Effects Of Management Intensity Research Articles

To Harvest or not to Harvest: Management Intensity did not Affect Greenhouse Gas Balances of Phalaris Arundinacea Paludiculture

The cultivation of flooding-tolerant grasses on wet or rewetted peatlands is a priority in climate change mitigation, balancing the trade-off between atmospheric decarbonisation and biomass production. However, effects of management intensities on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the global warming potential (GWP) are widely unknown. This study assessed whether intensities of two and five annual harvest occurrences at fertilisation rates of 200 kg nitrogen ha− 1 yr− 1 affects GHG exchange dynamics compared to a ‘nature scenario’ with neither harvest nor fertilisation. Fluxes of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), using opaque and transparent chambers, were measured on a wet fen peatland with a mean water table depth of -10 cm below soil surface. Overall, no treatment effect was found on biomass yields and GHG emissions. Annual cumulative CH4 emissions were low, ranging between 0.3 and 0.5 t CO2-C eq ha− 1 yr− 1. Contrary to this, emissions of N2O were high, ranging between 1.1 and 1.5 t CO2-C eq ha− 1 yr− 1. For magnitudes of CH4 and N2O, soil moisture conditions and electrical peat properties were critical proxies. Atmospheric uptake of CO2 by net ecosystem exchange was higher for the treatments with management. However, this benefit was offset by the export of carbon in biomass compared to the treatment without management. In conclusion, the results highlighted a near-equal GWP in the range of 10.5–11.5 t CO2-C eq t ha− 1 yr− 1 for all treatments irrespectively of management. In a climate context, a restoration scenario but also intensive paludiculture practices were equal land-use options.

Seasonal changes in forest road use by mammals in a heavy snowfall area, north-eastern Japan: effects of management intensities

Seasonal changes in forest road use by mammals in a heavy snowfall area, north-eastern Japan: effects of management intensities

Management intensity affects insect pests and natural pest control on Arabica coffee in its native range

Abstract Agroforestry systems provide opportunities to reduce the trade‐off between agricultural production and biodiversity, for example by enhancing a diverse community of species potentially acting as natural pest control agents. While management of agroforestry systems is intensifying across the globe, we lack insights into the impact of management intensity on pest levels and natural pest control, especially along broad management gradients and as compared with natural forests. We assessed the impact of management intensity on major insect pests (the coffee blotch miner, the serpentine leaf miner, the coffee leaf skeletonizer and damage by other free‐feeding herbivores) and natural pest control by parasitoid wasps across sixty sites in the centre of origin of Arabica coffee in southwestern Ethiopia. Within this region, coffee is growing along a broad management gradient ranging from little or no management in the natural forest to intensively managed commercial plantations. In the wet season, pest levels were largely similar in the natural forest, semi‐forest and semi‐plantation systems, whereas pests reached outbreak densities in the most intensively managed plantation system. In contrast, management intensity did not significantly affect pest levels in the dry season. The insect pests differed in their seasonal dynamics, consistently declined with elevation and were largely unaffected by shade levels. Parasitism rate of the coffee blotch miner was lower, and the parasitoid community was distinct, in the most intensively managed plantation system. Synthesis and applications : Our findings support the hypothesis that the weaker top‐down control by parasitoids in the intensively managed plantation sites leads to higher pest levels, and that—at least for some pest species—there is a threshold in the effect of management intensity on pest levels and natural pest control. It is important to consider such non‐linear relationships to maintain or enhance the sustainability of agroforestry systems during management intensification. Overall, our findings highlight that ecological knowledge of natural pest control can be used to intensify production to improve the livelihood of smallholder farmers without jeopardizing natural pest control but only up to a certain point where it starts to deteriorate.

Effects of management intensity, soil properties and region on the nematode communities in temperate forests in Germany

