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Brusse T, Thénard J, Marrec R, Caro G. Assessing the drivers of grassland ground-dwelling arthropod community composition: Integrating landscape-scale farming intensity and local environmental conditions. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 930:172754. [PMID: 38677419 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Grasslands are essential habitats for preserving arthropod communities in agricultural landscapes. The environmental state of grassland, their farming practices, and land cover heterogeneity in landscape around grassland are three factors that influence ground-dwelling grassland arthropod communities. However, the impact of the intensity of farming practices at the landscape scale has not yet been fully explored. In this study, (i) we studied complex relationships between environmental variables that describe the local conditions (i.e., grassland environmental state and farming practices) and land cover heterogeneity (i.e., land cover and landscape-wide intensity) of our study area in north-east France; and (ii) estimated the relative effect weight of landscape-wide intensity compared to other local and landscape variables on arthropod communities. We identified 14 taxonomic families, with Lycosidae, Carabidae and Staphylinidae as the families most represented in communities. We have highlighted a positive correlation between the different variables of landscape-wide intensity, as well as a positive correlation between sampled grassland intensity and the quantity of grassland in the landscape. Using Partial Least Squares Path Modelling (PLS-PM) analysis, we observed a positive effect of landscape-wide intensity on arthropod abundance-activity in grassland, indicating a potential concentration effect in the grasslands surrounded by an intensive landscape. Also, we have shown that the effect of landscape-wide intensity was at least as strong as that of other local and landscape variables. Our study is one of the first to consider land cover and farming practices simultaneously at the landscape scale. We demonstrate the importance of considering farming practices at the landscape scale to explain the state of ground-dwelling arthropod communities, and the need to take them into account when designing landscapes that are favourable to biodiversity. We argue that further studies are needed to explain the mechanisms involved in the relationship between arthropod communities and farming practices at the landscape scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Théo Brusse
- UMR CNRS 7058, "Ecologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés" (EDYSAN), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France; UMR INRAE 1121, "Laboratoire Agronomie Environnement" (LAE) - Université de Lorraine, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France.
| | - Jodie Thénard
- UMR INRAE 1121, "Laboratoire Agronomie Environnement" (LAE) - Université de Lorraine, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Ronan Marrec
- UMR CNRS 7058, "Ecologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés" (EDYSAN), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | - Gael Caro
- UMR INRAE 1121, "Laboratoire Agronomie Environnement" (LAE) - Université de Lorraine, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
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2
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Tscharntke T, Batáry P, Grass I. Mixing on- and off-field measures for biodiversity conservation. Trends Ecol Evol 2024:S0169-5347(24)00085-5. [PMID: 38705769 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2024.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
The continuing biodiversity losses through agricultural expansion and intensification are dramatic. We argue that a mix of on- and off-field measures is needed, overcoming the false dichotomy of the land sharing-sparing debate. Protected land is essential for global biodiversity, while spillover between farmed and natural land is key to reducing species extinctions. This is particularly effective in landscapes with small and diversified fields. Focusing only on protected land fails to conserve a wealth of species, which often provide major ecosystem services such as pest control, pollination, and cultural benefits. On-field measures must minimise yield losses to prevent increased demand for food imports from biodiversity-rich regions, requiring enforcement of high social-ecological land-use standards to ensure a good life for all.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Péter Batáry
- "Lendület" Landscape and Conservation Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Botany, HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, Vácrátót, Hungary; Faunistics and Wildlife Conservation, Department of Agriculture, Ecotrophology, and Landscape Development, Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Bernburg, Germany
| | - Ingo Grass
- Ecology of Tropical Agricultural Systems, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Center for Biodiversity and Integrative Taxonomy (KomBioTa), University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
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3
