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Gains to species diversity in organically farmed fields are not propagated at the farm level

Author

Listed:
  • Manuel K. Schneider

    (Agroscope, Institute for Sustainability Sciences)

  • Gisela Lüscher

    (Agroscope, Institute for Sustainability Sciences
    Institute of Evolutionary Biology & Environmental Sciences, University of Zurich)

  • Philippe Jeanneret

    (Agroscope, Institute for Sustainability Sciences)

  • Michaela Arndorfer

    (University of Natural Resources & Life Sciences)

  • Youssef Ammari

    (Institut National de Recherche en Génie Rural, Eaux et Forêts)

  • Debra Bailey

    (Agroscope, Institute for Sustainability Sciences)

  • Katalin Balázs

    (Institute of Environmental & Landscape Management, Szent Istvan University)

  • András Báldi

    (Lendület Ecosystem Services Research Group, MTA Centre for Ecological Research)

  • Jean-Philippe Choisis

    (INRA, UMR 1201 Dynafor, Chemin de Borde-Rouge)

  • Peter Dennis

    (Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Penglais Campus)

  • Sebastian Eiter

    (Norwegian Forest and Landscape Institute)

  • Wendy Fjellstad

    (Norwegian Forest and Landscape Institute)

  • Mariecia D. Fraser

    (Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Penglais Campus)

  • Thomas Frank

    (University of Natural Resources & Life Sciences)

  • Jürgen K. Friedel

    (University of Natural Resources & Life Sciences)

  • Salah Garchi

    (Institut National de Recherche en Génie Rural, Eaux et Forêts)

  • Ilse R. Geijzendorffer

    (Alterra, Wageningen UR, Droevendaalsesteeg 3
    Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d’Ecologie marine et continentale, Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, IRD, Avignon Université)

  • Tiziano Gomiero

    (Padova University
    Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals, ICTA ICTA-ICP, Edifici Z Carrer de les columnes, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)

  • Guillermo Gonzalez-Bornay

    (Forestry School, University of Extremadura)

  • Andy Hector

    (Institute of Evolutionary Biology & Environmental Sciences, University of Zurich
    University of Oxford)

  • Gergely Jerkovich

    (Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Penglais Campus)

  • Rob H.G. Jongman

    (Alterra, Wageningen UR, Droevendaalsesteeg 3)

  • Esezah Kakudidi

    (Makerere University)

  • Max Kainz

    (Centre of Life and Food Science, Technical University of Munich)

  • Anikó Kovács-Hostyánszki

    (Lendület Ecosystem Services Research Group, MTA Centre for Ecological Research)

  • Gerardo Moreno

    (Forestry School, University of Extremadura)

  • Charles Nkwiine

    (Makerere University)

  • Julius Opio

    (Makerere University)

  • Marie-Louise Oschatz

    (University of Natural Resources & Life Sciences)

  • Maurizio G. Paoletti

    (Padova University)

  • Philippe Pointereau

    (SOLAGRO, Initiatives and Innovations for Energy, Agriculture and Environment)

  • Fernando J. Pulido

    (Forestry School, University of Extremadura)

  • Jean-Pierre Sarthou

    (Toulouse University; ENSAT; UMR 1248 AGIR
    ENSAT
    INRA, UMR 1248 AGIR, Chemin de Borde-Rouge)

  • Norman Siebrecht

    (Centre of Life and Food Science, Technical University of Munich)

  • Daniele Sommaggio

    (Padova University)

  • Lindsay A. Turnbull

    (Institute of Evolutionary Biology & Environmental Sciences, University of Zurich
    University of Oxford)

  • Sebastian Wolfrum

    (Centre of Life and Food Science, Technical University of Munich)

  • Felix Herzog

    (Agroscope, Institute for Sustainability Sciences)

Abstract

Organic farming is promoted to reduce environmental impacts of agriculture, but surprisingly little is known about its effects at the farm level, the primary unit of decision making. Here we report the effects of organic farming on species diversity at the field, farm and regional levels by sampling plants, earthworms, spiders and bees in 1470 fields of 205 randomly selected organic and nonorganic farms in twelve European and African regions. Species richness is, on average, 10.5% higher in organic than nonorganic production fields, with highest gains in intensive arable fields (around +45%). Gains to species richness are partly caused by higher organism abundance and are common in plants and bees but intermittent in earthworms and spiders. Average gains are marginal +4.6% at the farm and +3.1% at the regional level, even in intensive arable regions. Additional, targeted measures are therefore needed to fulfil the commitment of organic farming to benefit farmland biodiversity.

Suggested Citation

  • Manuel K. Schneider & Gisela Lüscher & Philippe Jeanneret & Michaela Arndorfer & Youssef Ammari & Debra Bailey & Katalin Balázs & András Báldi & Jean-Philippe Choisis & Peter Dennis & Sebastian Eiter , 2014. "Gains to species diversity in organically farmed fields are not propagated at the farm level," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-9, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:5:y:2014:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms5151
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms5151
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    Cited by:

    1. Gilles Grolleau & Alain Marciano & Naoufel Mzoughi, 2021. "Scandals : a ‘reset button’ to drive change?," Post-Print hal-02921614, HAL.
    2. Franziska J. Richter & Matthias Suter & Andreas Lüscher & Nina Buchmann & Nadja El Benni & Rafaela Feola Conz & Martin Hartmann & Pierrick Jan & Valentin H. Klaus, 2024. "Effects of management practices on the ecosystem-service multifunctionality of temperate grasslands," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.

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