Data from: Do field margins matter more than floral resources? Arthropod activity and limited spill-over of natural enemies from perennial flower strips into adjacent crops
Data files
Jun 29, 2026 version files 7.27 MB
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Ohlendorf_et_al-JAE_RAW-data.xlsx
7.27 MB
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README.md
3.60 KB
Abstract
This dataset contains raw arthropod monitoring data from a three-year field study (2022–2024) examining the effects of perennial flower strips and grass strips on arthropod activity in adjacent conventionally managed crop fields (sugar beet, cereals) in Lower Saxony, Germany. The dataset comprises three arthropod assessments: 1) summer trap catch data from pitfall traps and window flight intercept traps, recording arthropod activity density across flower strips, grass strips, and crop fields at multiple distances from the field margin (0, 5 and 50 m); 2) overwintering data from photoeclector traps, recording arthropod abundance in flower strips, grass strips, and the field centre during spring; 3) visual observation data recording pest abundance (aphids and other crop pests) on crop plants at 5 m and 50 m distances from field margins.
Each record includes the year, field identity, region, crop or preceding crop type, geographic coordinates, functional group classification (including standardised taxonomic codes), sampling date, sampling round, trap or monitoring type, distance class, monitoring row, and individual count. The dataset enables reanalysis of arthropod activity patterns, edge effects, and spill-over dynamics between field margins and adjacent crops. It may be of value for researchers studying agri-environmental measures, biological pest control, or arthropod community ecology in arable landscapes. Prior to fieldwork, all required permits for arthropod collection at the study sites were obtained from the Lower Saxony State Department for Water, Coastal and Nature Conservation (NLWKN). Ethical approval was not required for this study. Access to and permission for study sites were granted by the participating farmers.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.5x69p8dkv
Description of the data and file structure
This dataset accompanies the publication by Ohlendorf et al. 2026 "Do field margins matter more than floral resources? Arthropod activity and limited spill-over of natural enemies from perennial flower strips into adjacent crops" (Journal of Applied Ecology).
In this study we examined arthropod activity in perennial flower strips and grass strips and their adjacent crop fields (sugar beet and cereals) over three years (2022–2024) across twelve fields in three regions in Lower Saxony, Germany. Arthropods were sampled using pitfall traps and window flight intercept traps during the growing season (sheet "summer_trap_catch_dat"), using photoeclector traps during overwintering in spring 2023 and 2024 (sheet "overwintering_photoeclector_dat"), and through visual assessment of pest insects on crop plants during the growing season (sheet "visual_observation_dat"). Each row represents the count of individuals of one functional group (or pest species) recorded at a given field, date, sampling round, distance class and monitoring row.
Note: Only valid samples are included in this dataset. Samples lost due to environmental factors such as wind, wildlife activity (feeding damage, destruction), or dry-up, were excluded from the analyses.
Files and variables
File: Ohlendorf_et_al-JAE_RAW-data.xlsx
Description
The table contains all raw date used in the publication and is organized into three sheets, according to our study design: summer_trap_catch_dat, overwintering_photoeclector_dat, visual_observation_dat . Each sheets contains raw count data with self-explanatory column headers (see below).
Variables
- Year: Sampling year (2022, 2023, 2024)
- Field: Unique field identifier
- Region: Study region in Lower Saxony, Germany
- Crop type (summer trap catches, viusal plant observations): Present crop during arthropod assessments
- Preceeding crop type: Preceeding crop after overwintering assessments
- Latitude: Decimal degree latitude of the field
- Longitude: Decimal degree longitude of the field
- Functional group / Pest species EPPO: Standardised taxonomic/functional group code (EPPO classification system). NA = not available
- Functional group (summer trap catches, overwintering): Captured arthropods were identified to varying taxonomic levels and assigned to functional groups. Functional groups were defined based on ecological relevance to the study objectives, the taxonomic resolution achievable during sorting, and practical constraints imposed by the large sample volume, particularly to distinguish beneficial species (i.e. natural enemies) from pests
- Pest species: Visual monitoring of pest insects on the field crops
- Distance classes: f0 / f5 / f50 and g0 / g5 / g50 indicate sampling locations within the flower strip (f) or grass strip (g) and at 5 m or 50 m into the adjacent crop, respectively
- Date: Date of assessment
- Sampling round: Identifier for sampling round
- Trap type (summer trap catches, overwintering): Identifier for trap type
- Feature: Type of observation unit
- Distance class: Sampling location relative to the field margin (0 m, 5 m, 50 m, field center)
- Monitoring row: Identifier for the monitoring row within the field (infield replicate)
- Count: Number of individuals recorded
Arthropods were sampled across twelve study fields in three regions in Lower Saxony, Germany, between 2022 and 2024. In each field, a perennial flower strip and a grass strip (as a structurally comparable control with low floral resource availability) were established along the field margin.
Summer monitoring was conducted using pitfall traps and window flight intercept traps placed within the strips and at five and 50 metres into the adjacent crop, across two monitoring rows per field. Traps were emptied at regular sampling rounds throughout the growing season; captured arthropods were sorted and classified into functional groups.
Overwintering success was assessed in spring 2023 and 2024 using photoeclector traps (equipped with an integrated pitfall trap) placed within the flower strips, grass strips, and the field centre.
Pest abundance on crop plants was assessed visually at the same distance classes from the field margin throughout the growing season.
Functional group classifications follow standardised codes (EPPO) alongside descriptive group names. Further details on sampling design, trap types, and statistical analysis are provided in the associated publication.