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de Zwaan DR, Hannah KC, Alavi N, Mitchell GW, Lapen DR, Duffe J, Wilson S. Local and regional-scale effects of hedgerows on grassland- and forest-associated bird populations within agroecosystems. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2024; 34:e2959. [PMID: 38421094 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Linear woody features (LWFs), like hedgerows along field edges, provide wildlife habitat and support biodiversity in agroecosystems. Assessments of LWFs usually focus on community-level indices, such as species richness. However, effective conservation actions need to balance the contrasting habitat preferences of different wildlife species, necessitating a focus on population-level effects in working landscapes. We assessed associations between LWFs and abundance for 45 bird species within an intensive agroecosystem in eastern Ontario, Canada. We used distance- and removal-sampling methods across 4 years (2016-2019) to estimate local bird abundance in habitats representing a range of LWF densities. We also predicted abundance across a subset of the study region with and without LWFs to understand their contribution to regional population density. Associations between local bird abundance and LWFs were variable among species, but overall community effects were clearly positive, particularly for forest and shrubland species. At the site level, 20/45 species (44%) had higher densities associated with greater LWF presence on average, compared to 5/45 (11%) with negative associations. At the regional scale, LWFs had predicted benefits on total abundance for 31 species (69%), contributing to an estimated 20% increase on average. Positive effects were most pronounced in areas with greater agricultural land use (primarily field crops), suggesting LWFs may provide crucial habitat in heavily modified landscapes but have little to no additional benefit for the avian community in areas with greater existing heterogeneity and habitat retention. Species that responded negatively tended to be at risk with strong habitat preferences for intact forests or large, open grasslands and, thus, greater sensitivity to potential edge effects. With rapidly declining songbird populations and a global need for food security, conservation strategies that amplify biodiversity and enhance agricultural productivity through ecosystem services such as pest control, pollination, and water regulation are vital. We demonstrate the benefits of habitat heterogeneity in agroecosystems on songbird densities and highlight the need to integrate local and landscape-level assessments in conservation planning. An effective, balanced strategy includes concentrating LWFs in areas of extensive arable crops, with habitat retention patches where possible, while maintaining heterogeneity through mixtures of natural habitats and pastoral farming in less intensive regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devin R de Zwaan
- Department of Biology, Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Kevin C Hannah
- Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment & Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Niloofar Alavi
- Landscape Science and Technology, Environment & Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Greg W Mitchell
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment & Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - David R Lapen
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Science and Technology Branch, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jason Duffe
- Landscape Science and Technology, Environment & Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Scott Wilson
- Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment & Climate Change Canada, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
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4
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Jarčuška B, Gálffyová M, Schnürmacher R, Baláž M, Mišík M, Repel M, Fulín M, Kerestúr D, Lackovičová Z, Mojžiš M, Zámečník M, Kaňuch P, Krištín A. Solar parks can enhance bird diversity in agricultural landscape. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 351:119902. [PMID: 38171122 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Solar photovoltaic power parks are a relatively new anthropogenic habitat that will become more widespread in the future. The greatest potential for solar photovoltaic power production is on arable land and grassland. Knowledge on the impacts of solar parks on biodiversity is scarce and spatially limited. We investigated the impact of ground-mounted solar parks on species richness, abundance, Shannon diversity and composition of bird communities in Slovakia (Central Europe), taking into account pre-construction land cover, elevation and landscape context. We recorded breeding, foraging or perching birds on 32 solar park plots and 32 adjacent control plots (two hectares each) during single breeding season. We found that solar parks supported higher total bird species richness and diversity, and richness and abundance of invertebrate-eaters, and that the abundance of ground-foragers was higher in solar parks developed on grassland than in grassland control plots. Ordination analysis showed that solar parks had a different composition of bird communities and thus increased overall species diversity and beta diversity in the agricultural landscapes studied. Plot type and landscape context accounted for most of the variation in bird community composition. Black redstart, European stonechat, white wagtail and Eurasian tree sparrow were identified as indicator species for solar parks. The observed pattern could be due to the higher structural diversity of solar parks. The solar parks studied were designed and managed exclusively for electricity production. It can therefore be assumed that solar parks designed and managed in synergy with a stronger focus on wildlife would have an even greater positive impact on bird diversity in an agricultural landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamín Jarčuška
- Institute of Forest Ecology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Ľ. Štúra 2, 960 01, Zvolen, Slovakia.