A key to forest productivity is structure and function of the biotic microbiome in the soil, which determines nutrient mineralisation and consequently tree growth and fitness. Soil nematodes are a dominant part of these assemblages, with an important role in the associated micro-food web. However, nothing is known about how forest management and soil properties affect soil nematodes. This study investigated the nematode communities in the organic layer and mineral soil of 150 forests located in three different German regions. Fifty forest stands each were studied in Schwäbische Alb (ALB), Hainch-Dün (HAI) and Schorfheide-Chorin (SCH). The effect of forest management (forest management index – ForMI, silvicultural management intensity indicator – SMI), soil properties (total C, N, S, P, organic C, inorganic C, pH, water content) and microbial food source (phospholipid fatty acids - PLFA) on nematode density, community and ecological indices were assessed.The nematode density in the organic layer of the forests was with a mean of 290 individuals g−1 DW comparable across all three regions, while in the mineral soil nematode density was significant lower in SCH. Here, dry sandy soils are frequently stocked with intensively managed pine forests, and the associated fungal-based decomposition is reflected in a greater proportion of fungal-feeding nematodes and a higher Channel Index. Effects of region and soil layer were mirrored by the structure of the nematode community. Organic layer and mineral soil differed distinctly, while in the latter SCH separated from ALB and HAI. The nematode community was predominantly affected by region, soil properties and resources, with microbial diet as driving factor in the organic layer, whereas soil parameters were more important in mineral soil. In comparison, the influence of forest management was low, with ForMI and SIM together explaining 8% (organic layer) and 4% (mineral soil) of the overall variation. Most remarkable, the nematode community in HAI, a region dominated by broad-leaf forests, was resilient to management intensity in the organic layer. On the other hand, management practice had family-specific impact: In the organic layer of ALB, the density of the bacterial-feeding Teratocephalidae and the fungal-feeding Aphelenchoididae increased with higher Inonat (indicates non-natural tree species) and higher SMIr (addresses stand age and species selection related to the risk of stand loss). In sum, the structure and function of nematode communities were driven by both, biotic factors such food source (i.e. the soil layer inhabited) and abiotic factors such as soil type and climate (i.e. region). Furthermore, forest management can affect nematode communities, mainly by the selected tree species, but also by stand age and density.

Effect of Management Intensity on Tree Taxonomic and Functional Diversity in Cocoa Agroforestry Plantations

Effect of Management Intensity on Tree Taxonomic and Functional Diversity in Cocoa Agroforestry Plantations

Species co-occurrence and management intensity modulate habitat preferences of forest birds

BackgroundSpecies co-occurrences can have profound effects on the habitat use of species, and therefore habitat structure alone cannot fully explain observed abundances. To account for this aspect of community organization, we developed multi-species abundance models, incorporating the local effect of co-occurring and potentially associated species, alongside with environmental predictors, linked mainly to forest management intensity. We coupled it with a landscape-scale analysis to further examine the role of management intensity in modifying the habitat preferences in connection with the landscape context. Using empirical data from the Black Forest in southern Germany, we focused on the forest bird assemblage and in particular on the cavity-nesting and canopy-foraging guilds. We included in the analysis species that co-occur and for which evidence suggests association is likely.ResultsOur findings show that the local effect of species associations can mitigate the effects of management intensity on forest birds. We also found that bird species express wider habitat preferences in forests under higher management intensity, depending on the landscape context.ConclusionsWe suspect that species associations may facilitate the utilization of a broader range of environmental conditions under intensive forest management, which benefits some species over others. Networks of associations may be a relevant factor in the effectiveness of conservation-oriented forest management.

Environmental factors and management intensity affect in different ways plant diversity and pastoral value of alpine pastures

• 3839 vegetation surveys were carried out across pastures of Western Italian Alps. • Plant diversity (PD) and forage Pastoral Value (PV) were computed. • The effects of management intensity and environment on PD and PV were assessed. • PD was mostly affected by environmental factors rather than management intensity. • Management intensity had a larger effect on PV if compared to environmental factors. Based on a wide dataset of vegetation surveys carried out across the pastures of Western Italian Alps, the objective of the research was to determine the relative importance of management intensity and environmental factors (i.e. topography, climate, bedrock type) on 1) plant diversity and 2) forage quality and productivity (Pastoral Value - PV) of alpine summer pastures. Plant diversity (i.e. Shannon diversity index and species richness) and PV were affected in different ways by both factors, but they showed a hump-shaped relationship with pastoral management intensity. Plant diversity was mainly affected by environmental factors (elevation and total annual precipitation) rather than management intensity. Shannon index and species richness were lower at higher elevations and in locations with higher precipitation, and they were higher on steep sites and calcareous bedrock. However, management intensity had a noteworthy influence on plant diversity. PV was strongly affected by management intensity, whereas environmental factors had limited importance. Differently from plant diversity, PV was not elevation dependent as several vegetation communities with either a low and a high PV occurred within a large range of altitude. PV was higher on flattest sites, in sites with a low level of precipitation, and on calcareous bedrock. Our results highlighted that environmental factors are the main drivers of plant diversity in alpine pastures. Pastures are typically located at higher elevation, are less accessible, and lay in less homogeneous areas where the environmental constraints have a predominant effect on plant community development with respect to management intensity. Contrariwise, the influence of management intensity on PV suggests that an appropriate grazing management can enhance forage productivity and quality for livestock even in harsh environments.

