Biodiversity Ecosystem Services Research Articles

Towards time and cost‐efficient habitat assessment: Challenges and opportunities for benthic ecology and management

Abstract To the untrained eye, soft‐sediment habitats are often viewed as vast expanses of featureless sand and mud. With new technology, it is finally possible to begin to map the ecological heterogeneity of these ecosystems to reveal their importance for ecosystem service provision and open up new opportunities to manage their use and protect them. When compared with terrestrial or marine vegetated habitats, the characterization of unvegetated soft sediments still lacks rapid and cost‐effective practices that allow the direct collection of ecological data at multiple spatial and temporal scales facilitating direct relevance to conservation and management. New technologies that allow for the building of maps that incorporate multiple scales of heterogeneity also provide new ways of upscaling necessarily detailed and small‐scale process studies. The study of the relationship between benthic structure, biodiversity and ecosystem functioning can benefit from a range of established and novel techniques and creates new opportunities to empirically test generalities and predictions based on theory or small‐scale experimental studies. The capacity to map ecological changes rapidly and at scale and to link small‐scale experiments to landscapes uncovers new insights for seafloor conservation including rapid response to disturbance events, broad‐scale ecologically meaningful mapping and assessments of biodiversity–ecosystem function and biodiversity–ecosystem services relationships. As technology advances and becomes more accessible to all, it offers promising new avenues of research to expand our current capabilities, and the adoption of nested approaches, with a synergy of different samplings simultaneously covering several scales and resolutions, is likely to have the most benefit, supporting decision‐making with ecologically insightful data, as well as the timely assessment of the outcomes of conservation actions.

Multiple mechanisms drive biodiversity-ecosystem service multifunctionality but the dominant one depends on the level of multifunctionality for natural forests in northeast China

Biodiversity plays a key role in maintaining and regulating ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF). However, there remains a knowledge gap on the ecological mechanisms behind the relationship between biodiversity and EMF (BEMF), and how these mechanisms vary with EMF gradients, especially at large scale. We used the dataset of 2224 permanent sample plots in Jilin Province, northeast China to test three BEMF mechanisms and their variations with EMF, including mass ratio, ecological niche complementarity and the green soup hypotheses. Biodiversity metrics were taxonomic, structural, phylogenetic, functional diversity and functional identity. EMF was composed of five services: water retention, soil conservation, carbon storage, stand productivity and soil fertility maintenance. EMF was measured using both the averaging (as the average of the standardized values of all services) and threshold (as the number of services passed a threshold) approach. Totally 23 piecewise structural equation models (pSEMs) were developed for EMF with the threshold level ranging from 5% to 95% by an interval of 5%. Results showed that stand biomass had strong positive effect on EMF. Stand structural diversity had significant direct and indirect effects on EMF, but taxonomic, functional diversity and functional identity only had significant direct and indirect effects on EMF at low thresholds. Stand age had significant direct effects on EMF and indirectly enhanced EMF through stand structural diversity and biomass. Our results provided strong evidence that EMF was driven simultaneously by mass ratio, niche complementarity and green soup hypotheses, but the dominant mechanism was dependent on EMF level. Generally, the green soup hypothesis played more important role in explaining EMF. Recommendations for maintaining high functional and structural diversity and large biomass for maximizing EMF were discussed for forest management.

Diverse flower-visiting responses among pollinators to multiple weather variables in buckwheat pollination

Response diversity to environmental change among species is important for the maintenance of ecosystem services, but response diversity to changes in multiple environmental parameters is largely unexplored. Here, we examined how insect visitations to buckwheat flowers differ among species groups in response to changes in multiple weather variables and landscape structures. We found differences in responses to changes in weather conditions among insect taxonomic groups visiting buckwheat flowers. Beetles, butterflies, and wasps were more active in sunny and/or high-temperature conditions, whereas ants and non-syrphid flies showed the opposite pattern. When looking closely, the different response pattern among insect groups was itself shown to be different from one weather variable to another. For instance, large insects were responsive to temperatures more than small insects while smaller insects were responsive to sunshine duration more than large insects. Furthermore, responses to weather conditions differed between large and small insects, which agreed with the expectation that optimal temperature for insect activity depends on body size. Responses to spatial variables also differed; large insects were more abundant in fields with surrounding forests and mosaic habitats, whereas small insects were not. We suggest that response diversity at multiple spatial and temporal niche dimensions should be a focus of future studies of the biodiversity–ecosystem service relationships.