| | - Monika Gálffyová
- Gemer-Malohont Museum, Nám. M. Tompu 14/5, 979 01, Rimavská Sobota, Slovakia
| | - Richard Schnürmacher
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Michal Baláž
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Education, Catholic University in Ružomberok, Hrabovská Cesta 1, 034 01, Ružomberok, Slovakia
| | | | - Matej Repel
- Slovak Ornithological Society/BirdLife Slovakia, Námestie Osloboditeľov 1, 071 01, Michalovce, Slovakia
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Peter Kaňuch
- Institute of Forest Ecology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Ľ. Štúra 2, 960 01, Zvolen, Slovakia
| | - Anton Krištín
- Institute of Forest Ecology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Ľ. Štúra 2, 960 01, Zvolen, Slovakia
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Boetzl FA, Sponsler D, Albrecht M, Batáry P, Birkhofer K, Knapp M, Krauss J, Maas B, Martin EA, Sirami C, Sutter L, Bertrand C, Baillod AB, Bota G, Bretagnolle V, Brotons L, Frank T, Fusser M, Giralt D, González E, Hof AR, Luka H, Marrec R, Nash MA, Ng K, Plantegenest M, Poulin B, Siriwardena GM, Tscharntke T, Tschumi M, Vialatte A, Van Vooren L, Zubair-Anjum M, Entling MH, Steffan-Dewenter I, Schirmel J. Distance functions of carabids in crop fields depend on functional traits, crop type and adjacent habitat: a synthesis. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20232383. [PMID: 38196355 PMCID: PMC10777163 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Natural pest and weed regulation are essential for agricultural production, but the spatial distribution of natural enemies within crop fields and its drivers are mostly unknown. Using 28 datasets comprising 1204 study sites across eight Western and Central European countries, we performed a quantitative synthesis of carabid richness, activity densities and functional traits in relation to field edges (i.e. distance functions). We show that distance functions of carabids strongly depend on carabid functional traits, crop type and, to a lesser extent, adjacent non-crop habitats. Richness of both carnivores and granivores, and activity densities of small and granivorous species decreased towards field interiors, whereas the densities of large species increased. We found strong distance decays in maize and vegetables whereas richness and densities remained more stable in cereals, oilseed crops and legumes. We conclude that carabid assemblages in agricultural landscapes are driven by the complex interplay of crop types, adjacent non-crop habitats and further landscape parameters with great potential for targeted agroecological management. In particular, our synthesis indicates that a higher edge-interior ratio can counter the distance decay of carabid richness per field and thus likely benefits natural pest and weed regulation, hence contributing to agricultural sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian A. Boetzl
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala SE-750 07, Sweden
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg 97074 Germany
| | - Douglas Sponsler
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg 97074 Germany
| | - Matthias Albrecht
- Agroecology and Environment, Agroscope, Reckenholzstrasse 191, Zurich 8046, Switzerland
| | - Péter Batáry
- ‘Lendület’ Landscape and Conservation Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Botany, HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, 2163 Vácrátót, Alkotmány út 2-4, Hungary
| | - Klaus Birkhofer
- Department of Ecology, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Cottbus 03046, Germany
| | - Michal Knapp
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, Praha-Suchdol 165 00, Czech Republic
| | - Jochen Krauss
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg 97074 Germany
| | - Bea Maas
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, Division of Biodiversity Dynamics and Conservation, University of Vienna, Rennweg 14, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Emily A. Martin
- Department of Animal Ecology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Clélia Sirami
- UMR Dynafor, INRAE, Toulouse University, 31326 Castanet Tolosan, France
- LTSER Zone Atelier « PYRÉNÉES GARONNE », 31320 Auzeville-Tolosane, France
| | - Louis Sutter
- Plant-Production Systems, Agroscope, Route des Eterpys 18, 1964 Conthey, Switzerland
| | - Colette Bertrand
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, UMR EcoSys, 91120 Palaiseau, France
- INRAE, Institut Agro, ESA, UMR BAGAP, 35042 Rennes, France
| | - Aliette Bosem Baillod
- Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Ackerstrasse 113, Postfach, Frick 5070, Switzerland
| | - Gerard Bota
- Landscape Dynamics and Biodiversity Program, Forest Science and Technology Centre of Catalonia (CTFC), Crtra. Sant Llorenç de Morunys, km 2, 25280 Solsona, Spain
| | - Vincent Bretagnolle
- CEBC, UMR 7372, CNRS & La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
- LTSER ‘Zone Atelier Plaine & Val de Sèvre’, CNRS, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Lluís Brotons
- Landscape Dynamics and Biodiversity Program, Forest Science and Technology Centre of Catalonia (CTFC), Crtra. Sant Llorenç de Morunys, km 2, 25280 Solsona, Spain
- CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain
- CSIC, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain
| | - Thomas Frank
- Institute of Zoology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna 1180, Austria
| | - Moritz Fusser
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, Ecosystem Analysis, University of Kaiserslautern-Landau, Fortstrasse 7, Landau 76829, Germany
| | - David Giralt
- Landscape Dynamics and Biodiversity Program, Forest Science and Technology Centre of Catalonia (CTFC), Crtra. Sant Llorenç de Morunys, km 2, 25280 Solsona, Spain
| | - Ezequiel González
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, Praha-Suchdol 165 00, Czech Republic
