Arthropods in grassy field margins in the Wieringermeer: Scope, population development and possible consequences for farm practice

The potential for nature conservation value of unsprayed field margins in intensive arable areas is attracting much attention. The research on this compares the presence of plants, invertebrates and vertebrates in unsprayed and regularly sprayed crop margins. Little is known about the opportunities that grassy field margins offer for nature enhancement in agricultural areas. We present the scope of a research project and some results on the population development of arthropods, mainly insects, in grassy field margins in the Wieringermeer, the Netherlands, paying attention to the implications for farming practice.