The supply of multiple ecosystem services requires biodiversity across spatial scales.

The impact of local biodiversity loss on ecosystem functioning is well established, but the role of larger-scale biodiversity dynamics in the delivery of ecosystem services remains poorly understood. Here we address this gap using a comprehensive dataset describing the supply of 16 cultural, regulating and provisioning ecosystem services in 150 European agricultural grassland plots, and detailed multi-scale data on land use and plant diversity. After controlling for land-use and abiotic factors, we show that both plot-level and surrounding plant diversity play an important role in the supply of cultural and aboveground regulating ecosystem services. In contrast, provisioning and belowground regulating ecosystem services are more strongly driven by field-level management and abiotic factors. Structural equation models revealed that surrounding plant diversity promotes ecosystem services both directly, probably by fostering the spill-over of ecosystem service providers from surrounding areas, and indirectly, by maintaining plot-level diversity. By influencing the ecosystem services that local stakeholders prioritized, biodiversity at different scales was also shown to positively influence a wide range of stakeholder groups. These results provide a comprehensive picture of which ecosystem services rely most strongly on biodiversity, and the respective scales of biodiversity that drive these services. This key information is required for the upscaling of biodiversity-ecosystem service relationships, and the informed management of biodiversity within agricultural landscapes.

New insights on glass industry wasteland ecosystems

Glass manufacturing operations lead to an increasing number of abandoned slag heaps contaminated with metallic trace elements (MTE). However, the relative influence of edaphic factors on the biodiversity of glasswork wastelands is still poorly understood although closely related to sustainable land management practices. Therefore, the objectives of this research were to provide new insights into glasswork wastelands through the investigation of (i) Orthoptera, diurnal Lepidoptera, plant communities, and (ii) abiotic parameters in the topsoils.To that end, biodiversity indices were computed from ecological inventories performed on the herbaceous layer. In addition, soil samples were taken from the topsoil layer (0–10 cm) to assess agronomic properties, actually (CEC-exchangeable) and potentially bioavailable MTE fractions (DTPA-extractable) and pseudo-total MTE contents. On the one hand, the studied site was able to support a substantially higher than excepted biodiversity with orthopteran assemblages similar to grasslands and a diurnal Lepidoptera diversity comparable to urban parks. We also noted a positive influence of plant richness on the diurnal Lepidoptera community structure. On the other hand, topsoil analysis revealed a severe Pb contamination (1800–3100 mg kg−1) and a high potentially bioavailable Pb fraction (800–1300 mg kg−1). However, CEC-exchangeable MTE concentrations were all below the analytical quantification limits. Moreover, the site was characterized by a medium soil fertility.From these results, Pb contamination does not appear to be a primary limiting factor for the establishment of these communities. We assume that glasswork wasteland ecosytems are more affected by soil fertility or land management practices. To conclude, these sites are able to provide biodiversity ecosystem services, acting as wildlife sanctuaries for Orthoptera and diurnal Lepidoptera, and strategic metals by phytoextraction in a circular economy model. Thus, wasteland management practices should consider the local-scale drivers of biodiversity in order to reach at least the zero net loss of biodiversity.

Protecting biodiversity to support ecosystem services: An analysis of trade‐offs and synergies in southwestern China

Abstract Biodiversity plays a key role in supporting ecosystem services. Understanding this relationship sheds light on the linkages between ecological structure and functioning, thereby increasing the capacity for effective strategies of ecosystem conservation and restoration. Focusing on southwestern China, a global biodiversity hotspot, we evaluated the spatial correlations between biodiversity and four regulating services and one cultural service. We calculated critical points of change in the relationship between biodiversity and each of these ecosystem services and categorized the region into ‘threshold’, ‘sensitive’, ‘saturation’, ‘recession’ and ‘low‐value’ areas. The results show that the spatial correlation between biodiversity and regulating services was mainly positive in the Nujiang River and Lancang River basins and the Dayao Mountains, while biodiversity was negatively correlated with provisioning and cultural services in the Qionglai and Hengduan Mountains. The slope value of the curve fitted for the biodiversity–ecosystem service relationships was approximately 1 when species richness was approximately 50; the corresponding areas were termed threshold areas and were pivotal zones of change in the biodiversity–ecosystem service relationships. These areas were mainly distributed in the Qionglai Mountains, Hengduan Mountains and Nujiang River Basin, and should be prioritized for monitoring and biodiversity protection. Synthesis and applications: Our findings can help improve understanding of the spatially complex interactions between biodiversity and multiple ecosystem services, as well as identifying areas that should be prioritized for protection and restoration; they also contribute towards a scientific framework for integrated management and policy in general.

