Dimensions Of Biodiversity Research Articles

Plant diversity across dimensions: Coupling biodiversity measures from the ground and the sky.

Tracking biodiversity across biomes over space and time has emerged as an imperative in unified global efforts to manage our living planet for a sustainable future for humanity. We harness the National Ecological Observatory Network to develop routines using airborne spectroscopic imagery to predict multiple dimensions of plant biodiversity at continental scale across biomes in the US. Our findings show strong and positive associations between diversity metrics based on spectral species and ground-based plant species richness and other dimensions of plant diversity, whereas metrics based on distance matrices did not. We found that spectral diversity consistently predicts analogous metrics of plant taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic dimensions of biodiversity across biomes. The approach demonstrates promise for monitoring dimensions of biodiversity globally by integrating ground-based measures of biodiversity with imaging spectroscopy and advances capacity toward a Global Biodiversity Observing System.

Contrasting ecological mechanisms mediate the impact of land conversion on ecosystem multifunctionality

Abstract Land use/cover (LULC) changes have unequivocally affected biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, with enormous repercussions for human well‐being. However, the mechanistic ecological mechanisms underlying the impact of land conversion on ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) remain insufficiently examined from the perspective of multiple biodiversity attributes in dryland regions with increasing deforestation rates. We investigated how the conversion of natural forests and savannas to agroforestry parklands alters the relationships between multiple biodiversity attributes (taxonomic, functional, phylogenetic and structural) and EMF, while accounting for the effects of environmental factors in the dryland landscapes in Benin. We used forest inventory data from 145 plots spanning forests, savannas and agroforestry parklands and assessed the implications of three land conversion scenarios. We quantified EMF using eight functions that are central to primary productivity and nutrient cycling. We found that EMF was positively related solely to structural diversity in forests. The conversion of forests and savannas to agroforestry parklands decreased EMF both directly and indirectly. The indirect effects were mediated by two contrasting biodiversity effects. When forests were converted to agroforestry parklands through savannas, indirect effects were driven by shifts in functional composition towards the dominance of species with acquisitive traits. In contrast, species diversity reduction explained the indirect effects when savannas were converted to agroforestry parklands. The aridity index and soil texture influenced biodiversity attributes, but not EMF. The present study provides evidence that the biodiversity–EMF relationship is dependent on the LULC type and was evident only in the natural ecosystem through the effects of structural diversity, thereby emphasizing the importance of enhancing structural diversity for promoting EMF in forests. Our findings also demonstrate that land conversion weakened natural EMF through biotic homogenization resulting from two contrasting biodiversity‐related mechanisms, including loss of species diversity and dominance of species with acquisitive resource‐use strategy. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Spatial Patterns of Taxonomic, Functional, and Phylogenetic Diversity of Mammals in Southern Mexico

ABSTRACTBiodiversity is multidimensional and should therefore be characterized using multiple approaches to understand the patterns at various temporal and spatial scales. Taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic measurements of diversity are now recognized as comprehensive methods for understanding the relationships among species diversity, associated ecological processes, and the evolutionary history of species within communities. However, spatial incongruence among these different dimensions of diversity has been found to be common at global and regional levels, posing challenges for conservation. By using species distribution models built with correlative method, we investigated whether downscaling spatial analyses of multidimensional diversity across mammal groups (flying mammals, small‐sized mammals, and medium and large‐sized mammals) maintain mismatch patterns in a megadiverse mammal unit (Oaxaca state, southern Mexico) at three spatial resolutions and how well diversity hotspots are protected. We found similar spatial patterns and high correlations across the analyzed resolutions, suggesting interchangeability. As expected, we observed incongruence in spatial patterns among multidimensional biodiversity measurements (average of 68.7%). Species richness partially matched the global pattern, as topographic heterogeneity facilitated refugia and speciation in mountains, while productivity in lowlands supported a high number of species. As observed globally, functional diversity was higher in temperate areas; however, redundancy was not found in tropical ecosystems but rather in semiarid ones, suggesting that environmental filtering plays an important role in structuring communities. Contrary to expectations, phylogenetic diversity increased in tropical ecosystems, where dispersal events allow species to accumulate through invasion processes. Among mammal groups, we also found disparate patterns, suggesting differences in dispersal potential and energy demand. Protected area systems overlapped very little with the proposed multidimensional conservation areas, with a higher overlap found in social initiatives than in governmental ones. Our findings support the notion that there is spatial incongruence between the dimensions of biodiversity, which has implications for subregional mammal conservation.

