Cementing field ridges reduces species in organic conventional fields; the more spiders, the healthier the field

Text / Zeng Jingmeng, Huang Anwei, Hualien Agricultural Improvement Station

Most people may feel a bit of disgust when they see a spider, but if you find this little creature in a rice paddy, you should actually be happy. According to research by the Hualien District Agricultural Improvement Station, the number of spiders hides a whole series of codes about biodiversity and whether the field ecology is sound, and it is worth carefully investigating and deciphering.

Spiders are a health indicator for fields; the more there are, the healthier the field

"Look, look, this is the Japanese long-legged spider, the natural enemy species we most often find in rice paddies." Fan Meiling, director of the Hualien Agricultural Improvement Station, pointed at a spider among the rice leaves, sweat beads on her forehead glinting with excitement. "Spiders can actually serve as an indicator of biodiversity in rice paddies. The greater the number, the richer the field ecology, and relatively speaking, the healthier the field is!"

This surprising discovery about spiders comes from a research project Fan Meiling is currently conducting. Through this research, the aim is to understand how organic farming can be made more friendly to the ecological environment, and while we carry out farming, what contribution can we make to the surrounding ecology?