Enhancing Regional Tourism Development in the Protected Areas Using the Total Economic Value Approach

This research aims to boost tourism development in natural protected areas through the classification of the tourism hiking trails based on biodiversity ecosystem services values. The Total Economic Value (TEV) approach was used as the main research method to estimate the monetary value of the various ecosystem resources in Abu Qubies Syrian protected area. Five main tourism hiking trails in Abu Qubies were identified in order to be classified based on the economic value of their ecosystem resources. The study findings highlighted the importance of protected areas in enhancing tourism activities, especially natural-based ones. Additionally, this research identified the most economically valuable tourism hiking trails in the reserve, thus providing a supporting tool for decision-makers regarding tourism development in protected areas. This study presents the importance of the conservation perspective of natural resources in protected areas without ignoring their physical monetary value that can help governments in boosting local communities as well as the national, regional and local economies.

Relationships between species richness and ecosystem services in Amazonian forests strongly influenced by biogeographical strata and forest types

Despite increasing attention for relationships between species richness and ecosystem services, for tropical forests such relationships are still under discussion. Contradicting relationships have been reported concerning carbon stock, while little is known about relationships concerning timber stock and the abundance of non-timber forest product producing plant species (NTFP abundance). Using 151 1-ha plots, we related tree and arborescent palm species richness to carbon stock, timber stock and NTFP abundance across the Guiana Shield, and using 283 1-ha plots, to carbon stock across all of Amazonia. We analysed how environmental heterogeneity influenced these relationships, assessing differences across and within multiple forest types, biogeographic regions and subregions. Species richness showed significant relationships with all three ecosystem services, but relationships differed between forest types and among biogeographical strata. We found that species richness was positively associated to carbon stock in all biogeographical strata. This association became obscured by variation across biogeographical regions at the scale of Amazonia, resembling a Simpson’s paradox. By contrast, species richness was weakly or not significantly related to timber stock and NTFP abundance, suggesting that species richness is not a good predictor for these ecosystem services. Our findings illustrate the importance of environmental stratification in analysing biodiversity-ecosystem services relationships.

Plant Breeding and Management Strategies to Minimize the Impact of Water Scarcity and Biotic Stress in Cereal Crops under Mediterranean Conditions

Wheat and rice are two main staple food crops that may suffer from yield losses due to drought episodes that are increasingly impacted by climate change, in addition to new epidemic outbreaks. Sustainable intensification of production will rely on several strategies, such as efficient use of water and variety improvement. This review updates the latest findings regarding complementary approaches in agronomy, genetics, and phenomics to cope with climate change challenges. The agronomic approach focuses on a case study examining alternative rice water management practices, with their impact on greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity for ecosystem services. The genetic approach reviews in depth the latest technologies to achieve fungal disease resistance, as well as the use of landraces to increase the genetic diversity of new varieties. The phenomics approach explores recent advances in high-throughput remote sensing technologies useful in detecting both biotic and abiotic stress effects on breeding programs. The complementary nature of all these technologies indicates that only interdisciplinary work will ensure significant steps towards a more sustainable agriculture under future climate change scenarios.

Assessment of the Selected Regulating Ecosystem Services Using Ecosystem Services Matrix in Two Model Areas: Special Nature Reserve Obedska Bara (Serbia) and Protected Landscape Area Dunajske Luhy (Slovakia)

In this paper we are analyzing the potential of land cover features to provide three regulating ecosystem services (ESs), ES Local climate regulation, ES Water quality regulation and ES Biodiversity promotion, in two case study areas: Special nature reserve (SNR) Obedska bara (Serbia) and Protected landscape area (PLA) Dunajske luhy (Slovakia). Regulating ESs are not only important for proper functioning of ecosystems, but they are also crucial for the existence of human society. To assess the potential of land cover features to provide regulating ESs, we used biophysical methods. The maps of land cover potential to provide regulating ES are the result of the analyses. The results indicate that forests are the most important ecosystems that provide ES Local climate regulation and ES Water quality regulation. For ES Biodiversity promotion, the most important ecosystems were natural and seminatural meadows, wetlands, natural and seminatural rivers and water bodies as well as forests. Overall SNR Obedska bara has higher potential to provide all three regulating ESs than PLA Dunajske luhy. These findings point to the importance of natural areas in ensuring the provision of regulating ESs. Properly selected landscape management is the key for maintaining or improving the potential of land cover features to provide regulating ESs. The research can help local authorities in decision making and in creating conservation strategies for selected protected areas.