The photosynthetic traits of dominant species drive the multifunctionality of Liaodong oak (Quercus wutaishanica) communities in northern China

The photosynthetic traits of dominant species drive the multifunctionality of Liaodong oak (Quercus wutaishanica) communities in northern China

Hierarchical modelling of epibenthic communities on the Scotian Shelf and Gulf of Maine (Atlantic Canada) in support of conservation planning

Identification of ecologically significant units at different spatial scales is essential for management of biodiversity attributes. This case study illustrates a coupled methodological approach to delineate benthic habitats and associated assemblages at different spatial scales. Two complementary analyses were employed based on the occurrences of 99 epibenthic invertebrate species in Atlantic Canada, sampled during depth-stratified random trawl sets. To identify epibenthic assemblage types, isometric feature mapping and partitioning around medoids (ISOPAM) was used in combination with a joint species distribution model (JSDM), which also produced continuous distribution surfaces across the spatial domain. ISOPAM identified nine significantly spatially coherent assemblages (biotopes) at spatial scales of hundreds of meters to hundreds of kilometers, with associated diagnostic species. Those assemblages were closely matched by eight regions of common profile using the JSDM, indicating strong environmental influences on their distributions. These smaller-scale assemblages were grouped into three biophysical units. The results from the JSDM were validated with independent data showing good congruence. This indicates that the spatial units ascribed to identified assemblages are robust and suitable for marine spatial planning and monitoring.

Stated preferences for the colours, smells, and sounds of biodiversity

Stated preferences for the colours, smells, and sounds of biodiversity

Declining bivalve species and functional diversity along a coastal eutrophication-deoxygenation gradient in the northern Gulf of Mexico

Declining bivalve species and functional diversity along a coastal eutrophication-deoxygenation gradient in the northern Gulf of Mexico

Multiple facets of diversity reveal different patterns and processes in aquatic arthropod communities across the world's most extreme high‐altitude treasure

Abstract Revealing the mechanisms underlying community organization has long been a central interest for ecologists and biogeographers. Recent findings have suggested that different dimensions of biodiversity may be shaped by contrasting ecological processes, offering complementary insights about community assembly. However, studies integrating multiple diversity facets across the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau (QTP) remain insufficient. We combined multiple analytical frameworks to unravel the patterns (taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic) and correlates (local environment, land use and dispersal pathways) of aquatic arthropod diversity in lotic (stream) and lentic (wetland) ecosystems of the QTP. We observed strong phylogenetic signals in most functional traits, pointing to the influence of evolutionary processes on these faunas. Null models indicated that community structure in most streams and wetlands was mostly the result of random draws from the regional functional and phylogenetic species pool. The prevalence of stochasticity was most likely associated with the interplay of the paleogeographical history, the extremely harsh environmental conditions at high elevations and the subsequent impoverishment of the regional species pool. However, some streams and wetlands also exhibited phylogenetic overdispersion and functional clustering, emphasizing the potential importance of competitive exclusion and habitat filtering, respectively. Variation partitioning further revealed that both environmental filtering and dispersal limitation accounted for the spatial variation of diversity measures, with local environment overriding the effects of space and catchment land use. Overall, this study improves our understanding of community organization and diversity patterns in environmentally extreme alpine catchments, with broad implications for the conservation and management of one of the world’s most important high‐altitude treasures.

Relationship between milk intrinsic quality scores and the environmental impact scores of dairy farms

