Diversity and Abundance Comparisons
Between Vineyard and Grazing Land
Adjacent to Oak Woodland1
Dan Meade,2 LynneDee Althhouse,2 and Royce Larsen3
Abstract
Animal and plant species diversity, abundance, and distribution were examined across a
landscape that included areas transformed from annual grass rangeland to agricultural
production. Surveys were conducted quarterly over four years within an area recently placed
in agricultural use and in undisturbed grassland. Here, we report results from bird and insect
components of the surveys. Vineyard habitat and annual grassland habitat were compared
with respect to statistical differences in species number, and population number. A higher
diversity and abundance of survey organisms was found within the vineyard than in annual
grassland habitat. Compared to undisturbed grassland the vineyard areas provide a more
complex habitat supporting more species and larger populations of insects and birds. The
study raises questions regarding the effect of vineyards on adjacent habitats, the value of
vineyard habitats to species other than crop plants, and whether management protocols can
prevent development of wildlife sinks within vineyards and orchards.
1
An abbreviated version of this paper was presented at the Sixth California Oak Symposium: Today’s
Challenges, Tomorrow’s Opportunities, October 9-12, 2006, Rohnert Park, California.
2
Althouse and Meade, Inc. Biological and Environmental Services.
3
UC Cooperative Extension. mailto: relarsen@ucdavis.edu.
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