biological Invasions.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-021-02686-2
Borges PAV et al. (2021) Monitoring Arthropods in Azorean Agroecosystems: the project AGRO-ECOSERVICES. Biodiversity Data Journal 9: e77548.