Soil Arthropods in the Douro Demarcated Region Vineyards: General Characteristics and Ecosystem Services Provided

Viticulture is one of the oldest and most profitable forms agriculture; it also intensive farming systems. As cultivation threatens environment, there increasing interest in concept sustainability within wine industry, as well new business opportunities, customers begin to pay more attention environmental issues. Recognizing key role soil quality environmentally economically sustainable viticulture makes essential understand better arthropod communities, given their crucial functions maintaining health. The ‘Douro Demarcated Region’ (DDR) northern Portugal offers good potential, regards biodiversity, due its significant areas non-crop habitats. This work aims compile information on communities (both surface soil-living) collected DDR vineyard agroecosystems. A description ecosystem services provided by them, a basis for development implementation systems, an objective this work. An important set arthropods necessary delivery vital viticulture, with particular reference supporting regulating services, occurred ecosystem. Eight classes were chiefly represented sample about 167,000 specimens: Arachnida, Chilopoda, Diplopoda, Entognatha, Insecta, Malacostraca, Pauropoda, Symphyla. representative Entognatha Insecta soil-surface arthropods, Arachnida soil-living arthropods. presence recognized groups bioindicators agroecosystems, such indicators, revealed. knowledge expected contribute efficient management viticultural