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Córdoba), Av. Velez Sarsfield 1611, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Anouschka R. Hof
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708 PB, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Henryk Luka
- Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Ackerstrasse 113, Postfach, Frick 5070, Switzerland
| | - Ronan Marrec
- Ecologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés (EDYSAN, UMR CNRS 7058), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | - Michael A. Nash
- Department of Ecology, Environment & Evolution, School of Life Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3086, Australia
| | - Katherina Ng
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | | | - Brigitte Poulin
- Tour du Valat Research Institute for the conservation of Mediterranean wetlands, Le Sambuc, 13200 Arles, France
| | | | - Teja Tscharntke
- Agroecology, Department of Crop Science, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Matthias Tschumi
- Agroecology and Environment, Agroscope, Reckenholzstrasse 191, Zurich 8046, Switzerland
- Swiss Ornithological Institute, Seerose 1, CH-6204 Sempach, Switzerland
| | - Aude Vialatte
- UMR Dynafor, INRAE, Toulouse University, 31326 Castanet Tolosan, France
- LTSER Zone Atelier « PYRÉNÉES GARONNE », 31320 Auzeville-Tolosane, France
| | - Laura Van Vooren
- Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department of Forest and Water Management, Forest & Nature Lab, Ghent University, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, 9090 Gontrode, Belgium
| | - Muhammad Zubair-Anjum
- Department of Zoology & Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Martin H. Entling
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, Ecosystem Analysis, University of Kaiserslautern-Landau, Fortstrasse 7, Landau 76829, Germany
| | - Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg 97074 Germany
| | - Jens Schirmel
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, Ecosystem Analysis, University of Kaiserslautern-Landau, Fortstrasse 7, Landau 76829, Germany
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Kuipers KJJ, Sim S, Hilbers JP, van den Berg SK, de Jonge MMJ, Trendafilova K, Huijbregts MAJ, Schipper AM. Land use diversification may mitigate on-site land use impacts on mammal populations and assemblages. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:6234-6247. [PMID: 37665234 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Land use is a major cause of biodiversity decline worldwide. Agricultural and forestry diversification measures, such as the inclusion of natural elements or diversified crop types, may reduce impacts on biodiversity. However, the extent to which such measures may compensate for the negative impacts of land use remains unknown. To fill that gap, we synthesised data from 99 studies that recorded mammal populations or assemblages in natural reference sites and in cropland and forest plantations, with or without diversification measures. We quantified the responses to diversification measures based on individual species abundance, species richness and assemblage intactness as quantified by the mean species abundance indicator. In cropland with natural elements, mammal species abundance and richness were, on average, similar to natural conditions, while in cropland without natural elements they were reduced by 28% and 34%, respectively. We found that mammal species richness was comparable between diversified forest plantations and natural reference sites, and 32% lower in plantations without natural elements. In both cropland and plantations, assemblage intactness was reduced compared with natural reference conditions, but the reduction was smaller if diversification measures were in place. In addition, we found that responses to land use were modified by species traits and environmental context. While habitat specialist populations were reduced in cropland without diversification and in forest plantations, habitat generalists benefited. Furthermore, assemblages were impacted more by land use in tropical regions and landscapes containing a larger share of (semi)natural habitat compared with temperate regions and more converted landscapes. Given that mammal assemblage intactness is reduced also when diversification measures are in place, special attention should be directed to species that suffer from land use impacts. That said, our results suggest potential for reconciling land use and mammal conservation, provided that the diversification measures do not compromise yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koen J J Kuipers
- Department of Environmental Science, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences (RIBES), Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Sarah Sim
- Department of Environmental Science, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences (RIBES), Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre (SEAC), Unilever R&D, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, UK
| | - Jelle P Hilbers
- Department of Environmental Science, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences (RIBES), Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Stefanie K van den Berg
- Department of Environmental Science, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences (RIBES), Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Melinda M J de Jonge
- Department of Environmental Science, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences (RIBES), Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Krista Trendafilova
- Department of Environmental Science, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences (RIBES), Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Mark A J Huijbregts
- Department of Environmental Science, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences (RIBES), Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Aafke M Schipper