Biodiversity in and around Greenhouses: Benefits and Potential Risks for Pest Management.

Simple SummaryThe role of plant diversity near greenhouses is heavily debated because it may have both negative and positive effects on pest control inside greenhouses. In this review, we discuss these potential risks and benefits. Although there is the risk of an increased influx of some pests and of viruses transmitted by pests, we argue that biodiversity in the adjacent environment usually has limited effects on pest abundance in greenhouses in temperate climates, as most greenhouse pests in temperate climates are of exotic origin. The main benefit of increased biodiversity near greenhouses is the immigration of natural enemies that can suppress pests inside greenhouses. An open question is how this can be promoted by specific plant communities, plant characteristics, and habitats while minimising risks. Plant biodiversity inside greenhouses can also support biological control. We summarise general methods that growers can use to enhance pest control with functional biodiversity and suggest that it is particularly important to study how biodiversity inside and outside greenhouses can be linked to enhancement of biological pest control with both released and naturally occurring species of natural enemies.One of the ecosystem services of biodiversity is the contribution to pest control through conservation and stimulation of natural enemies. However, whether plant diversity around greenhouses is beneficial or a potential risk is heavily debated. In this review, we argue that most greenhouse pests in temperate climates are of exotic origin and infest greenhouses mainly through transportation of plant material. For indigenous pests, we discuss the potential ways in which plant diversity around greenhouses can facilitate or prevent pest migrations into greenhouses. As shown in several studies, an important benefit of increased plant diversity around greenhouses is the stimulation of indigenous natural enemies that migrate to greenhouses, where they suppress both indigenous and exotic pests. How this influx can be supported by specific plant communities, plant characteristics, and habitats while minimising risks of increasing greenhouse pest densities, virus transmission, or hyperparasitism needs further studies. It also requires a better understanding of the underlying processes that link biodiversity with pest management. Inside greenhouses, plant biodiversity can also support biological control. We summarise general methods that growers can use to enhance pest control with functional biodiversity and suggest that it is particularly important to study how biodiversity inside and outside greenhouses can be linked to enhancement of biological pest control with both released and naturally occurring species of natural enemies.

Improving the knowledge of plant potential biodiversity-ecosystem services links using maps at the regional level in Southern Patagonia

BackgroundBiodiversity supports multiple ecosystem services, whereas species loss endangers the provision of many services and affects ecosystem resilience and resistance capacity. The increase of remote sensing techniques allows to estimate biodiversity and ecosystem services supply at the landscape level in areas with low available data (e.g. Southern Patagonia). This paper evaluates the potential biodiversity and how it links with ecosystem services, based on vascular plant species across eight ecological areas. We also evaluated the habitat plant requirements and their relation with natural gradients. A total of 977 plots were used to develop habitat suitability maps based on an environmental niche factor analysis of 15 more important indicator species for each ecological area (n = 53 species) using 40 explanatory variables. Finally, these maps were combined into a single potential biodiversity map, which was linked with environmental variables and ecosystem services supply. For comparisons, data were extracted and compared through analyses of variance.ResultsThe plant habitat requirements varied greatly among the different ecological areas, and it was possible to define groups according to its specialization and marginality indexes. The potential biodiversity map allowed us to detect coldspots in the western mountains and hotspots in southern and eastern areas. Higher biodiversity was associated to higher temperatures and normalized difference vegetation index, while lower biodiversity was related to elevation and rainfall. Potential biodiversity was closely associated with supporting and provisioning ecosystem services in shrublands and grasslands in the humid steppe, while the lowest values were related to cultural ecosystem services in Nothofagus forests.ConclusionsThe present study showed that plant species present remarkable differences in spatial distributions and ecological requirements, being a useful proxy for potential biodiversity modelling. Potential biodiversity values change across ecological areas allowing to identify hotspots and coldspots, a useful tool for landscape management and conservation strategies. In addition, links with ecosystem services detect potential synergies and trade-offs, where areas with the lowest potential biodiversity are related to cultural ecosystem services (e.g. aesthetic values) and areas with the greatest potential biodiversity showed threats related to productive activities (e.g. livestock).

