The ecology of arthropods in a nature-inclusive farming system

Arthropod populations are experiencing drastic declines that are to a considerable extent driven by agricultural intensification. To halt the decline of arthropods, changes in farming practices and management of surrounding habitats are needed. Nature-inclusive farming is a novel approach and a possible solution for these challenges since it aims to combine crop production with biodiversity conservation. This thesis investigated how nature-inclusive farming affects arthropod abundance and diversity, as well as the ecosystem services they provide. Based on this thesis, semi-natural habitats are the backbone of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes, while crops with a high plant cover early in the season (e.g. winter wheat) benefit arthropods in spring and summer. Moreover, despite higher pest abundance in nature-inclusive farming, potato yield quantity and quality did not differ from conventional farming. Overall, this thesis shows that nature-inclusive farming can boost arthropod biodiversity, yet, since it requires agricultural land taken out of production, less land is available for farming.