Quantifying farm sustainability through the lens of ecological theory

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 99(5), P. 1700 - 1716

Published: May 2, 2024

The achievements of the Green Revolution in meeting nutritional needs a growing global population have been won at expense unintended consequences for environment. Some these negative impacts are now threatening sustainability food production through loss pollinators and natural enemies crop pests, evolution pesticide resistance, declining soil health vulnerability to climate change. In search farming systems that sustainable both agronomically environmentally, alternative approaches proposed variously called 'agroecological', 'conservation agriculture', 'regenerative' 'sustainable intensification'. While widespread recognition need more is be welcomed, this has created etymological confusion potential become barrier transformation. There need, therefore, objective criteria evaluate quantify farm against multiple outcomes. To help meet challenge, we reviewed ecological theories explain variance regulating supporting ecosystem services delivered by biological communities farmland identify guiding principles management For each theory, identified associated system metrics could used as proxies agroecosystem function. We five derived from theory: (i) provide key habitats service providers; (ii) increase non-crop habitat diversity; (iii) edge density: (iv) nutrient-use efficiency; (v) avoid extremes disturbance. By making published knowledge foundation choice metrics, our aim was establish broad consensus their use assessment frameworks. Further analysis association with farm-scale data on and/or delivery would additional validation selection support underpinning theories.

Language: Английский

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Different pollinator sampling methods measure distinct pollinator communities in a mass-flowering crop, which respond differently to the composition of the surrounding landscape

Web Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 25(1), P. 47 - 57

Published: March 21, 2025

Abstract. Pollinator insects are essential for the pollination of many crops and wild plants. Recent declines in insect population pose significant challenges maintaining services. Habitat loss landscape homogenization among primary drivers these declines. In order to monitor assess populations pollinating insects, precise accurate methods required. A common method collect pollinators is pan traps, but this suffers from a bias due surrounding flower frequency, yet remains untested at large spatial scale such as landscape. Understanding how different pollinator sampling reflect impact composition on communities critical designing robust monitoring schemes that can lead effective conservation strategies. This study investigates two – nets traps measure abundance, diversity, sweet-cherry orchards (Prunus avium) Belgium. The also examines data obtained by relate landscape, specifically amount seminatural habitat intensive fruit cultivation. We conclude both provided similar efficiencies, they captured subsets community. Insect caught higher abundance species richness bumblebees, while solitary bee hoverfly were unaffected. exhibited responses function method. These findings suggest yield complementary insights into their interactions with Therefore, integrating future recommended obtain comprehensive diversity aiding assessment trends development evidence-based

Language: Английский

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Local habitat type influences bumble bee pathogen loads and bee species distributions

Environmental Entomology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 52(3), P. 491 - 501

Published: May 3, 2023

Bumble bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Bombus Latreille) perform important ecological services in both managed and natural ecosystems. Anthropogenically induced change has altered floral resources, climate, insecticide exposure, factors that impact health disease levels these bees. Habitat management presents a solution for improving bee biodiversity, but this requires better understanding of how different pathogens species respond to habitat conditions. We take advantage the washboard repeated ridges (forested) valleys (mostly developed) central Pennsylvania examine whether local variation type other landscape influence bumble community composition 4 leading common eastern bee, impatiens Cresson. Loads viruses (DWV BQCV) were found be lowest forest habitats, whereas loads gut parasite, Crithidia bombi, highest forests. Ridgetop forests hosted most diverse communities, including several specialists. B. was abundant valleys, showed higher incidence areas greater disturbance, more developed, unforested, lower resource sites, pattern which mirrors its success face anthropogenic change. Additionally, DNA barcoding revealed sandersoni is much than apparent from databases. Our results provide evidence can play large role pathogen load dynamics, ways differ by type, point need consideration at macro-ecological spatial scales.

Language: Английский

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Natural processes influencing pollinator health

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 377(1853)

Published: May 2, 2022

Evidence from the last few decades indicates that pollinator abundance and diversity are at risk, with many species in decline. Anthropogenic impacts have been focus of much recent work on causes these declines. However, natural processes, plant chemistry, nutrition microbial associations to landscape habitat change, can also profoundly influence health. Here, we argue processes require greater attention may even provide solutions deteriorating outlook for pollinators. Existing studies decline individuals colonies only occasionally population levels. In light this redefine health a top-down approach is required focusing ecological level communities. We use examples primary research, opinion review articles published special issue illustrate how health, community individuals, highlight where some could mitigate challenges anthropogenic drivers change. This article part theme ‘Natural influencing health: chemistry landscapes’.

Language: Английский

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Landscape-scale drivers of pollinator communities may depend on land-use configuration

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 377(1853)

Published: May 2, 2022

Research into pollinators in managed landscapes has recently combined approaches of pollination ecology and landscape ecology, because key stressors are likely to interact across wide areas. While laboratory field experiments valuable for furthering understanding, studies required investigate the interacting drivers pollinator health diversity a broader range wider array taxa. Here, we use network 96 study six topographically diverse regions Britain, test importance honeybee density, insecticide loadings, floral resource availability habitat communities. We also explore interactions between these cover proximity semi-natural habitat. found that among our four drivers, only density was positively related wild abundance diversity, positive association resources depended on loadings diversity. By contrast, exploratory models including composition metrics revealed complex suite interactive effects. These results demonstrate improving community is unlikely be achieved with general enhancements only. Rather, local land-use context should considered fine-tuning management conservation. This article part theme issue ‘Natural processes influencing health: from chemistry landscapes’.

