The supply of multiple ecosystem services requires biodiversity across spatial scales

Effects of management practices on the ecosystem-service multifunctionality of temperate grasslands

Human wellbeing depends on ecosystem services, highlighting the need for improving the ecosystem-service multifunctionality of food and feed production systems. We study Swiss agricultural grasslands to assess how employing and combining three widespread aspects of grassland management and their interactions can enhance 22 plot-level ecosystem service indicators, as well as ecosystem-service multifunctionality. The three management aspects we assess are i) organic production system, ii) an eco-scheme prescribing extensive management (without fertilization), and iii) harvest type (pasture vs. meadow). While organic production system and interactions between the three management aspects play a minor role, the main effects of eco-scheme and harvest type considerably shape single services. Moreover, the eco-scheme 'extensive management' and the harvest type 'pasture' enhance plot-scale ecosystem-service multifunctionality, mostly through facilitating cultural services at the expense of provisioning services. These changes in ecosystem-service supply occur mainly via changes in land-use intensity, i.e., reduced fertilizer input and harvest frequency. In conclusion, diversifying grassland management where this is currently homogeneous across farms and landscapes depicts an important first step to improve landscape-scale multifunctionality for sustainable grassland systems. To meet societal ecosystem services demand, the three studied management aspects can be systematically combined to increase ecosystem services that are in short supply.

Land conversion to agriculture induces taxonomic homogenization of soil microbial communities globally

Agriculture contributes to a decline in local species diversity and to above- and below-ground biotic homogenization. Here, we conduct a continental survey using 1185 soil samples and compare microbial communities from natural ecosystems (forest, grassland, and wetland) with converted agricultural land. We combine our continental survey results with a global meta-analysis of available sequencing data that cover more than 2400 samples across six continents. Our combined results demonstrate that land conversion to agricultural land results in taxonomic and functional homogenization of soil bacteria, mainly driven by the increase in the geographic ranges of taxa in croplands. We find that 20% of phylotypes are decreased and 23% are increased by land conversion, with croplands enriched in Chloroflexi, Gemmatimonadota, Planctomycetota, Myxcoccota and Latescibacterota. Although there is no significant difference in functional composition between natural ecosystems and agricultural land, functional genes involved in nitrogen fixation, phosphorus mineralization and transportation are depleted in cropland. Our results provide a global insight into the consequences of land-use change on soil microbial taxonomic and functional diversity.

Factors influencing the spatiotemporal variation in the value of ecosystem services in Anxi county

Understanding the value of ecosystem services is imperative for the welfare of current and future generations. Anxi town is situated within the mountainous terrain of Fujian province, China and characterized by a diverse range of ecosystems encompassing forests, rivers, and mountains. These ecosystems offer a wide range of ecosystem services. The value of ecosystem services has been declining in the county for the past twenty-years. However, limited is known on the spatial changes and factors affecting the value of these Therefore, current study assessed the spatial changes in the value of ecosystem services (provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural) in 24 townships situated in the county for three time periods, i.e., 1999, 2009, and 2019 and factors affecting these services. The results revealed that annual decline in the value of ecosystem services was higher in 1999-2009 than 2009-2019. Longjuan, Xianghua, Gande, Futian, Changkeng, Xiping, Taozhou and Huqiu townships observed the highest annual decline in the value of ecosystem services ranging from 20.1 to 68.1 million yuan. The GWR model indicated that vegetation index had the highest impact on the value of ecosystem services in the county. Overall, the value of ecosystem services was negatively correlated with the urbanization rate and distance from the road with some exceptions, whereas altitude had a positive impact. All townships (except Xianghua, Futian, and Taozhou) had negative values for water supply services. Hence, water supply is a significant ecological issue in the county. It is concluded that tea farmers in the county should be educated about water and soil conservation, investment should be done in conservation measures, regional ecological environments should be protected, and ecological tea planting techniques should be developed in the county to halt further decrease in the value of ecosystem services.

Effect of the Landscape on Insect Pests and Associated Natural Enemies in Greenhouses Crops: The Strawberry Study Case

Compared to open-field crops, the influence of the surrounding landscape on insect diversity in greenhouse crops has been poorly studied. Due to growing evidence of insect influx in greenhouses, identifying the landscape properties influencing the protected crop colonization by insect pests and their natural enemies would promote the improvement of both pest prevention and conservation biological control methods. Here, we present a field study on the effect of the surrounding landscape on the colonization of greenhouse crops by insect pests and associated natural enemies. By monitoring 32 greenhouse strawberry crops in the South West of France, we surveyed crop colonization by four insect pests and four natural enemy groups over two cultivation periods. Our results showed that the landscape structure and composition could have contrasting effects on insect colonization of greenhouse crops so there could be species-specific effects and not general ones. While the degree of openness of greenhouses and the pest management practices modulated insect diversity marginally, we also showed that seasonality represented a key factor in insect crop colonization. The various responses of insect pests and natural enemy groups to the landscape support the idea that pest management methods must involve the surrounding environment.