Dynamics of Foliar Responses to O3 Stress as a Function of Phytotoxic O3 Dose in Hybrid Poplar.

With background concentrations having reached phytotoxic levels during the last century, tropospheric ozone (O3) has become a key climate change agent, counteracting carbon sequestration by forest ecosystems. One of the main knowledge gaps for implementing the recent O3 flux-based critical levels (CLs) concerns the assessment of effective O3 dose leading to adverse effects in plants. In this study, we investigate the dynamics of physiological, structural, and morphological responses induced by two levels of O3 exposure (80 and 100 ppb) in the foliage of hybrid poplar, as a function of phytotoxic O3 dose (POD0) and foliar developmental stage. After a latency period driven by foliar ontological development, the gas exchanges and chlorophyll content decreased with higher POD0 monotonically. Hypersensitive response-like lesions appeared early during exposure and showed sigmoidal-like dynamics, varying according to leaf age. At current POD1_SPEC CL, notwithstanding the aforementioned reactions and initial visible injury to foliage, the treated poplars had still not shown any growth or biomass reduction. Hence, this study demonstrates the development of a complex syndrome of early reactions below the flux-based CL, with response dynamics closely determined by the foliar ontological stage and environmental conditions. General agreement with patterns observed in the field appears indicative of early O3 impacts on processes relevant, e.g., biodiversity ecosystem services before those of economic significance – i.e., wood production, as targeted by flux-based CL.

Impact of human disturbances on soil cyanobacteria diversity and distribution in suburban arid area of Marrakesh, Morocco

BackgroundCyanobacteria are among the first photoautotrophic component of soil microorganism communities which play a key ecological role in nutrient cycles and soil productivity. However, the sustainability of these soil biodiversity ecosystem services is increasingly compromised, especially in urban and peri-urban areas where soils are heavily exploited and used for a wide range of human activities. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of different types of human disturbances on cyanobacteria diversity and distribution in suburban soils of Marrakesh. Soil and cyanobacteria sampling were carried out during two campaigns at six sites located along an anthropogenic gradient from the least urbanized suburbs of Marrakesh to the highly anthropized suburban area. In the laboratory, soil physicochemical characteristics were measured. The morphological identification of cyanobacteria species was based both on microscopic observation and on soil cultures in solid and liquid Z8 media.ResultsThe results showed a total of 25 cyanobacteria taxa belonging to ten genera, four families, and two orders (Oscillatoriales 88% and Chroococcales 12% of taxa). Among the taxa identified, seven strains were isolated in soil culture in nutrient media and purified in monoalgal culture. The highest cyanobacterial diversity was recorded in irrigated soil with treated wastewater compared to the non-cultivated control soil. In Principal Component and Cluster Analysis, suburban soils were subdivided into three groups depending on the chemical properties and cyanobacteria composition. Cyanobacteria diversity was significantly associated with the soil moisture, total organic carbon (TOC), PO4-P, NO3-N, and NH4-N contents.ConclusionsWhile diversity and microalgal biomass were significantly lower in the soils affected by municipal and mining solid wastes, the input of organic matter and nutrients from treated wastewater appears to be beneficial for the increasing of the biodiversity of soil cyanobacteria. This survey provides a first inventory of the soil cyanobacterial communities and shows their spatial variability and high sensitivity to the land-use practices and anthropogenic disturbances on urban soil in Moroccan drylands.

A Research Agenda for Urban Biodiversity in the Global Extinction Crisis

AbstractRapid urbanization and the global loss of biodiversity necessitate the development of a research agenda that addresses knowledge gaps in urban ecology that will inform policy, management, and conservation. To advance this goal, we present six topics to pursue in urban biodiversity research: the socioeconomic and social–ecological drivers of biodiversity loss versus gain of biodiversity; the response of biodiversity to technological change; biodiversity–ecosystem service relationships; urban areas as refugia for biodiversity; spatiotemporal dynamics of species, community changes, and underlying processes; and ecological networks. We discuss overarching considerations and offer a set of questions to inspire and support urban biodiversity research. In parallel, we advocate for communication and collaboration across many fields and disciplines in order to build capacity for urban biodiversity research, education, and practice. Taken together we note that urban areas will play an important role in addressing the global extinction crisis.

