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Functional landscape heterogeneity and animal biodiversity in agricultural landscapes
Author(s) -
Fahrig Lenore,
Baudry Jacques,
Brotons Lluís,
Burel Françoise G.,
Crist Thomas O.,
Fuller Robert J.,
Sirami Clelia,
Siriwardena Gavin M.,
Martin JeanLouis
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
ecology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.852
H-Index - 265
eISSN - 1461-0248
pISSN - 1461-023X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2010.01559.x
Subject(s) - biodiversity , spatial heterogeneity , geography , land cover , ecology , agriculture , landscape ecology , natural (archaeology) , cover (algebra) , environmental resource management , land use , biology , habitat , environmental science , mechanical engineering , archaeology , engineering
Ecology Letters (2011) 14: 101–112 Abstract Biodiversity in agricultural landscapes can be increased with conversion of some production lands into ‘more‐natural’– unmanaged or extensively managed – lands. However, it remains unknown to what extent biodiversity can be enhanced by altering landscape pattern without reducing agricultural production. We propose a framework for this problem, considering separately compositional heterogeneity (the number and proportions of different cover types) and configurational heterogeneity (the spatial arrangement of cover types). Cover type classification and mapping is based on species requirements, such as feeding and nesting, resulting in measures of ‘functional landscape heterogeneity’. We then identify three important questions: does biodiversity increase with (1) increasing heterogeneity of the more‐natural areas, (2) increasing compositional heterogeneity of production cover types and (3) increasing configurational heterogeneity of production cover types? We discuss approaches for addressing these questions. Such studies should have high priority because biodiversity protection globally depends increasingly on maintaining biodiversity in human‐dominated landscapes.