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Research article2019Peer reviewedOpen access

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

Martin, Emily A.; Dainese, Matteo; Clough, Yann; Baldi, Andras; Bommarco, Riccardo; Gagic, Vesna; Garratt, Michael P. D.; Holzschuh, Andrea; Kleijn, David; Kovacs-Hostyanszki, Aniko; Marini, Lorenzo; Potts, Simon G.; Smith, Henrik G.; Al Hassan, Diab; Albrecht, Matthias; Andersson, Georg K. S.; Asis, Josep D.; Aviron, Stephanie; Balzan, Mario, V; Banos-Picon, Laura;
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Abstract

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.

Keywords

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

Published in

Ecology Letters
2019, Volume: 22, number: 7, pages: 1083-1094
Publisher: WILEY

      SLU Authors

        • Associated SLU-program

        SLU Plant Protection Network

        Sustainable Development Goals

        SDG15 Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
        SDG2 End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

        UKÄ Subject classification

        Ecology

        Publication identifier

        DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.13265

        Permanent link to this page (URI)

        https://res.slu.se/id/publ/100950