- Department of Environmental Science, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences (RIBES), Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, The Hague, The Netherlands
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7
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Al-Amin AKMA, Lowenberg‑DeBoer J, Franklin K, Behrendt K. Economics of field size and shape for autonomous crop machines. PRECISION AGRICULTURE 2023; 24:1-28. [PMID: 37363792 PMCID: PMC10103047 DOI: 10.1007/s11119-023-10016-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Field size and shape constrain spatial and temporal management of agriculture with implications for farm profitability, field biodiversity and environmental performance. Large, conventional equipment struggles to farm small, irregularly shaped fields efficiently. The study hypothesized that autonomous crop machines would make it possible to farm small, non-rectangular fields profitably, thereby preserving field biodiversity and other environmental benefits. Using the experience of the Hands Free Hectare (HFH) demonstration project, this study developed algorithms to estimate field times (h/ha) and field efficiency (%) subject to field size and shape in grain-oil-seed farms of the United Kingdom using four different equipment sets. Results show that field size and shape had a substantial impact on technical and economic performance of all equipment sets, but autonomous machines were able to farm small 1 ha rectangular and non-rectangular fields profitably. Small fields with equipment of all sizes and types required more time, but for HFH equipment sets field size and shape had least impact. Solutions of HFH linear programming model show that autonomous machines decreased wheat production cost by €15/ton to €29/ton and €24/ton to €46/ton for small rectangular and non-rectangular fields respectively, but larger 112 kW and 221 kW equipment with human operators was not profitable for small fields. Sensitivity testing shows that the farms using autonomous machines adapted easily and profitably to scenarios with increasing wage rates and reduced labour availability, whilst farms with conventional equipment struggled. Technical and economic feasibility in small fields imply that autonomous machines could facilitate biodiversity and improve environmental performance. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11119-023-10016-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. K. M. Abdullah Al-Amin
- Harper Adams University, Shropshire, Newport, TF10 8NB UK
- Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, 2202 Bangladesh
| | | | - Kit Franklin
- Harper Adams University, Shropshire, Newport, TF10 8NB UK
| | - Karl Behrendt
- Harper Adams University, Shropshire, Newport, TF10 8NB UK
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8
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Chen Y, Rasool MA, Hussain S, Meng S, Yao Y, Wang X, Liu Y. Bird community structure is driven by urbanization level, blue-green infrastructure configuration and precision farming in Taizhou, China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 859:160096. [PMID: 36372169 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Land use/land cover (LULC) changes and high urbanization rates are the main drivers of avian habitat loss in developing countries. However, few studies have examined the effects of urbanization intensity on avian diversity distribution and its importance in guiding eco-friendly urban planning. We surveyed bird distribution (n = 67 species) in different seasons using local ecological knowledge (LEK) and transect line methods in Jiangyan District from July 2018 to May 2019. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to assess the effects of urbanization levels on birds relative density and richness during spring-summer (breeding season) and autumn-winter seasons (non-breeding season). Generalized linear models (GLM) were identified for the landscape composition and configuration that drive relative density and richness in native bird communities. Using redundancy analysis (RDA), we identified the landscape composition and configuration factors affecting bird foraging and roosting at urbanization levels. The results showed high dependency of waders and granivores on paddy fields and dry arable land respectively during the breeding season. During non-breeding season, wetland abundance, land cover, connectivity and total area of BGI were important habitat factors in attracting birds. Moreover, the landscape composition and configuration factors of BGI: wetlands as well as farmland habitats, are the main environmental cues that influence bird foraging. Therefore, to increase habitat suitability over landscape matrix, we propose creation of multiple waterbodies and green corridors of variable types and sizes on natural patches to improve the connectivity of ecological network. We also recommend land management interventions in farmland ecosystems, which could contribute to natural habitat restoration and improve bird biodiversity in urban areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixue Chen
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake of Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | | | - Sarfraz Hussain
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake of Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Shuang Meng
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake of Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Yipeng Yao
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake of Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Xue Wang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake of Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Yuhong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake of Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China.