Exploring relationships between abundance of non-timber forest product species and tropical forest plant diversity

Despite the importance of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) for local livelihoods in tropical countries and the increasing attention for biodiversity-ecosystem services relationships, it remained unclear how the ecosystem service of NTFP provisioning is related to plant diversity. Although it is generally assumed that plant diversity is positively related to ecosystem services, this had not been assessed for NTFP provisioning. We applied bivariate and multiple regression models to explore the relationships between the abundance of 58 commercially relevant NTFP species and woody plant diversity across 287 plots of tropical forests in Northern Suriname. We found that NTFP abundance showed both positive and negative relationships to plant diversity indicators. In contrast to expectations, NTFP abundance was negatively related to woody species richness. In addition, across the plots disproportionately few (2–6) NTFP species determined >50% of NTFP abundance. The occurrence and the identity of these ‘NTFP oligarchs’ was associated to specific floristic compositions. Overall, more than half, i.e. 55.9%, of the observed variation in NTFP abundance could be explained by a combination of taxonomic and structural plant diversity indicators. Our case study findings are relevant for conservation policies in general. In most countries NTFPs are not on the agenda of governments and current tropical conservation policies often focus on forests with high species richness and/or carbon stocks. Our findings indicate that current policies may not cover valuable forests in terms of high NTFP abundance. To support sustainable NTFP provisioning, additional conservation efforts would need to include those vegetation types with high NTFP abundance.

Diversity and local perception of lepidopterans in secondary tropical dry forests: Implications for management

Butterflies are one of insect groups cherished by humans because of their spectacular colors and shapes. However, the ecosystem services and/or disservices they provide are less clear-cut, since they can be both important pollinators as adults and agricultural pests as larvae. In this study, we evaluated local perceptions about lepidopterans in “Los Ranchitos,” Jalisco, Mexico and estimated butterfly diversity in nearby secondary forests. Our aim was to understand whether common knowledge values the ecosystem services butterflies provide and whether local perception correlates with secondary forest butterfly diversity and management. To estimate lepidopteran diversity, we used direct sampling with live traps and direct observation. To understand local perceptions about the role of lepidopterans for ecosystems and management of their lands, we conducted semi-structured interviews and workshops with local Ejidatarios (members of the local community and participants in a Mexican collective land ownership structure). We found a high diversity of lepidopterans (40 species) at the secondary forests throughout the year. Most Ejidatarios have diverse management strategies involving cattle ranching and agriculture. Local knowledge recognized their presence in their fields particularly in secondary forests. However, we detected little awareness of the link between lepidopteran larvae (herbivores) and adults (pollinators), and their role in wild plant pollination. Many Ejidatarios were interested in deepening their knowledge of the ecosystem services that lepidopterans provide in the region. Therefore, researchers should strengthen their communication skills and share the information about the ecosystem services biodiversity provides and how secondary forests hold an important amount of biodiversity. In order to improve secondary forest management there is a need to incorporate ecological knowledge into localś perceptions.

A two-part modelling approach reveals a positive effect of pollinator biodiversity in boosting the pollination of apple flowers

Pollinator biodiversity may benefit crop pollination. Yet benefits in agro-ecosystems may be context-dependent and offset by agronomic or other limiting orchard-specific or tree-specific factors that obscure biodiversity-ecosystem service relationships. To test if crop pollination benefitted from pollinator biodiversity, we sampled local wild bee communities in five organic and five Integrated Pest Management (IPM) apple orchards in Germany and experimentally measured the pollination success of apple flowers, quantified as the number of pollen tubes reaching the base of styles. Using standard statistical modelling approaches for over-dispersed count data, we found little or no effect of wild bee biodiversity on pollination success, irrespectively of farm management (organic versus IPM). There was, however, a positive relationship between the number of pollen tubes in insect-pollinated and pollen-supplemented flowers across trees and orchards, suggesting confounding effects of local tree- or orchard-specific factors limiting pollination success. Using a statistical two-part hurdle model which allowed us to separate (i) the probability of pollination and (ii) the quantity of pollination, we were able to demonstrate that the collective effects of local tree/orchard factors acted as a primary limiting threshold for pollination success. Once the threshold was crossed, the hurdle model demonstrated that increasing wild bee abundance enhanced pollination success of apple trees. We advocate the use of statistical two-part models as a more powerful approach to identifying limiting factors of, and the role of biodiversity in, crop pollination and potentially other ecosystem services in agro-ecosystems.

