1. ABOUT THE DATASET ------------ Title: Data from flower margins support natural enemies adjacent to apple orchards but evidence of spill-over is mixed. Creator: Charlotte Howard Organisation(s): Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Earley Gate, Reading RG6 6AR, UK Rights-holder: University of Reading Publication Year: 2024 Description: Data were collected from ten conventional commercial apple orchards in Kent, UK. They include; 1) abundance and identification of arthropods collected via transect sweep sampling from four orchard habitats (flower margins and the tree alleyway 50 m from the orchard edge in flower margin orchards, and grass headland and tree alleyway 50 m from the orchard edge in control orchards) along with sward height which was recorded from the corner of each quadrat during vegetation assessments using a measuring tape, 2) abundance and identification of arthropods collected via transect tap/beat sampling from apple trees in flower margin orchards and control orchards up to 50 m from the orchard edge (separate documents were used to record 2021 and 2022 data), 3) percentage cover of plant species recorded from six orchard habitats (flower margins and both the tree alleyway and understory 50 m from the orchard edge in flower margin orchards, and grass headland and both the tree alleyway and understory 50 m from the orchard edge in control orchards). Cite as: Howard, C., (2024): Data from flower margins support natural enemies adjacent to apple orchards but evidence of spill-over is mixed. University of Reading. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.17864/1947.001355. Related publication: Howard, C., Fountain, M. T., Brittain, C., Burgess, P. J., Garratt, M. P. D. (2025). Flower margins support natural enemies adjacent to apple orchards but evidence of spill-over is mixed. Agriculture, ecosystems and environment, 379. 109327. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2024.109327 Contact: Charlotte.Howard@pgr.Reading.ac.uk or m.p.garratt@reading.ac.uk (Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Earley Gate, Reading RG6 6AR, UK) 2. TERMS OF USE ------------ Copyright 2024 University of Reading. This dataset is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. 3. PROJECT AND FUNDING INFORMATION ------------ Title: Enhancing the sustainability and improving quality of apple production through ecosystem service management Dates: Oct 20 - Oct 24 Funding organisation: BBSRC, Syngenta Grant no.: 2441590, (FBSDTP BB/T008776/1) 4. CONTENTS ------------ 1. Sweep_data.xlsx Missing data code = Na Abundance and identification of arthropods collected via transect sweep sampling from four orchard habitats (flower margins and the tree alleyway 50 m from the orchard edge in flower margin orchards, and grass headland and tree alleyway 50 m from the orchard edge in control orchards). year = year of data collection round = round number (see date for corresponding months) date = date of data collection time.start = time of data collection pair = each orchard with a flower margin was matched with a contol orchard to form a 'pair' orchard = orchard (numbered for anonymity) orchard.type = T = with a flower margin, C= without a flower margin area = four orchard habitats (flower margins (WFM) and the tree alleyway 50 m from the orchard edge in flower margin orchards (interrrowT), and grass headland (headland) and tree alleyway 50 m from the orchard edge in control orchards (interrowC)) area.type = alleyway areas are in the orchard 'centre' and headlands and flower margins are at the orchard 'edge' sward.height = sward height of the vegetation recorded during the vegetation assessment (cm) abundance = abundance order = Order level identification enemy = Y = is a natural enemy of Dysaphis plantaginea, N = is not a natural enemy of Dysaphis plantaginea, sometimes recorded in the field without collection of the specimen so identification data not recorded here. Some unknown suborder = Sub-order level identification. Only recorded where necessary family = Family level identification superfamily = Superfamily level identification stage = lifestage e.g. adult or juvenile commmon.name = common name 2.1. Tap_sampling_data_2021.xlsx Missing data code = NA Abundance and identification of arthropods collected via transect tap/beat sampling from apple trees in flower margin orchards and control orchards up to 50 m from the orchard edge in 2021 (separate documents were used to record 2021 and 2022 data). year = year of data collection round = round number (see date for corresponding months) date = date of data collection time.start = time of data collection pair = each orchard with a flower margin was matched with a contol orchard to form a 'pair' orchard = orchard (numbered for anonymity) orchard.type = T = with a flower margin, C= without a flower margin tree.stage = BBCH pomme fruit phenological stage relative.humidity.percent = weather recorded at the start of each collection temperature.oc = weather recorded at the start of each collection (degrees Celcius) windspeed.beaufort = weather recorded at the start of each collection (m/s) cloud.cover.oktas = weather recorded at the start of each collection (okta) transect = transect A, B or C distance.m = distance in meters from the orchard edge (row 0) tree = L= tree on the left of the transect tree, M= transect tree, R= tree on the right of the transect tree abundance = abundance order = Order level identification aphid.enemy = Y = is a natural enemy of Dysaphis plantaginea, N = is not a natural enemy of Dysaphis plantaginea, sometimes recorded in the field without collection of the specimen so identification data not recorded here. Some unknown. suborder = Sub-order level identification. Only recorded where necessary family = Family level identification superfamily = Superfamily level identification species = Species level identification stage = Lifestage e.g. adult or juvenile 2.2. Tap_sampling_data_2022.xlsx Missing data code = NA Abundance and identification of arthropods collected via transect tap/beat sampling from apple trees in flower margin orchards and control orchards up to 50 m from the orchard edge in 2022 (separate documents were used to record 2021 and 2022 data). year = year of data collection round = round number (see date for corresponding months) date = date of data collection time.start = time of data collection pair = each orchard with a flower margin was matched with a contol orchard to form a 'pair' orchard = orchard (numbered for anonymity) orchard.type = T = with a flower margin, C= without a flower margin tree.stage = BBCH pomme fruit