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9
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Konvickova H, Spitzer L, Fric ZF, Kepka P, Lestina D, Novotny D, Zapletal M, Zimmermann K, Maresova JP, Benes J, Konvicka M. Perishing rich, expanding poor: Demography and population genetic patterns in two congeneric butterflies. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:575-594. [PMID: 36373267 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In human-altered landscapes, specialist butterflies typically form spatially restricted populations, genetically differentiated due to dispersal restrictions. Generalists, in contrast, display minimum differentiation but high genetic diversity. While local-level actions suffice to conserve specialists and landscape-level actions are necessary for generalists, minimum information exists regarding conservation of species with intermediate features. We targeted two congeneric butterflies, the recently re-expanding Argynnis adippe and the strongly declining A. niobe, co-occurring in the pastoral landscape of the Carpathian Mountains, Czech Republic. We integrated species distribution models, mark-recapture and microsatellite analysis to compare their habitat requirements, adult demography, dispersal and genetic patterns, and expanded the genetic analysis across the Carpathian Arc and beyond to delimit spatial conservation units. In two mountain valleys, both species formed interconnected populations numbering thousands of individuals. Mobility patterns suggested the populations' interconnection across the Czech Carpathians. Genetic diversity was extremely poor in the nonthreatened A. adippe and moderate in the declining A. niobe. No population differentiation was detected within the Czech Carpathians (~1500 km2 ). Low genetic diversity and no differentiation was preserved in A. adippe across East Central Europe, whereas in A. niobe, populations from Serbia were differentiated from the Carpathian Arc + Alps. The high adult mobility linked to low differentiation probably reflects the distribution of larval resources, historically widespread but sparse and currently declining for A. niobe (grazing-disturbed grounds), while currently increasing for A. adippe (abandonment scrub, disturbed woodlands). Units as large as entire mountain systems define population boundaries, and hence conservation management units, for both species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hana Konvickova
- Institute of Entomology, Biological Centre CAS, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Sciences, University South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Lukáš Spitzer
- Institute of Entomology, Biological Centre CAS, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.,Muzeum regionu Valašsko, Vsetín, Czech Republic
| | - Zdenek Faltynek Fric
- Institute of Entomology, Biological Centre CAS, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | | | - Dan Lestina
- Institute of Entomology, Biological Centre CAS, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Sciences, University South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.,Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic, Praha, Czech Republic
| | | | | | - Kamil Zimmermann
- Department of Environment, Agriculture and Forestry, Landscape Ecology and NATURA 2000, České Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Papp Maresova
- Faculty of Sciences, University South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Benes
- Institute of Entomology, Biological Centre CAS, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Konvicka
- Institute of Entomology, Biological Centre CAS, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Sciences, University South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
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10
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Balčiauskas L, Stirkė V, Balčiauskienė L. Abundance and Population Structure of Small Rodents in Fruit and Berry Farms. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13020375. [PMID: 36836730 PMCID: PMC9959164 DOI: 10.3390/life13020375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Fruit and berry farms are anthropogenic habitats still inhabited by small mammals, though their presence is constantly affected by agricultural activities. Based on trapping data from 2018-2022, we analyzed the abundance and population structure of the dominant rodent species to assess changes in gender and age ratios by year and habitat, the annual and seasonal dynamics of relative abundance, and the relationship between breeding parameters and abundance. The relative abundance of the dominant species, common vole, yellow-necked mouse, striped field mouse, and bank vole, and their proportion in the investigated community varied according to year, season, and habitat. No outbreaks were recorded during the study period. The abundance of the striped field mouse exhibited a downward trend independently of habitat, while the abundance and proportions of the other three species were habitat-dependent. There was no consistent pattern between litter size and relative abundance in the same or following years. Given the ongoing conflict between biodiversity conservation in Europe and agriculture, the results contribute to a better understanding of the functioning and viability of rodent populations in fruit farms and may be used in agroecology and sustainable farming.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vitalijus Stirkė
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, LT-08412 Vilnius, Lithuania
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11
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Pest species respond differently to farm field size. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2214082119. [PMID: 36122206 PMCID: PMC9522413 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2214082119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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12
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Abstract
Increasing diversity on farms can enhance many key ecosystem services to and from agriculture, and natural control of arthropod pests is often presumed to be among them. The expectation that increasing the size of monocultural crop plantings exacerbates the impact of pests is common throughout the agroecological literature. However, the theoretical basis for this expectation is uncertain; mechanistic mathematical models suggest instead that increasing field size can have positive, negative, neutral, or even nonlinear effects on arthropod pest densities. Here, we report a broad survey of crop field-size effects: across 14 pest species, 5 crops, and 20,000 field years of observations, we quantify the impact of field size on pest densities, pesticide applications, and crop yield. We find no evidence that larger fields cause consistently worse pest impacts. The most common outcome (9 of 14 species) was for pest severity to be independent of field size; larger fields resulted in less severe pest problems for four species, and only one species exhibited the expected trend of larger fields worsening pest severity. Importantly, pest responses to field size strongly correlated with their responses to the fraction of the surrounding landscape planted to the focal crop, suggesting that shared ecological processes produce parallel responses to crop simplification across spatial scales. We conclude that the idea that larger field sizes consistently disrupt natural pest control services is without foundation in either the theoretical or empirical record.