Effect of management intensity on runoff losses of nitrogen and phosphorus in bamboo forests in Zhejiang province

Effect of management intensity on runoff losses of nitrogen and phosphorus in bamboo forests in Zhejiang province

Response of lepidopteran herbivore communities to crop management in coffee plantations

Although the conservation potential of low input coffee plantations has been widely proved, the effect of management intensity on insect herbivores and particularly caterpillar communities has been scarcely studied. We used a management intensity quantitative index to assess changes in leaf damage, abundance of all herbivores and caterpillar species richness, abundance, evenness and community species composition along a management intensity gradient in coffee plantations.There was no correlation between management intensity and the abundance of all herbivore guilds, but there was a negative relationship between management intensity and caterpillar abundance and species richness. Management intensity was positively related to caterpillar species evenness but did not influence species composition, which was rather influenced by climatic seasonality. We found 202 lepidopteran morphospecies, of which 128 fed on coffee plants. Despite a greater caterpillar abundance and richness, mean leaf damage to coffee plants was lower in plantations with a low management intensity index. Overall, we suggest that low and intermediate management intensity and the preservation of a diverse shade canopy can contribute to the conservation of Lepidoptera, without representing significant amounts of leaf damage to coffee plants.

Effects of management intensity, function and vegetation on the biodiversity in urban ponds

Ponds are important elements of green areas in cities that help counteract the negative consequences of urbanization, by providing important habitats for biodiversity in cities and being essential nodes in the overall landscape-scale habitat network. However, there is relatively little knowledge about the impacts of pond management intensity, function and environmental variables on urban pond biodiversity. In this study we addressed this gap by investigating which factors were correlated with the level of biodiversity in urban ponds, indicated by species richness of aquatic insects, in Stockholm, Sweden. Our study did not confirm any direct link between the perceived intensity of management or function of ponds and overall biodiversity. However, it seems that management can influence particular groups of species indirectly, since we found that Trichoptera richness (Caddisflies) was highest at intermediate management intensity. We suggest that this is caused by management of vegetation, as the amount of floating and emergent vegetation was significantly correlated with both the overall species richness and the richness of Trichoptera (Caddisflies). This relationship was non-linear, since ponds with an intermediate coverage of vegetation had the highest richness. Interestingly, the amount of vegetation in the pond was significantly affected by pond function and pond management. The overall species richness and richness of Trichoptera were also positively correlated with pond size. Since we found that the pattern of relations between species richness and environmental variables differed between the insect groups we suggest that it will be difficult to provide overall design and management recommendations for ponds in urban green areas. Therefore, it is recommended that to provide high aquatic diversity of species in urban areas one should aim at promoting high diversity of different types of ponds with differing management and environmental factors that shape them.

Phyllopertha horticola (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) larvae in eastern Austrian mountainous grasslands and the associated damage risk related to soil, topography and management

The soil-dwelling larvae of several Scarabaeidae species (white grubs), like the cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha) and the garden chafer (Phyllopertha horticola), are serious pests in European cultivated grassland, reducing grass yield and destroying the turf by root-feeding. Nevertheless, the factors responsible for the development of large grub populations and the associated damage risk are poorly understood. The objectives of the study were to survey grub densities in grassland sites with different damage histories and find correlations with environmental and management variables. Data on grub densities were collected at 10 farms in the eastern Austrian Alps in September and October 2011. At each farm, one recently damaged site (high risk) and one site at which grub damage had never been observed by the farmers (undamaged site = low risk; each site: 500 m2) were sampled. All sites were dominated by P. horticola (99% of 1,422 collected individuals; maximum density 303 grubs/m2), which indicates that grub damage there is mainly caused by that species. Recently damaged sites tended to higher grub densities than undamaged sites. However, 3 out of 10 undamaged sites harbored high grub populations as well. Humus content together with the depth of the A-horizon significantly explained 38% of P. horticola grub density variance, with highest densities in deeper humus-rich soils. The risk of grub damage was positively connected to the humus content and negatively related to the cutting frequency. For the investigated mountainous grassland sites, these results suggest an important role of humus for the development of high grub densities and an effect of management intensity on grub damage.