This study aimed to study the relationship between milk quality for cheese manufacturing and farm’s environmental impacts in grass-based mountain systems. Beforehand, the multi-criteria evaluation methodology proposed by Botreau et al. and Rey-Cadilhac et al. was adapted to a routine use. Milk quality scores were constructed by weighing traits possibly predicted by spectroscopic analyses currently available in milk labs into 4 dimensions: health, nutritional, technological and sensory. Environmental impact scores were constructed by combining 6 indicators of the CAP'2ER® software in 5 dimensions: greenhouse gas emissions, eutrophication, air acidification, consumption of space and non-renewable energies and ecosystem biodiversity. The study sample included 15 dairy farms located in the French Massif Central mountains. An analysis of variance was carried out to study the effect of system’s types on milk quality and environmental impact scores. A principal component analysis was used to study the relationship between milk quality and environmental impact dimensions scores. No correlation has been established between overall milk quality and overall environmental impact scores. High scores for the nutritional and biodiversity dimensions and low scores for the resource consumption dimension, were associated with farming practices such as a high proportion of grasslands in the usable agricultural area, low stocking rate and low productivity per cow. This demonstrates the importance of defining specific priority objectives, on a farm-by-farm basis, in order to drive changes in agricultural practices. The multi-criteria evaluation model tested here appeared sensitive, but it needs to be tested on a larger scale and in different contexts.

Mapping for connection, a life beyond mapping for control: lessons from ‘mapping-as-performance’ with Empatheatre in South Africa

This paper critically examines the intersections of Science, colonialism, and cartography in shaping perceptions of the ocean and its human-nature relationships. Drawing on Postcolonial Science and Technology Studies (PCSTS) and Decolonial Theory, it scrutinizes historical mapping practices, revealing how they perpetuated ontological hierarchies and controlled narratives of the ocean. Through archival research spanning from the Revolution to colonial exploration, the paper exposes how maps framed the ocean as a controllable entity, obscuring socio-cultural dimensions of biodiversity. Focusing on a case study in Northern Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa, the authors explore an Empatheatre mapping process, that challenges Western ontologies and promotes counter-hegemonic cartographic practices. Situating this within critical cartography and PCSTS literature, the paper reveals how colonial projects molded perceptions of oceanic space and influenced environmental governance. In the South African context, the ocean is haunted by a violent history of racial exclusion and ecological exploitation. Initiatives like Operation Phakisa’s Blue Economy plan underscore the tension between economic growth and ecological sustainability, leading to rapid coastal developments. Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) emerges as a tool to reconcile these interests, yet its implementation raises questions about inclusivity and community participation. Introducing the Empatheatre method, characterized by a ‘Call and Response’ approach, the paper invites local communities to co-create maps reflecting their concerns and relationships with the ocean. Through attentive listening and collaborative storytelling, Empatheatre challenges traditional consultation methods, prioritizing meaningful engagement and collective meaning-making. Mapping in this context is not merely a static representation but a dynamic process of collective thinking and relationality. By foregrounding the social, cultural, and ecological context, Empatheatre’s approach redefines the mapmaker-map relationship and empowers communities as active agents in shaping their narratives. The transformative potential of Empatheatre lies in its ability to shift power dynamics and foster empathy between diverse stakeholders. Through performative storytelling and visual representations, Empatheatre creates space for marginalized voices and alternative modes of knowledge transmission. In conclusion, this paper advocates for a decolonial approach to oceanic cartographies that acknowledges diverse ontologies and fosters inclusive governance structures.

Functional zoning of biodiversity profiles

AbstractSpatial mapping of biodiversity is crucial to investigate spatial variations in natural communities. Several indices have been proposed in the literature to represent biodiversity as a single statistic. However, these indices only provide information on individual dimensions of biodiversity, thus failing to grasp its complexity comprehensively. Consequently, relying solely on these single indices can lead to misleading conclusions about the actual state of biodiversity. In this work, we focus on biodiversity profiles, which provide a more flexible framework to express biodiversity through nonnegative and convex curves, which can be analyzed by means of functional data analysis. By treating the whole curves as single entities, we propose to achieve a functional zoning of the region of interest by means of a penalized model‐based clustering procedure. This provides a spatial clustering of the biodiversity profiles, which is useful for policy‐makers both for conserving and managing natural resources and revealing patterns of interest. Our approach is evaluated using a simulation study and discussed through the analysis of the Harvard Forest Data, which provides information on the spatial distribution of woody stems within a plot of the Harvard Forest.

