2019 Volume 38 Issue 3 Pages 360-368
This study aimed for evaluation of biodiversity conservation function of tea tree fields using organic low-pesticide farming method from the viewpoint of arthropod community structures. I selected tea tree fields owned by a farmer with organic low-pesticide farming at two sites on Waduka Town, Kyoto Prefecture. I selected 10 ridges in each tea tree fields and collected arthropods of tea crown by sweeping method. Results indicated arthropod community structures varied depending on locations and farming methods. Briefly, number of species in tea tree fields that used organic low-pesticide farming method were higher than in those that used conventional method. In tea tree fields using organic low-pesticide farming method, the population density of insect pests of tea tree was not necessarily high, with the population density of spiders, which are the natural enemy of insect pests of tea tree, being high, suggesting that such tea tree fields provide habitats for various arthropods.