Loss of secondary‐forest resilience by land‐use intensification in the Amazon

Summary Understanding how land‐use intensification affects forest resilience is a key for elucidating the mechanisms underlying regeneration processes and for planning more sustainable land‐use systems. Here, we evaluate how the intensification of a swidden cultivation system affects secondary‐forest resilience in the Amazon. Along a gradient of land‐use intensity, we analysed the relative role of management intensity, soil properties and landscape configuration in determining the resilience of early secondary forests (SFs). We assessed resilience as the recovery level of forest structure and species diversity achieved by SFs 5 years after abandonment. We used as a reference the recovery level achieved by SFs subjected to the lowest intensity of use, given that these SFs are part of a dynamic system and may not develop to old‐growth forests. Therefore, we interpreted a deviation from this reference level as a change in forest resilience. The recovery of forest structure was determined by management intensity, while the recovery of species diversity was driven by landscape configuration. With increasing number of cycles and weeding frequency along with decreasing fallow period and patch area, SF basal area and canopy height decreased, regeneration shifted from a seed‐ to sprout‐dependent strategy, and liana infestation on trees increased. With decreasing area covered by old‐growth forest, species richness and Shannon diversity decreased. Secondary‐forest resilience decreased with land‐use intensification, mainly mediated by the effect of management intensity upon regeneration strategies. Our findings demonstrate the – many times overlooked – importance of previous management intensity in determining the structure of SFs and highlight the importance of regeneration strategy for forest resilience. Synthesis. Swidden cultivation supports people's livelihoods and transforms landscapes in the tropics. The sustainability of this system depends on ecosystem services provided by SFs that develop during the fallow period. Land‐use intensification reduces the resilience of SFs and ultimately may drive the system towards an arrested succession state that holds a lower potential to deliver ecosystem services to the Amazonian people. Under an intensification scenario, the adaptation of management practices is needed to guarantee the resilience of swidden cultivation systems.

Effects of management intensity on ant diversity in cocoa plantation (Oume, centre west Côte d’Ivoire)

Anthropogenic habitat modifications, including conversion of forest to agricultural production cause losses of native species. In this study we examined the losses suffered by ant communities in relation to the intensity of management in cocoa plantations established in former tropical forest. An extensive sampling protocol consisting of pitfall trapping, leaf litter sampling, soil sampling and hand sampling was used to characterize ant species richness and composition in the native forest and compare it with three cocoa farms differing in their management intensity. Species richness was negatively correlated with management intensity and differed greatly between management practices and the forest. Two subfamilies (Myrmicinae and Amblyoponinae) showed a significant negative correlation with agricultural intensification probably because their species are constrained to living in forest like habitat. The species composition differed greatly between management practices and the forest. Intensively and moderately managed cocoa plantations were most dissimilar to the forest. In contrast, forest ants were well represented in the least intensively managed plantation. Overall, the findings of this study show that only slightly managed cocoa plantations sustain an ant diversity that comes close to that of the forest. This also holds true for cocoa plantations on former agricultural, and thus previously heavily used, land. The findings may help in the conservation of biodiversity as management practices most likely to sustain forest like ant communities have been identified.

Effects of management intensity and orchard features on bird communities in winter

AbstractThe knowledge and conservation of diminishing valuable habitats in agricultural landscapes are of key importance in saving declining farmland biodiversity. One of these habitats is the traditional orchard whose role in supporting birds is still poorly known, especially in winter. We counted birds in 106 orchards differing in management intensity (abandoned, traditional, and intensive) during December 2009 and January 2010 in Wielkopolska, western Poland and measured site characteristics and composition of surrounding landscapes for every orchard. Old abandoned and traditionally managed orchards had significantly higher bird species richness than intensive ones. Irrespective of orchard type, bird species richness as well as density were positively influenced by the cover of unmown herb layer in orchards and tree diversity. Tree and fruit densities positively affected bird species richness and density mainly in abandoned orchards while in other orchard types the effect of these variables was less pronounced. Land cover diversity in a landscape had a positive effect on species richness and density mostly in abandoned orchards and we believe that this effect reflects the elevated utilization of such orchards by birds from the surrounding landscape. Thus, abandoned, as well as traditionally managed orchards seems to be especially important habitats that offer food source and refuge for wintering birds and should be protected. We propose to diversify fruit production by planting various tree species, leaving part of the herb layer unmown and several trees unharvested in intensive orchards in order to improve suitability of modern orchards for birds.