Ecosystem functional types of the circumpolar Arctic tundra based on the seasonal dynamics of vegetation productivity

Biodiversity, when viewed through the combined lenses of compositional, structural, and functional attributes, provides for a holistic understanding of the complexities found within community assemblages and ecosystems. However, advancement in our understanding of how ecosystem functional diversity interacts with structural and compositional diversity metrics is lacking, in part because universally applied methodologies to derive ecosystem functional classifications are still under development and vary widely across scales, extents and biomes. This study presents a methodology to construct ecosystem functional types (EFTs), or areas of the land surface that function similarly, using the MODIS NDVI record, for the terrestrial circumpolar Arctic. EFTs were derived from the seasonal dynamics of NDVI, over the Arctic tundra at 250 m resolution and compared to bioclimate subzones and to structurally and compositionally defined vegetation units of the Circumpolar Arctic Vegetation Map (CAVM). Correspondence analyses of CAVM EFTs to previously delineated CAVM bioclimatic subzones, physiognomic (vegetation) units and floristic provinces revealed a general congruence, indicating convergence across composition, structure, and function; yet also demonstrated substantial functional variability even within bioclimate subzones and vegetation units. Strong latitudinal gradients in ecosystem function are present, with EFT richness ranging from low (34) in northernmost regions to high (45) in southernmost regions. Locally, the mountainous regions of northern Alaska, and eastern and western Siberia had high spatial variability in ecosystem functioning. Aside from these generalities, we found that EFTs varied widely within individual mapped vegetation units, successfully capturing the functional dimension of biodiversity across the circumpolar Arctic tundra.

Assessing the impacts of aquaculture on local fish communities using environmental DNA metabarcoding analysis

AbstractFish aquaculture potentially affects the local ecosystem through feed (leftovers) and feces. However, evaluation of its impacts on biodiversity, especially those of mobile organisms such as fish, is not straightforward. Here, we report a case study in which environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding with MiFish universal primers for the 12S rRNA region of fish is used to detect and assess the impact of aquaculture on local fish communities. In Shizugawa Bay, Minamisanriku Town, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, Oncorhynchus kisutch (coho salmon) is aquacultured in sea cages from November to July, but is absent from August to October. We conducted eDNA surveys in June, August, October, and December 2021 of water at depths of 5 m and 1 m above the bottom obtained from two sites, one approximately 100 m and the other approximately 2500 m from the nearest aquaculture site. The total number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) detected was 122, with a maximum of 50 and a minimum of 10. With distance‐based redundancy analysis (dbRDA) and PERMANOVA applied to the eDNA‐based community compositional data, we detected a significant effect of the presence of O. kisutch aquaculture on fish biodiversity. The generalized linear model (GLM) applied to each detected OTUs indicated that the aquaculture was associated positively with Leucopsarion petersii (ice goby), and Oncorhynchus spp. and negatively with Chaenogobius annularis (forktongue goby). Environmental DNA metabarcoding surveys, combined with multivariate statics, are a promising tool to identify the dimension of biodiversity that human activity affects and would serve as a basic survey for sustainable use of the sea.

Seminatural areas act as reservoirs of genetic diversity for crop pollinators and natural enemies across Europe

AbstractDespite increasing recognition of the importance of the multiple dimensions of biodiversity, including functional or genetic diversity as well as species diversity, most conservation studies on ecosystem service‐providing insects focus on simple diversity measures such as species richness and abundance. In contrast, relatively little is known about the genetic diversity and resilience of pollinators or natural enemies of crop pests to population fragmentation and local extinction. The genetic diversity and demographic dynamics of remnant populations of beneficial insects in agricultural areas can be a useful indicator proving additional insights into their conservation status, but this is rarely evaluated. Although gene flow between agricultural and seminatural areas is key to maintaining genetic diversity, its extent and directionality remain largely unexplored. Here, we apply a pan‐European sampling protocol to quantify genetic diversity and structure and assess gene flow between agricultural and nearby seminatural landscapes in populations of two key ecosystem service‐providing insect species, the lady beetle Coccinella septempunctata, an important predator of aphids and other crop pests, and the bee pollinator Andrena flavipes. We show that A. flavipes populations are genetically structured at the European level, whereas populations of C. septempunctata experience widespread gene flow across the continent and lack any defined genetic structure. In both species, we found that there is high genetic connectivity between populations established in croplands and nearby seminatural areas and, as a consequence, they harbor similar levels of genetic diversity. Interestingly, demographic models for some regions support asymmetric gene flow from seminatural areas to nearby agricultural landscapes. Collectively, our study demonstrates how seminatural areas can serve as genetic reservoirs of both pollinators and natural enemies for nearby agricultural landscapes, acting as sources for recurrent recolonization and, potentially, contributing to enhancing ecosystem service and crop production resilience in the longer term.