phenological stage relative.humidity.percent = weather recorded at the start of each collection temperature.oc = weather recorded at the start of each collection (degrees Celcius) windspeed.beaufort = weather recorded at the start of each collection (m/s) cloud.cover.oktas = weather recorded at the start of each collection (okta) transect = transect A, B or C distance.m = distance in meters from the orchard edge (row 0) tree = L= tree on the left of the transect tree, M= transect tree, R= tree on the right of the transect tree abundance = abundance order = Order level identification aphid.enemy = Y = is a natural enemy of Dysaphis plantaginea, N = is not a natural enemy of Dysaphis plantaginea, sometimes recorded in the field without collection of the specimen so identification data not recorded here. Some unknown. suborder = Sub-order level identification. Only recorded where necessary family = Family level identification superfamily = Superfamily level identification species = Species level identification stage = Lifestage e.g. adult or larva 3. Vegetation_data Missing data code = NA Percentage cover of plant species recorded from six orchard habitats (flower margins and both the tree alleyway and understory 50 m from the orchard edge in flower margin orchards, and grass headland and both the tree alleyway and understory 50 m from the orchard edge in control orchards) (to one decimal place). season = season of data collection eg summer year = year of data collection orchard.pair = each orchard with a flower margin was matched with a contol orchard to form a 'pair' orchard = orchard (numbered for anonymity) orchard.type = T = with a flower margin, C= without a flower margin area.type = six orchard habitats (flower margins (WFM) and both the the tree alleyway (interrowT) and understory (understoryT) 50 m from the orchard edge in flower margin orchards, and grass headland (headland) and both the tree alleyway (interrowC) and understory (undersotryC) 50 m from the orchard edge in control orchards) repeat = each recording was repeated 3-5 times Bare Ground = percentage cover of bareground Dead Vegetation = percentage cover of dead vegetation Grass = percentage cover of grass Goosegrey Argentina anserina = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Agricultural White Clover Trifolium repens = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Annual Daisy Bellis annua = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Broadleaf Dock Rumex obtusifolius = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Butter Daisy Melampodium divaricatum = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Black Knapweed Centaurea nigra = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Birds Foot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Common Centaury Centaurium erythraea = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus repens = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Common Fleabane Pulicaria dysenterica = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Common Grandsel Senecio vulgaris = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Common Ragwort Jacobaea vulgaris = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Common Vetch Vicia sativa = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Curly Dock Rumex crispus = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Dandelion ‎Taraxacum officinale = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Dwarf Thistle Cirsium acaule = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Broad-Leaved Willow-Herb Epilobium montonum = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Hoary Willowherb Epilobium parviflor = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Square Stalked Willow Herb Epilobium tetragonium = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Field Speidwell Veronica persica = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Field Thistle Cirsium arvense = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Hedge Bedstraw Galium mollugo = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Greater Knapweed Centaurea scabiosa = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Hairy Bittercress Cardamine hirsuta = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Hoary Groundsel Packera werneriifolia = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Lesser Trefoil Trifolium dubium = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Many-Seeded Goosefoot Lipandra polysperma = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Hungarian Chamomile matricaria chamomilla = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Moss 0 = percentage cover of moss Oxeye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Plantain Plantago spp. = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Prinose Bramble Rubus pruinosus = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Purple Deadnettle Lamium purpureum = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Red Clover Trifolium pratense = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Redshank Persicaria maculosa = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Selfheal Prunella vulgaris = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Salad Burnet Sanguisorba minor = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Scarlet Pimpernickle Anagallis arvensis = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Stinging Nettle Urtico dioica = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Spiney Snowthistle Sonchus asper = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Twiggy Spurge Euphorbia waldsteinii = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Thyme-Leaved Speedwell Veronica serpyllifolia = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) White Clover Trifolium repens = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Wild Carrot Daucus carota = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Yarrow Achillea millefolium = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Small Fleabane Pulicaria vulgaris = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Bristly Oxtongue Helminthotheca echioides = percentage cover of named species (common and scientific name) Unknown = percentage cover of unknown species TOTAL = total of all percentages (should be 100) total.species = count of species present 5. METHODS ----------- All relevant information were provided in the associated article and supplemental. 6. CONTRIBUTORS ----------- Thanks to Alison Lorenzo Cox and Georgieanna Brimblecombe for assistance with data collection, (funded by University of Reading’s Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme).