Ecosystem services in human-dominated landscapes: insectivory in agroforestry systems

Abstract

Artículo de publicación ISIDespite of being structurally simpler and species-impoverished than natural forests, agroforestry plantations can act as a secondary habitat for native species and sustain some biodiversity. In particular, insectivores can provide important ecosystem services such as insectivory, indirectly benefiting plants through the reduction of herbivory and increasing productivity, by diminishing herbivores abundance. The lending of these services could occur in agroforestry systems, and in the same magnitude that in natural environments, however it has not yet been assessed whether the direct effect of insectivores over insects and indirect effect on plants differ between natural and agroforestry environments depending on possible modulating factors such as climatic region, type of insectivore, trophic group of the preyed arthropod and length of insectivores experimental exclusion. In this study, through a meta-analysis, it was assessed the provision of ecosystem services by insectivores in agroforestry systems compared to natural systems, contrasting it with the modulating factors mentioned. In general, insectivorous species reduced arthropod abundance and plant herbivory, and increased plant productivity. The magnitude and direction of these effects did not differ between natural and agroforestry systems, and neither did between different climatic regions, type of insectivore, preyed arthropod trophic groups nor experiment length. The effect of insectivores on productivity can vary based on the variable used to measure productivity. Our results evidence the provision of services by the insectivores present in plantations, independently of factors that could modulate its magnitude and direction. In this way, enhancing the existence of these important interactions within plantations could represent a win–win scenario

Bottom‐up and top‐down effects of tree species diversity on leaf insect herbivory

“…This may result from understorey vegetation being denser and more stratified in irrigated plots ( personal observations ), potentially resulting in larger niche opportunities, higher prey availability, or lower top‐down predation risk by apex predators (Figure a). Similar effects of structural complexity have been observed by Poch and Simonetti () who detected higher predation rates in forest plantations with a more developed understorey. Further investigation will be needed to tease apart the potential direct effects of irrigation on herbivory and indirect effects mediated by predation.…”

Do European agroforestry systems enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services? A meta-analysis

“…Most attempts to summarize the effects of agroforestry have focused on tropical and subtropical ecosystems (Kwesiga et al, 2003;Schroth, 2004;Tscharntke et al, 2011), on specific agroforestry practices (De Beenhouwer et al, 2013;Riiser and Hansen, 2014;Tsonkova et al, 2012), or on individual ecosystem services (Lorenz and Lal, 2014;Poch and Simonetti, 2013;Rivest et al, 2013;Pumariño et al, 2015). This study is the first attempt to analyze the effect of agroforestry practices on a broad set of ecosystem services and taxonomic groups in Europe.…”

Do Insectivorous Birds use Volatile Organic Compounds from Plants as Olfactory Foraging Cues? Three Experimental Tests

“…; Mäntylä et al. ; Poch & Simonetti ). Thus, it would be advantageous for both the plant and the bird if there were plant cues that could help birds to locate their herbivorous prey.…”

“…Insectivorous birds can have a positive impact on plants by decreasing herbivore damage and plant mortality caused by insects both in natural and in agricultural environments (Marquis & Whelan 1994;Mols & Visser 2007;Van Bael et al 2008;M€ antyl€ a et al 2011;Poch & Simonetti 2013). Thus, it would be advantageous for both the plant and the bird if there were plant cues that could help birds to locate their herbivorous prey.…”