Global patterns of human-wildlife spatial associations and implications for differentiating conservation strategies.

Understanding the global patterns of human and wildlife spatial associations is essential for pragmatic conservation implementation, yet analytical foundations and indicator-based assessments that would further this understanding are lacking. We integrated the global distributions of 30,664 terrestrial vertebrates and human pressures to map human-nature index (HNI) categories that indicate the extent and intensity of human-wildlife interactions. Along the 2 dimensions of biodiversity and human activity, the HNI allowed placement of terrestrial areas worldwide in one of 4 HNI categories: anthropic (human-dominated areas), wildlife-dominated (little human influence and rich in wildlife), co-occurring (substantial presence of humans and wildlife), and harsh-environment (limited presence of humans and wildlife) areas. The HNI varied considerably among taxonomic groups, and the leading driver of HNI was global climate patterns. Co-occurring regions were the most prevalent (35.9%), and wildlife-dominated and anthropic regions encompassed 26.45% and 6.50% of land area, respectively. Our results highlight the necessity for customizing conservation strategies to regions based on human-wildlife spatial associations and the distribution of existing protected area networks. Human activity and biodiversity should be integrated for complementary strategies to support conservation toward ambitious and pragmatic 30×30 goals.

Multiple dimensions of phyllostomid bat biodiversity across ecosystems of the Orinoco Llanos

AbstractUnderstanding the impacts of habitat conversion on species assemblages across multiple biodiversity dimensions (taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic) and spatial scales is pivotal for implementing effective conservation strategies. Here, we surveyed phyllostomid bats using mist nets in riparian and unflooded forests, flooded savannahs, and conventional rice fields to investigate how changes in habitat quality affect multifaceted diversity from two Colombian farming systems in the Orinoco Llanos: traditional farmlands with high‐intensity agriculture (mainly rice production) and Civil Society Nature Reserves with greater ecosystem protection. We used a unified framework based on Hill numbers for quantifying bat taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity and modeled the relationship of these diversity facets with landscape variables (habitat cover and patch density) across three spatial scales (0.5, 1.5, 3 km) using Bayesian generalized linear mixed‐effect models. Our results indicate that increasing human activity toward rice monocultures representative of traditional farmlands negatively affected all diversity facets. In contrast, forested habitats associated mainly with riparian forests within private reserves contained higher taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity than savannahs and rice fields. However, the differences between riparian forests and rice crops were significant only for phylogenetic diversity, indicating loss of evolutionary history after habitat conversion. At the landscape scale, forest cover was a significant predictor for functional (0.5‐ and 3‐km scale) and phylogenetic diversity (0.5 km), and bats responded negatively at the 3‐km scale to rice patch density from a functional diversity perspective. Increasing habitat quality through preserving forest cover and patches should minimize the harmful effects of habitat conversion on multidimensional bat biodiversity. Furthermore, the conservation of riparian forests and the creation of more wildlife‐friendly farming, as practiced in the reserves, should be prioritized to ensure high levels of bat taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity across Orinoco countryside landscapes.

Pelagic zone is an evolutionary catalyst, but an ecological dead end, for North American minnows.

The colonization of a novel geographic area is a classic source of ecological opportunity. Likewise, complex microhabitats are thought to promote biodiversity. We sought to reconcile these two predictions when they are naturally opposing outcomes. We assess the macroevolutionary consequences of an ancestral shift from benthic to pelagic microhabitat zones on rates of speciation and phenotypic evolution in North American minnows. Pelagic species have more similar phenotypes and slower rates of phenotypic evolution, but faster speciation rates, than benthic species. These are likely two independent, opposing responses to specialization along the benthic-pelagic axis, as rates of phenotypic evolution and speciation are not directly correlated. The pelagic zone is more structurally homogenous and offers less ecological opportunity, acting as an ecological dead end for minnows. In contrast, pelagic species may be more mobile and prone to dispersal and subsequent geographic isolation and, consequently, experience elevated instances of allopatric speciation. Microhabitat shifts can have decoupled effects on different dimensions of biodiversity, highlighting the need for nuance when interpreting the macroevolutionary consequences of ecological opportunity.

