Author
Violetta Hawro
Other affiliations: Museum and Institute of Zoology
Bio: Violetta Hawro is an academic researcher from Polish Academy of Sciences. The author has contributed to research in topics: Biodiversity & Species richness. The author has an hindex of 9, co-authored 11 publications receiving 1801 citations. Previous affiliations of Violetta Hawro include Museum and Institute of Zoology.
Topics: Biodiversity, Species richness, Beta diversity, Aphid, Population
Papers
More filters
••
Wageningen University and Research Centre1, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences2, University of Jena3, University College Cork4, Autonomous University of Madrid5, Polish Academy of Sciences6, University of Tartu7, University of Göttingen8, Centre national de la recherche scientifique9, University of Rennes10
TL;DR: Of the 13 components of intensification the authors measured, use of insecticides and fungicides had consistent negative effects on biodiversity, and organic farming and other agri-environment schemes aiming to mitigate the negative effects are found.
1,146 citations
••
University of Bordeaux1, Institut national de la recherche agronomique2, University of California, Berkeley3, Stanford University4, Ohio State University5, Museum and Institute of Zoology6, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust7, Michigan State University8, University of Göttingen9, Technische Universität München10, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences11, United States Department of Agriculture12
TL;DR: In this paper, a quantitative synthesis with data collected from several cropping systems in Europe and North America, analyzed how the level and within-field spatial stability of natural pest control services was related to the simplification of the surrounding landscape.
367 citations
••
TL;DR: Local AI was closely correlated to beta diversity on larger scales up to the farm and region level, and thereby was an indicator of farm- and region-wide biodiversity losses, and in contrast to expectations, AI does not necessarily homogenize local communities, presumably due to the heterogeneity of farming practices.
Abstract: Effects of agricultural intensification (AI) on biodiversity are often assessed on the plot scale, although processes determining diversity also operate on larger spatial scales. Here, we analyzed the diversity of vascular plants, carabid beetles, and birds in agricultural landscapes in cereal crop fields at the field (n ¼ 1350), farm (n ¼ 270), and European-region (n ¼ 9) scale. We partitioned diversity into its additive components a, b, and c, and assessed the relative contribution of b diversity to total species richness at each spatial scale. AI was determined using pesticide and fertilizer inputs, as well as tillage operations and categorized into low, medium, and high levels. As AI was not significantly related to landscape complexity, we could disentangle potential AI effects on local vs. landscape community homogenization. AI negatively affected the species richness of plants and birds, but not carabid beetles, at all spatial scales. Hence, local AI was closely correlated to b diversity on larger scales up to the farm and region level, and thereby was an indicator of farm- and region-wide biodiversity losses. At the scale of farms (12.83-20.52%) and regions (68.34-80.18%), b diversity accounted for the major part of the total species richness for all three taxa, indicating great dissimilarity in environmental conditions on larger spatial scales. For plants, relative importance of a diversity decreased with AI, while relative importance of b diversity on the farm scale increased with AI for carabids and birds. Hence, and in contrast to our expectations, AI does not necessarily homogenize local communities, presumably due to the heterogeneity of farming practices. In conclusion, a more detailed understanding of AI effects on diversity patterns of various taxa and at multiple spatial scales would contribute to more efficient agri- environmental schemes in agroecosystems.
245 citations
••
TL;DR: Aphid populations were 28%, 97%, and 199% higher in -G, -V, and -G-V treatments, respectively, compared to the open fields, indicating synergistic effects of both natural-enemy groups.
Abstract: Agricultural intensification can affect biodiversity and related ecosystem services such as biological control, but large-scale experimental evidence is missing. We examined aphid pest populations in cereal fields under experimentally reduced densities of (1) ground-dwelling predators (-G), (2) vegetation-dwelling predators and parasitoids (-V), (3) a combination of (1) and (2) (-G-V), compared with open-fields (control), in contrasting landscapes with low vs. high levels of agricultural intensification (AI), and in five European regions. Aphid populations were 28%, 97%, and 199% higher in -G, -V, and -G-V treatments, respectively, compared to the open fields, indicating synergistic effects of both natural-enemy groups. Enhanced parasitoid: host and predator: prey ratios were related to reduced aphid population density and population growth. The relative importance of parasitoids and vegetation-dwelling predators greatly differed among European regions, and agricultural intensification affected biological control and aphid density only in some regions. This shows a changing role of species group identity in diverse enemy communities and a need to consider region-specific landscape management.
172 citations
••
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the response of ground-nesting farmland birds to the multivariate process of agricultural intensification in six European countries covering a bio-geographical and intensification gradient.
91 citations
Cited by
More filters
••
University of Göttingen1, University of Canterbury2, Agricultural Research Service3, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation4, University of Western Australia5, Carleton University6, Eötvös Loránd University7, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences8, Miami University9, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ10, Imperial College London11, University of Florida12, University of Würzburg13, Lüneburg University14, University of California, Berkeley15, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center16, James Cook University17, Australian National University18, National University of Singapore19, Wageningen University and Research Centre20
TL;DR: This review uses knowledge gained from human‐modified landscapes to suggest eight hypotheses, which it hopes will encourage more systematic research on the role of landscape composition and configuration in determining the structure of ecological communities, ecosystem functioning and services.
Abstract: Understanding how landscape characteristics affect biodiversity patterns and ecological processes at local and landscape scales is critical for mitigating effects of global environmental change. In this review, we use knowledge gained from human-modified landscapes to suggest eight hypotheses, which we hope will encourage more systematic research on
1,513 citations
••
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue that the true value of functional biodiversity on the farm is often inadequately acknowledged or understood, while conventional intensification tends to disrupt beneficial functions of biodiversity.
1,463 citations
••
TL;DR: Research efforts and investments are particularly needed to reduce existing yield gaps by integrating context-appropriate bundles of ecosystem services into crop production systems.
Abstract: Rising demands for agricultural products will increase pressure to further intensify crop production, while negative environmental impacts have to be minimized. Ecological intensification entails the environmentally friendly replacement of anthropogenic inputs and/or enhancement of crop productivity, by including regulating and supporting ecosystem services management in agricultural practices. Effective ecological intensification requires an understanding of the relations between land use at different scales and the community composition of ecosystem service-providing organisms above and below ground, and the flow, stability, contribution to yield, and management costs of the multiple services delivered by these organisms. Research efforts and investments are particularly needed to reduce existing yield gaps by integrating context-appropriate bundles of ecosystem services into crop production systems.
1,318 citations
01 Jan 2012
1,255 citations
••
TL;DR: Although organic agriculture has an untapped role to play when it comes to the establishment of sustainable farming systems, no single approach will safely feed the planet and a blend of organic and other innovative farming systems is needed.
Abstract: Organic agriculture has a history of being contentious and is considered by some as an inefficient approach to food production. Yet organic foods and beverages are a rapidly growing market segment in the global food industry. Here, we examine the performance of organic farming in light of four key sustainability metrics: productivity, environmental impact, economic viability and social wellbeing. Organic farming systems produce lower yields compared with conventional agriculture. However, they are more profitable and environmentally friendly, and deliver equally or more nutritious foods that contain less (or no) pesticide residues, compared with conventional farming. Moreover, initial evidence indicates that organic agricultural systems deliver greater ecosystem services and social benefits. Although organic agriculture has an untapped role to play when it comes to the establishment of sustainable farming systems, no single approach will safely feed the planet. Rather, a blend of organic and other innovative farming systems is needed. Significant barriers exist to adopting these systems, however, and a diversity of policy instruments will be required to facilitate their development and implementation.
959 citations