Terrestrial isopods as bioindicators for environmental monitoring in olive groves and natural ecosystems

ABSTRACT

Terrestrial isopods (Crustacea: Isopoda: Oniscidea) are an important component of biodiversity as they constitute useful bioindicators for monitoring environmental quality in a variety of natural and agricultural ecosystems. In the present study, the predictive strength of several important components of biodiversity (e.g. herbaceous and woody plants, etc.) and agro-environmental factors for isopod species richness in each management system of olive groves and a natural ecosystem in central Greece was investigated. Our study highlights an increase in isopod species richness with increasing air humidity, woody plant species richness and soil organic matter in organic olive groves. It is noteworthy that woody plant species richness could be utilised as the best candidate for monitoring isopod species richness. In the conventional olive groves, isopod species richness decreases possibly due to herbicide and inorganic fertiliser application. In abandoned olive groves, isopod species richness increases with increasing soil plant litter and pH. Moreover, soil organic matter has been proved to be a positive indicator of isopod species richness in maquis ecosystems. The species Porcellio laevis can be regarded as an indicator for organic olive groves. Conclusively, this paper contributes to the integration of biodiversity conservation with ecologically sustainable agriculture, conservation of agroecosystem and natural ecosystem services and preserving landscape.