Language: Английский

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Adapting genetic algorithms for multifunctional landscape decisions: A theoretical case study on wild bees and farmers in the UK

Methods in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Sept. 19, 2024

Abstract Spatial modelling approaches to aid land‐use decisions which benefit both wildlife and humans are often limited the comparison of pre‐determined landscape scenarios, may not reflect true optimum for any end‐user. Furthermore, needs under‐represented when considered alongside human financial interests in these approaches. We develop a method addressing gaps using case‐study wild bees UK, an important group whose declines adversely affect economies surrounding ecosystems. By combining genetic algorithm NSGA‐II with process‐based pollinator model simulates bee foraging population dynamics, Poll4pop, we ‘evolve’ typical UK agricultural identify land cover configurations three different guilds bee. These compared those resulting from optimisations farm income alone, as well that seek compromise between populations objectives. find proportions landscapes optimised each guild their nesting habitat preferences rather than preferences, highlighting limiting resource within study landscape. The spatially explicit nature illustrates how improvement given target species be by differences movement range scale units being improved. Land composition configuration differ significantly growth simultaneously illustrate agents required much more multifaceted biodiversity is recognised represented multiple objectives optimisation framework. Our methods provide way quantify extent real‐life promote or end‐users. investigation suggests set‐up (decision‐unit scales, traditional choice single metric) can bias outcomes towards human‐centric solutions. It also demonstrates importance representing individual requirements actors landscape‐level algorithms support biodiversity‐inclusive decision‐making multi‐functional landscapes.

Language: Английский

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Wild Bee is an Important Contributor to the Nutrient Cycle, as Shown by Biogeochemical Niche Analysis of Osmia Bicornis

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

I aimed to elucidate nutrient cycling through the flower visitation pathway. Thus, investigated factors affecting proportions of essential nutrients (C, N, P, S, K, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu) that comprise biogeochemical niche wild solitary bee, Osmia bicornis. The main factor was pollen taxonomy, with a central role key species, including wind-pollinated trees grasses. These plants contribute in hitherto unexplored way. Calculating amount translocated partitioned food web involving O. bicornis, proposed conceptual representation By linking bee its environment cycling, this study provides new insight into ecosystem services provided by bees. It also demonstrates pollinator nutrition highlights importance complex landscape conservation beyond traditionally used seed mixes for conservation.

Language: Английский

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Land-use land cover changes and their relationship with population and climate in Western Uganda

Journal of Degraded and Mining Lands Management, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 11(4), P. 6201 - 6212

Published: July 1, 2024

Sustainable management of land and its ecosystem requires well-documented Land-use Land Cover changes (LULCCs) that have occurred over time. The objective this study was to document the LULCCs, determine their relationship with climate population in Western Uganda, provide evidence support decision-making region. This utilized satellite images for years 1992, 2000, 2010, 2020 obtained from European Space Agency Climate Change Initiative (ESA CCI), Climatic data NASA, Population Data Uganda Bureau Statistics (UBoS). LULCCs influencers were characterized region, period 1992 2020. ArcGIS Pro Software Program used Filter time series using Definition Query, while scatterplot employed between on LULCCs. Results indicate LULC is dominated by agriculture, covering (66.46%), followed forests (16.22%), waterbodies (8.0%), grassland, shrubland, wetland, urban areas at (6.11%), (2.63%), (0.49%) (0.1%) respectively. From 2020, area under forest increased 0.1%, 0.08%, respectively, Grassland, shrubland declined (0.22%), (0.05%), (0.01%) a stronger precipitation growth. information can be decision-makers local, district, national levels better guide land-use practices aimed sustainable current future generations.

Language: Английский

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Flowering plant communities mediate the effects of habitat composition and configuration on wild pollinator communities

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Oct. 1, 2024

Abstract There is strong evidence that landscape‐scale factors such as habitat diversity, composition and configuration are important drivers of declines in pollinators pollination services. However, context species‐specific responses make it challenging to draw general conclusions about the most components landscapes support diverse abundant pollinator communities. In this study, we took a functional‐traits approach community assembly tested hypothesis landscape properties act strongly on indirectly, through their influence flowering plant Using data from 96 Britain, associations between communities local environmental factors, cover configuration, using path analysis based Mantel partial statistics. When all were considered, found had stronger links than Further, was linked suggesting mediating role land use pollinators. separating into taxonomic groups, same result for hoverflies, but wild bees both plants. We further explored these with structural equation models response‐effect trait framework guiding principle. land‐use distribution functional diversity via composition. These findings suggest indirect effect plants should be considered informing design friendly future research effects management Read free Plain Language Summary article Journal blog.

Language: Английский

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Landscape heterogeneity affects pollen transport by pollinators in agroecosystems

Arthropod-Plant Interactions, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 18(5), P. 1075 - 1083

Published: Aug. 3, 2024

Language: Английский

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