Functional landscape heterogeneity and animal biodiversity in agricultural landscapes

Abstract

Biodiversity in agricultural landscapes can be increased with conversion of some production lands into 'more-natural'- unmanaged or extensively managed - lands. However, it remains unknown to what extent biodiversity can be enhanced by altering landscape pattern without reducing agricultural production. We propose a framework for this problem, considering separately compositional heterogeneity (the number and proportions of different cover types) and configurational heterogeneity (the spatial arrangement of cover types). Cover type classification and mapping is based on species requirements, such as feeding and nesting, resulting in measures of 'functional landscape heterogeneity'. We then identify three important questions: does biodiversity increase with (1) increasing heterogeneity of the more-natural areas, (2) increasing compositional heterogeneity of production cover types and (3) increasing configurational heterogeneity of production cover types? We discuss approaches for addressing these questions. Such studies should have high priority because biodiversity protection globally depends increasingly on maintaining biodiversity in human-dominated landscapes.

Farming system design for innovative crop-livestock integration in Europe

“…This further work would take the shape of iterative cycles of assessment and redesign that move between participants' ideas, scientific knowledge and stakeholders' visions about the utility of options and quantitative assessment provided by scientists using adapted tools. For example, potential benefits of biodiversity at field, farm and landscape levels could be specified and in some cases estimated using state-of-the-art scientific knowledge: semi-natural spaces are considered beneficial for biodiversity, but the effect depends strongly on their spatial distribution and connectivity (Fahrig et al, 2011). This knowledge would suggest closely integrating croplands and grasslands rather than setting them apart.…”

“…In the ecosystem management rationale, ecosystem services are the core objectives. The supply of ecosystem services depends crucially on maintaining a diversity of habitats for biodiversity, from soil microbes to flora and fauna and their interactions (Fahrig et al, 2011). The ecosystem management rationale relies more on local knowledge and organisation among farmers' communities (e.g.…”

Functional traits in agriculture: agrobiodiversity and ecosystem services

“…These modeling approaches would first identify the landscape patches important to the provisioning of certain ecosystem services [55,57]. Services, key functional traits, and abiotic properties would then be measured in each of the components of the spatially structured landscape.…”

Spatial diversification of agroecosystems to enhance biological control and other regulating services: An agroecological perspective

“…Some studies also consider habitat diversity, assigning functions to these specific areas for insects. This refers to the compositional heterogeneity, that can be complemented by the configurational heterogeneity, which evaluates the arrangement of the various types of habitats within a landscape (Fahrig et al, 2011). Landscapes with a high configurational heterogeneity can support predatory ladybeetle abundance and diversity (Woltz and Landis, 2014) and more generally a high abundance and diversity of species in crop fields (Fahrig et al, 2015).…”