The diversity–productivity relationship in a permanent temperate grassland: negative diversity effect, dominant influence of management regime

Background: Agricultural intensification has transformed most grasslands of Central Europe from non-intensive to highly intensive management during the last 50 years, resulting in large reductions of species diversity. This impoverishment has raised concern with regard to ecosystem functions. Positive diversity effects on productivity have been found in experiments with synthetic grasslands but were rarely confirmed in semi-natural grasslands in the field. Aims: Our objective was to investigate the diversity–productivity relationship independently from management effects in mature grassland. Methods: We conducted a three-factorial experiment (fertilisation, mowing frequency, diversity; n = 6) in a permanent grassland to disentangle effects of management intensity and diversity on above-ground biomass (AGB), fine root biomass and root distribution patterns. Herbicides were applied to increase the diversity gradient across the plots. Results: While fertilisation had a strong positive effect on AGB and the cutting frequency a minor one, AGB was negatively related to species richness. Root biomass and distribution gave no indication of below-ground complementary resource use. Conclusions: The N-driven productivity increase since the 1950s is by far more influential on above-ground productivity than any diversity effect. Field manipulation studies in mature communities are needed to understand the productivity–diversity relationship in grasslands under changing land use.

Effects of management intensity and soil chemical properties on Rumex obtusifolius in cut grasslands in Lower Austria

Rumex obtusifolius (broad-leaved dock) is a widely distributed weed in managed grasslands and is an indicator for excessive grassland management. Especially in organic farming, its control is highly labour and energy intensive. The effects of management extensification on R. obtusifolius were investigated by on-farm trials with reduced cutting frequencies and manuring amounts from 2004 to 2006 at three sites in Lower Austria. The sites distinctly differed in their nutrient availabilities (LiCl-extract; Ca: ranged from 1,380 to 2,062 mg/kg DM, Mg: 211–611 mg/kg, P: 4–40 mg/kg, K: 57–334 mg/kg). At one site reduced management intensity had a significant decreasing effect on R. obtusifolius infestation, whereas at the other sites no effect was observed. Consequently, extensification as a measure for controlling this weed can be effective under certain conditions. Soil analyses indicated that Ca and Mg concentrations were negatively correlated to R. obtusifolius density, and the site where infestation declined under reduced management was characterised by abundant Ca and Mg in the topsoil. K showed a weak positive correlation with plant density development and P was not related to R. obtusifolius. According to the literature, an abundance of Ca and Mg in the soil could reduce the competitiveness of the species. Consequently, high concentrations of these nutrients might enhance the probability for an effective R. obtusifolius control by management extensification. Further research is required to clarify the influence of Ca and Mg on the competitiveness of R. obtusifolius, and may lead to recommendations for the management of this weed.

Effects of management intensity, genetics and planting density on wood stiffness in a plantation of juvenile loblolly pine in the southeastern USA

In a 6-year-old plantation of Pinus taeda in Northeast Florida, the affects on juvenile corewood stiffness of genotype, planting density and silviculture as well as their interactions, and some potential mechanisms for these effects were investigated. The stress wave method was used to determine the dynamic modulus of elasticity ( V 2) of the juvenile corewood in 4091 standing trees of seven full-sib families grown at two planting densities (1334 trees ha −1 versus 2990 trees ha −1) with two levels of silvicultural intensity (operational versus intensive). Planting density significantly influenced V 2 ( p < 0.0001) across all families and silvicultural intensities. At 2990 trees ha −1, V 2 averaged 7.11 and 5.44 km 2 s −2 for 1334 trees ha −1. Family and silvicultural intensity interacted significantly for V 2 ( p = 0.0003) with values ranging from 5.03 to 7.48 km 2 s −2. Under intensive silviculture, one family (L1) exhibited a large decrease in V 2. In contrast, another family (L4) with a high overall V 2 rank was not very sensitive to silvicultural treatment intensity. This lack of response under intensive silviculture occurred despite the fact that family L4 demonstrated the greatest increase in growth. Across all treatments, the ratio of height to diameter at breast height (HT:DBH) was strongly related to V 2 with more slender trees being the stiffest. After adjusting for this ratio, only the main effects of initial planting density and genotype were significant. Thus, HT:DBH correlated with variation in V 2 caused by silvicultural intensity. In a subset of trees within three selected families, variation in latewood percentage (LWP) did not correlate with variation in V 2 as predicted. Analysis of the treatments on LWP, showed a significant three-way interaction between genotype, planting density, and silvicultural intensity. Surprisingly, the LWP of a single family (L4) responded differently to silvicultural treatment under contrasting planting densities. Findings from this study indicate that considerable opportunity exists to improve corewood stiffness in juvenile loblolly pine plantations through the deployment of selected genotypes in combination with appropriate initial planting density and silvicultural intensity.

