The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Yann Clough. Photo.

Yann Clough

Professor

Yann Clough. Photo.

The interplay of landscape composition and configuration: new pathways to manage functional biodiversity and agroecosystem services across Europe

Author

  • Emily A. Martin
  • Yann Clough
  • Maj Rundlöf
  • Georg K.S. Andersson
  • Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter

Summary, in English

Managing agricultural landscapes to support biodiversity and ecosystem services is a key aim of a sustainable agriculture. However, how the spatial arrangement of crop fields and other habitats in landscapes impacts arthropods and their functions is poorly known. Synthesising data from 49 studies (1515 landscapes) across Europe, we examined effects of landscape composition (% habitats) and configuration (edge density) on arthropods in fields and their margins, pest control, pollination and yields. Configuration effects interacted with the proportions of crop and non-crop habitats, and species’ dietary, dispersal and overwintering traits led to contrasting responses to landscape variables. Overall, however, in landscapes with high edge density, 70% of pollinator and 44% of natural enemy species reached highest abundances and pollination and pest control improved 1.7- and 1.4-fold respectively. Arable-dominated landscapes with high edge densities achieved high yields. This suggests that enhancing edge density in European agroecosystems can promote functional biodiversity and yield-enhancing ecosystem services. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons Ltd/CNRS

Department/s

  • Centre for Environmental and Climate Science (CEC)
  • BECC: Biodiversity and Ecosystem services in a Changing Climate
  • Biodiversity
  • Biodiversity and Conservation Science

Publishing year

2019

Language

English

Pages

1083-1094

Publication/Series

Ecology Letters

Volume

22

Issue

7

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

Topic

  • Ecology

Keywords

  • Agroecology
  • arthropod community
  • biological control
  • edge density
  • pest control
  • pollination
  • response trait
  • semi-natural habitat
  • trait syndrome
  • yield

Status

Published

Research group

  • Biodiversity and Conservation Science

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1461-023X