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13
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Karlsson JO, Tidåker P, Röös E. Smaller farm size and ruminant animals are associated with increased supply of non-provisioning ecosystem services. AMBIO 2022; 51:2025-2042. [PMID: 35430721 PMCID: PMC9287507 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-022-01726-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
To balance trade-offs between livestock's negative environmental impacts and their positive contributions (e.g. maintaining semi-natural grasslands, varied agricultural landscapes and crop rotations), a better understanding is needed of how the supply of ecosystem services differs across farms. We analysed a suite of indicators for non-provisioning ecosystem services on a large subset of Swedish farms (71% of farms, covering 82% of agricultural land) and related these to farm type, farm size and livestock density. The analysed indicators exhibited clear geographical patterns with hotspots especially in less productive regions. Controlling for this spatial variation we still found that small-scale and ruminant farms were associated with more varied landscapes, small-scale habitats, semi-natural grasslands and better crop sequences compared to nearby farms specialised in crop production, while farms specialising in monogastric livestock were associated with less varied landscapes and inferior crop sequences. Results for cultural ecosystem services indicated that farms with more semi-natural grassland were associated with more visitors and more likely located within designated recreation or nature conservation areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johan O. Karlsson
- Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7032, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Pernilla Tidåker
- Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7032, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Elin Röös
- Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7032, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
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14
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Lynch DH. Soil Health and Biodiversity Is Driven by Intensity of Organic Farming in Canada. FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2022.826486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Organic farming is continuing to expand in Canada, with close to 6,000 producers farming over 2% of all agricultural land. There is insufficient evidence, however, of a trend toward larger average farm size and increasing specialization by these organic farms. This mini-review postulates that a gradient of intensity of farm management exists within organic farming sectors in Canada, with respect to cropping diversity, and tillage and nutrient utilization, and this gradient of intensity is a key determinant of agroecological outcomes. This variation in management approach and intensity reflects producer's individual perspectives on organic farming principles and practices, irrespective of farm scale. By directly influencing farm crop and vegetative diversity and cover, and farm nutrient status and carbon cycling, management intensity determines soil carbon storage and flux, soil health and biodiversity agroecological and ecosystem services, plus farm agronomic resilience. Demographic trends and perspectives of new entrants in organic farming are encouraging signs of an increasingly inclusive and socio-ecologically complex Canadian organic farming sector, which recognizes the agroecological implications of intensity of organic farm management across all production sectors.
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15
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Helfenstein J, Diogo V, Bürgi M, Verburg PH, Schüpbach B, Szerencsits E, Mohr F, Siegrist M, Swart R, Herzog F. An approach for comparing agricultural development to societal visions. AGRONOMY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 2022; 42:5. [PMID: 35096149 PMCID: PMC8758632 DOI: 10.1007/s13593-021-00739-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
There is broad agreement that agriculture has to become more sustainable in order to provide enough affordable, healthy food at minimal environmental and social costs. But what is "more sustainable"? More often than not, different stakeholders have opposing opinions on what a more sustainable future should look like. This normative dimension is rarely explicitly addressed in sustainability assessments. In this study, we present an approach to assess the sustainability of agricultural development that explicitly accounts for the normative dimension by comparing observed development with various societal visions. We illustrate the approach by analyzing farm- and landscape-scale development as well as sustainability outcomes in a Swiss case study landscape. Observed changes were juxtaposed with desired changes by Avenir Suisse, a liberal think tank representing free-market interests; the Swiss Farmers Association, representing a conservative force; and Landwirtschaft mit Zukunft, an exponent of the Swiss agroecological movement. Overall, the observed developments aligned most closely with desired developments of the liberal think-tank (72%). Farmer interviews revealed that in the case study area farms increased in size (+ 57%) and became more specialized and more productive (+ 223%) over the past 20 years. In addition, interpretation of aerial photographs indicated that farming became more rationalized at the landscape level, with increasing field sizes (+ 34%) and removal of solitary field trees (- 18%). The case study example highlights the varying degrees to which current developments in agriculture align with societal visions. By using societal visions as benchmarks to track the progress of agricultural development, while explicitly addressing their narratives and respective systems of values and norms, this approach offers opportunities to inform also the wider public on the extent to which current developments are consistent with different visions. This could help identify mismatches between desired and actual development and pave the way for designing new policies. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13593-021-00739-3.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vasco Diogo
- Land Change Science Research Unit, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Bürgi
- Land Change Science Research Unit, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
