Land-use intensity has been shown to have context-dependent effects on biodiversity and biotic interactions. For example, both farming type and local habitat heterogeneity contribute to local and regional species richness. Here, we synthesize data from several experimental studies where agricultural land-use intensity was experimentally manipulated along landscape complexity gradients.
Results/Conclusions
Our results show that landscape complexity (i.e. the proportion of non-crop area) and local management intensity differentially affect functional groups of organisms, such as pollinators, predators, parasitoids, and herbivores, as well as associated process rates. For example, pollinators and predators respond strongly to landscape complexity only under intensive land use. Thus, functional group-specific conservation strategies will have to be employed to promote benefits of overall agrobiodiversity.
