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Research article2015Peer reviewed

Effects of Farm Size and On-Farm Landscape Heterogeneity on Biodiversity-Case Study of Twelve Farms in a Swedish Landscape

Belfrage, Kristina; Björklund, Johanna; Salomonsson, Lennart

Abstract

In this study in Sweden, six small (<50 ha) and six large farms (>135 ha) participated. The aims of the study were to a) measure differences between small and large farms regarding on-farm landscape heterogeneity, and b) evaluate relations between on-farm landscape heterogeneity and biodiversity, measured as numbers of breeding bird species, bird territories, butterflies, bumblebees, and herbaceous plant species. Sample area of the same size, placed on each farm, was used for the biodiversity assessments and on-farm landscape heterogeneity studies. On-farm landscape heterogeneity was classified with the Shannon-Wiener diversity index. Linear regression was applied to analyze relationships between on-farm landscape heterogeneity and biodiversity indicators. Multivariate regression was used to analyze relations between single bird species and specific on-farm habitats. Small farms had significantly higher on-farm landscape heterogeneity than large farms. Strong positive relations between on-farm landscape heterogeneity and number of breeding birds, butterflies, and herbaceous plant species were found. Total on-farm landscape heterogeneity seems to be more important for bird diversity than do specific landscape elements. The study indicates that, to increase biodiversity, farm size should be taken into consideration.

Keywords

agriculture; farm size; landscape; heterogeneity; habitat; biodiversity

Published in

Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems
2015, volume: 39, number: 2, pages: 170-188

SLU Authors

UKÄ Subject classification

Agricultural Science

Publication identifier

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/21683565.2014.967437

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/65947