- Institute of Geography, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Peter H. Verburg
- Land Change Science Research Unit, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
- Environmental Geography Group, Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Franziska Mohr
- Land Change Science Research Unit, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
- Institute of Geography, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Michael Siegrist
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Rebecca Swart
- Institute of Geography, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Felix Herzog
- Agroecology and Environment, Agroscope, Zürich, Switzerland
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16
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Komarnytsky S, Retchin S, Vong CI, Lila MA. Gains and Losses of Agricultural Food Production: Implications for the Twenty-First Century. Annu Rev Food Sci Technol 2021; 13:239-261. [PMID: 34813357 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-food-082421-114831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The world food supply depends on a diminishing list of plant crops and animal livestock to not only feed the ever-growing human population but also improve its nutritional state and lower the disease burden. Over the past century or so, technological advances in agricultural and food processing have helped reduce hunger and poverty but have not adequately addressed sustainability targets. This has led to an erosion of agricultural biodiversity and balanced diets and contributed to climate change and rising rates of chronic metabolic diseases. Modern food supply chains have progressively lost dietary fiber, complex carbohydrates, micronutrients, and several classes of phytochemicals with high bioactivity and nutritional relevance. This review introduces the concept of agricultural food systems losses and focuses on improved sources of agricultural diversity, proteins with enhanced resilience, and novel monitoring, processing, and distribution technologies that are poised to improve food security, reduce food loss and waste, and improve health profiles in the near future. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Food Science and Technology, Volume 13 is March 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Slavko Komarnytsky
- Plants for Human Health Institute, North Carolina State University, Kannapolis, North Carolina; .,Department of Food, Bioprocessing, and Nutrition Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
| | - Sophia Retchin
- Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Chi In Vong
- Plants for Human Health Institute, North Carolina State University, Kannapolis, North Carolina; .,Department of Food, Bioprocessing, and Nutrition Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
| | - Mary Ann Lila
- Plants for Human Health Institute, North Carolina State University, Kannapolis, North Carolina; .,Department of Food, Bioprocessing, and Nutrition Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
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17
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Rosin ZM, Pärt T, Low M, Kotowska D, Tobolka M, Szymański P, Hiron M. Village modernization may contribute more to farmland bird declines than agricultural intensification. Conserv Lett 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/conl.12843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Zuzanna M. Rosin
- Faculty of Biology, Department of Cell Biology Adam Mickiewicz University Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6 Poznań Poland
- Department of Ecology Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Uppsala Sweden
| | - Tomas Pärt
- Department of Ecology Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Uppsala Sweden
| | - Matthew Low
- Department of Ecology Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Uppsala Sweden
| | - Dorota Kotowska
- Department of Ecology Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Uppsala Sweden
- Institute of Nature Conservation Polish Academy of Sciences Kraków Poland
| | - Marcin Tobolka
- Department of Zoology Poznań University of Life Sciences Poznań Poland
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Wien Austria
| | - Paweł Szymański
- Faculty of Biology, Department of Behavioural Ecology Adam Mickiewicz University Poznań Poland
| | - Matthew Hiron
- Department of Ecology Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Uppsala Sweden
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18
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Tscharntke T, Grass I, Wanger TC, Westphal C, Batáry P. Beyond organic farming - harnessing biodiversity-friendly landscapes. Trends Ecol Evol 2021; 36:919-930. [PMID: 34362590 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2021.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
We challenge the widespread appraisal that organic farming is the fundamental alternative to conventional farming for harnessing biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. Certification of organic production is largely restricted to banning synthetic agrochemicals, resulting in limited benefits for biodiversity but high yield losses despite ongoing intensification and specialisation. In contrast, successful agricultural measures to enhance biodiversity include diversifying cropland and reducing field size, which can multiply biodiversity while sustaining high yields in both conventional and organic systems. Achieving a landscape-level mosaic of natural habitat patches and fine-grained cropland diversification in both conventional and organic agriculture is key for promoting large-scale biodiversity. This needs to be urgently acknowledged by policy makers for an agricultural paradigm shift.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ingo Grass
- Ecology of Tropical Agricultural Systems, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Thomas C Wanger
- Sustainability, Agriculture, & Technology Laboratory, School of Engineering, Westlake University, China; Key Laboratory of Coastal Environment and Resources of Zhejiang Province, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China; GlobalAgroforestryNetwork.org, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Catrin Westphal
- Functional Agrobiodiversity, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Péter Batáry
- "Lendület" Landscape and Conservation Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Vácrátót, Hungary
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