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Biodiversity and ecosystem multi-functionality: observed relationships in smallholder fallows in western Kenya
1Department of Ecology, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America. jas2162@columbia.edu
Plos One
|December 5, 2012
Summary
Plant diversity enhances ecosystem services in Kenyan agroecosystems. Management practices like grazing intensity influence whether biodiversity or environmental factors are more critical for supporting multiple functions.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Agricultural Science
- Conservation Biology
Background:
- Species richness is increasingly recognized for its role in enhancing plant community multifunctionality.
- Understanding the drivers of ecosystem services in diverse agricultural landscapes is crucial for sustainable management.
- Previous research has primarily focused on experimental grasslands, necessitating studies in real-world agroecosystems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between plant diversity and ecosystem service multifunctionality in smallholder agroecosystems.
- To compare the influence of plant diversity versus environmental favorability on multiple ecosystem functions.
- To explore how different management systems (grazed vs. improved fallows) affect these relationships.
Main Methods:
- Field study in western Kenya examining grazed and improved fallows.
- Quantified ecosystem functions including wood biomass, forage biomass, soil base cations, and infiltration rates.
- Assessed ecosystem service multifunctionality using metrics like proportion of functions above half-maximum and mean percentage excess.
Main Results:
- In grazed fallows, plant diversity positively influenced multifunctionality, with effects diminishing under higher grazing intensity.
- In improved fallows, soil carbon was a better predictor of multifunctionality than plant diversity.
- Grazed fallows showed stronger evidence for biodiversity effects, while improved fallows were more influenced by environmental conditions.
Conclusions:
- Plant diversity and environmental favorability can enhance the capacity of smallholder fallows to provide multiple ecosystem services.
- The relative importance of biodiversity versus environmental factors varies significantly with fallow management practices.
- Management strategies, disturbance, and species composition are key factors mediating the link between biodiversity and ecosystem service provision.
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