Effects of management intensity on land snails in Swiss nutrient-poor pastures

The influence of management intensity on the richness, abundance and composition of land snail species was examined in 21 calcareous, nutrient-poor cattle pastures in the northwestern Jura mountains, Switzerland. Grazing intensity was positively correlated with the extent of fertilization of the pastures. Pastures without fertilizer application and with low grazing intensity harboured more snail species and more threatened snails than pastures with annual addition of manure or pastures with manure and nitrogen fertilizer and higher grazing intensity. Fewer snail individuals, open-land species and open-land individuals were found on pastures with high than on pastures with low management intensity. To preserve the threatened snail species in dry, nutrient-poor grasslands, a network of pastures should be managed without fertilization and grazing intensity should not exceed 180 LU ha(-1) d (product of livestock units per hectare and grazing days). (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Schneckenfauna im Nordwestschweizer Jura

Litter Decomposition and Mineralization in Bahiagrass Pastures Managed at Different Intensities

ABSTRACTPlant litter is an important nutrient pool in grassland ecosystems. Management practices affect litter quality and may affect nutrient dynamics in pastures by altering the rates of nutrient mineralization and immobilization. The effect of management intensity on litter decomposition and nutrient disappearance was evaluated in a litter bag study on continuously stocked ‘Pensacola’ bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flügge) pastures growing on Pomona and Smyrna sands. Treatments were three management intensities: Low (40 kg N ha−1yr−1 and 1.3 animal units [AU, one AU = 500 kg live weight] ha−1 stocking rate [SR]), Moderate (120 kg N ha−1 yr−1 and 2.7 AU ha−1 SR), and High (360 kg N ha−1 yr−1 and 4.0 AU ha−1 SR). Litter relative decomposition rate (k) was greater for High (0.0030 g g−1 d−1) than Low (0.0016 g g−1 d−1). Litter N, acid detergent insoluble N (ADIN), and lignin concentrations were greater for High than the other intensities at the end of the 168‐d incubation period because of faster decomposition of soluble compounds. Across management intensities, approximately one‐half of litter N remaining at the end of the incubation period was bound to acid detergent fiber (ADF). Net N mineralization through 128 d of incubation was only 200 to 300 g kg−1 of total N. Increasing management intensity resulted in faster litter turnover and greater nutrient release, but nutrient release from litter was small and significant quantities of nutrients were immobilized even under the most intensive management.

Effects of Management Intensity and Season on Arboreal Ant Diversity and Abundance in Coffee Agroecosystems

Agricultural intensification decreases arthropod predator diversity, abundance and population stability, and may affect interactions between top predators and their arthropod prey – ultimately affecting ecosystem services. Coffee management intensification (reduction or removal of shade trees) reduces diversity of arthropod predators (ground-foraging ants). Because ants provide ecosystem services by controlling pests, influences of intensification on arboreal, coffee-foraging ant diversity and abundance are important. We here address how coffee intensification affects: (1) coffee-foraging ant diversity and abundance and (2) seasonal fluctuations in ant abundance. In each of four coffee sites of varying management intensity in Chiapas, Mexico, we sampled vegetation and using two methods, sampled ant diversity and abundance over two years. Sites significantly differed in vegetation and management intensity. Coffee-foraging ant diversity generally decreased with increasing management intensity (16–26% fewer species observed in the most intensively-managed site). Ant abundance was higher in the wet season. Management intensity, however, did not influence ant abundance or seasonal fluctuations in abundance. Our results highlight the importance of diverse agricultural systems in maintaining arthropod predator diversity, and point to one model system in which we may effectively test how diversity per se affects ecosystem services.