Native plant corridors restore beneficial insects and birds in Argentina

Researchers in the southeast of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, developed biological corridors using native plants to restore ecological balance and control agricultural pests.

The project, which began in 2017, uses these corridors to connect fragmented natural habitats. These strips of vegetation provide a refuge and food source for a variety of species, including insects, birds, and small mammals, which act as natural biological controllers for agricultural pests.

Biologist Paula Taraborelli and her team at the Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA) monitored three different corridors. The study found that the tree layer had an 83% survival rate despite extreme heat and drought during the 2021 and 2022 cycles. The shrub layer saw a 43% survival rate, while the herbaceous layer survived at a rate of 32% due to the lack of continuous moisture.

The researchers observed that the corridors successfully attracted predatory insects like mantises and ladybugs, as well as various birds and mammals. Micaela Malaspina, an agronomist involved in the project, explained that these semi-natural sites increase biodiversity within productive systems. By fostering a more balanced food web, the corridors allow the system to respond to pests without the need for chemical pesticides.

The team plans to install beehives in the next phase to evaluate pollination and continue monitoring soil fauna and mammals. Luis Fortich, a biologist at Aves Argentinas, noted that these corridors are a vital alternative to the expansion of monocultures. Because 80% of the local fauna are insects, these strips of native plants help preserve the invertebrates that are often destroyed by deforestation and fires.

The corridors also provide essential nesting and refuge areas for birds that would otherwise have to nest on the ground.