Unpredicted ecological and ecosystem services of biodiversity. Spontaneous vegetation, hedgerows, and maple trees as useful landscape components to increase predatory mite population in agroecosystems

Rural landscapes have been dramatically simplified and reduced. Large mechanical machinery was adopted and most of the natural helps such as living tutors in the vineyards disappeared or were replaced by cement or steel pillars. In the same way, field margins and hedgerows have also become restricted and simplified. The vegetation in the rural landscape mosaic provides alternative food and overwintering places, maintaining the inestimable importance of biodiversity in providing unexpected ecological services in agroecosystems. An important example could be predatory mites both as species and population density, providing ecological service for biological control such as the two-spotted spider mite attacks. Maple and grape leaf domatia can be hosted by a large number of small invertebrates, including predatory mites such as Phytoseiidae, Laelapidae, and Stigmaeidae. The present study would document the ecological service offered by the presence of predatory mites, especially Phytoseiidae, on wild herbal vegetation and tree species associated with hedgerows in agricultural sites across the Veneto Region (Italy). 25 confirmed species of phytoseiids were revealed. Neoseiulus barkeri results the common species in all plant species habitats studied and with Amblyseius andersoni, Amblyseius rademacheri, Euseius finlandicus, Neoseiulella tiliarum is recorded in most of the study sites. Other species are notable for the preferences of plant species: Neoseiulus cucumeris and Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) verrucosus results associated for elm, meanwhile Neoseiulus aurescens, Paraseiulus soleiger and Phytoseiulus persimilis for maple tree. A positive relationship between the increasing leaf hairiness and the mean number of Phytoseiidae is revealed. The movement of predatory mites from one plant to another could be a necessary condition to support an effective biological control. The reintroduction of the living tutor for vine such as maple and elm and increasing the field margins diversity could improve and maintain the inestimable importance of biodiversity in providing unexpected ecological services in agroecosystems.

Energy crops in marginal areas: Scenario-based assessment through ecosystem services, as support to sustainable development

Abstract Starting from the identification of marginal areas, this work presents a possible physical–mathematical approach as a support to landscape planning, based on the pragmatic determination of the predictable environmental effects connected to land use changes (LUC) and related to objective and quantitative ecological indicators for environmental impact assessment. “Fringe areas”, which are more suitable to change in a medium-short time frame, were determined through a spatial multicriteria decision analysis (S-MCDA) process. Three land use changes scenarios were identified and analysed, namely: the current situation, energy crop cultivation in marginal lands, and the possible abandonment of lands such as these. Energy crop cultivation in marginal lands is widely considered to be a useful opportunity for farmers, against the progressive risk of under-utilization or abandonment; nevertheless, the large areas needed can cause important environmental side-effects. In order to assess the possible variations in environmental components in the ex-ante planning phase, scenarios were assessed in terms of habitat and biodiversity ecosystems services (using both monetary and indexes approach), focusing also on possible environmental fragmentation analysis by means of landscape metrics, which are simple measures used to deepen landscape configuration and structure. The S-MCDA process allowed about 10% of the study area with less favourable environmental conditions to be defined, where land use change is desirable in a medium-short time frame. For the energy crops scenario, the ecosystem services (ESs) approach highlights positive repercussions in terms of habitat quality and biodiversity value. Similar trends are highlighted by different ESs assessment methods adopted (monetary and indexes), confirming themselves. Also, landscape pattern analysis confirmed positive habitat connectivity trends: the delineation of fringe areas has preserved, in energy crops scenario, natural and semi-natural classes, reducing the risk of disturbance with respect to the biodiversity and habitat. This condition assumes that adopted S-MCDA method can contribute positively and significantly to the definition of LUC scenarios and land management. In conclusion, marginal lands can become an opportunity to improve socio-economic conditions and to enhance land image, while respecting the environment. LUC scenarios building, and their assessment by means of ecological indicators become a dynamic and structured tool in the land use planning /management process to support decision maker choices and to re-calibrate interventions, with the aim of contributing to sustainable policies of land management (ecological corridors, compensation and / or mitigation measures, etc.), emphasizing land sustainable management benefits (such as climate change adaptation or disaster risk reduction).