Research advances in trait-based approaches in soil animal community ecology

Functional traits are indicators of the responses and adaptation of organisms to environmental changes and cascade to a series of ecosystem functions. The functional traits of soil animals are sensitive to environmental factors and may characterize and predict the changes of ecosystem functions. Multiple dimensions of biodiversity that combing species, phylogenetic, and functional diversity improves the understanding of distribution patterns, community assembly mechanisms and ecosystem functions of soil animals. In this review, we listed the categories of soil animal functional traits and their ecological significance, and summarized current researches on the responses of soil animal communities to environmental changes and the community assembly processes based on trait-based approaches. We proposed to strengthen the study on the impacts of eco-evolution processes of biotic interactions to soil animal functional traits, establish the database of soil animal functional traits, and apply trait-based approaches in the ecological restoration in the future, which would benefit soil biodiversity conservation and sustainability of soil ecosystems.

Controlling the effects of sampling bias in biodiversity models

AbstractAimSampling bias and gaps have a direct influence on the perceived patterns of biodiversity, hence limiting our ability to make well‐informed decisions about biodiversity conservation. Yet most methods either disregard or underestimate the effects of sampling bias and gaps in modelling biodiversity patterns. Our objective is to test the sensitivity of commonly used methods for modelling biodiversity dimensions (richness, endemism, and beta diversity) to sampling bias and collection gaps, and as a way to mitigate those effects we introduce a novel approach that employs the sampling effort to minimize the effects of collection bias and gaps in biodiversity models.LocationSouth America.MethodsHere, we use controlled simulations of virtual species distribution and sampling effort to test the sensitivity to sampling bias and collection gaps by commonly used methods, that is, species distribution models (SDMs), spatial interpolation (SI), and environmental prediction (EP), for estimating species richness, endemism, and beta diversity. Our research contributes to advancing biodiversity modelling by introducing a novel approach, named uniform sampling from sampling effort (USSE), that employs the sampling effort to minimize the effects of collection bias and gaps.Results and Main ConclusionsEP with USSE has proven effective in accurately predicting species richness, especially in scenarios in which the sampling effort does not coincide with the biodiversity niches. It outperformed SI and SDMs. The latter performed poorly, yielding the lowest predictive score. In estimating endemism and beta diversity, all methods yielded similar results, without statistically significant differences. For estimating beta diversity, the generalized dissimilarity model proved to be a robust method, even in face of biased sampling. Controlled simulations are key to testing biodiversity methods. These tests can isolate confounding factors inherent to real‐world data, enabling robust methodological assessments. Although fieldwork and curation of collections must remain indispensable, novel biodiversity methods could help overcome the limitations of sampling biases, helping expedite conservation actions much needed.

Green treasures: Investigating the biodiversity potential of equine yards through the presence and quality of landscape features in the Netherlands.

At a time of mounting ecological crises and biodiversity loss, there is an urgent need for nature-based solutions. Equestrian properties cover a considerable proportion of the European rural and peri-urban landscape and provide much potential for integrating ecosystem services, such as the inclusion of small landscape features. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence and quality of landscape features (LF) to help determine how the equine sector can contribute to the agro-ecological transition. Using a citizen science approach, 87 commercial and 420 private yard owners reported the type, frequency and geometric dimension of LFs and additional biodiversity enhancing features. A hierarchical multivariate regression was used to determine how equine property characteristics explain variation in the Percentage Property Coverage (PPC) of LFs. The model explained 47% of the variation of PPC. The variables that explained significant variation in PPC included Yard size, Number of LFs, Tree rows, Fruit orchard, Wild hedges, Flowering strips, Buffer strips, Embankments and Cluttered corners. Commercial yards are significantly larger with significantly more horses and on average only 9% (±13.87%) of the property was covered by LFs whilst private yards had significantly more coverage of LFs with on average 12% (±14.77%). These findings highlight the substantial yet untapped potential of equine yards in fostering biodiversity, suggesting that the equine sector could play an important role in the agro-ecological transition. To encourage more biodiverse-inclusive yard designs, tailored strategies should consider the diverse factors influencing equine yard design, including existing knowledge, client demands, financial considerations, and equine health and welfare.