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Ecologies of Scale: Multifunctionality Connects Conservation and Agriculture across Fields, Farms, and Landscapes

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  • Devan Allen McGranahan

    (Range Science Program, School of Natural Resource Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108-6050, USA)

Abstract

Agroecology and landscape ecology are two land-use sciences based on ecological principles, but have historically focused on fine and broad spatial scales, respectively. As global demand for food strains current resources and threatens biodiversity conservation, concepts such as multifunctional landscapes and ecologically-analogous agroecosystems integrate ecological concepts across multiple spatial scales. This paper reviews ecological principles behind several concepts crucial to the reconciliation of food production and biodiversity conservation, including relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem functions such as productivity and stability; insect pest and pollinator management; integrated crop and livestock systems; countryside biogeography and heterogeneity-based rangeland management. Ecological principles are integrated across three spatial scales: fields, farms, and landscapes.

Suggested Citation

  • Devan Allen McGranahan, 2014. "Ecologies of Scale: Multifunctionality Connects Conservation and Agriculture across Fields, Farms, and Landscapes," Land, MDPI, vol. 3(3), pages 1-31, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:3:y:2014:i:3:p:739-769:d:38321
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    5. Ferrarini, Andrea & Serra, Paolo & Almagro, María & Trevisan, Marco & Amaducci, Stefano, 2017. "Multiple ecosystem services provision and biomass logistics management in bioenergy buffers: A state-of-the-art review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 277-290.
    6. Meunier, Clémentine & Casagrande, Marion & Rosiès, Blandine & Bedoussac, Laurent & Topp, Cairistiona F.E. & Walker, Robin L. & Watson, Christine A. & Martin, Guillaume, 2022. "Interplay: A game for the participatory design of locally adapted cereal–legume intercrops," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
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    9. Catarino, Rui & Therond, Olivier & Berthomier, Jérémy & Miara, Maurice & Mérot, Emmanuel & Misslin, Renaud & Vanhove, Paul & Villerd, Jean & Angevin, Frédérique, 2021. "Fostering local crop-livestock integration via legume exchanges using an innovative integrated assessment and modelling approach based on the MAELIA platform," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
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