Yield-biodiversity trade-off in patchy fields of Miscanthus x giganteus
Yield-biodiversity trade-off in patchy fields of Miscanthus x giganteus
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DOI：
10.1111/gcbb.12167
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发表时间：
2015-05-01
影响因子：
5.6
通讯作者：
Stout, Jane C.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Dauber, Jens;Cass, Susannah;Stout, Jane C.
提高作物生产力以满足对粮食和能源日益增长的需求，但以环境可持续的方式实现这一目标，是迄今为止农业面临的最大挑战之一。在爱尔兰，芒草有潜力成为生物能源生产的主要原料，但其种植的经济可行性取决于高产量。芒草田的作物覆盖度可能存在大量缺口，对产量和经济可行性产生不利影响。先前研究报告的芒草对生物多样性的主要积极影响可能归因于作物的高度斑块性，特别是在建立阶段。本研究的目的是评估田间作物斑块状，并分析芒草产量与物种丰富度和农田野生动物选定类群丰度之间的关系。对于种植在改良草地 (MG) 或耕地 (MT) 上的 14 个芒草田，在其建立阶段结束时（种植后 4-5 年），我们确定了作物覆盖的斑块性、下部冠层的光穿透百分比 (LP)、芒草芽密度和高度、维管束植物和表层节肢动物。芒草田的植物物种丰富度和非农作物植被覆盖度随着斑块的增加而增加，这是由于较低的冠层的 LP 水平较高。地甲虫的物种丰富度和蜘蛛的活动密度随着植被覆盖度的增加而增加。 MT和MG田地植物物种丰富度和蜘蛛活动密度，以及MG田地植被覆盖和地面甲虫活动密度与芒草产量呈负相关。总之，芒草对生物多样性的积极影响会随着生产力的提高而减弱。在评估发展生物质作物与其他土地利用相比的相对生态影响时，需要考虑这一问题。
Increasing crop productivity to meet rising demands for food and energy, but doing so in an environmentally sustainable manner, is one of the greatest challenges for agriculture to date. In Ireland, Miscanthusxgiganteus has the potential to become a major feedstock for bioenergy production, but the economic feasibility of its cultivation depends on high yields. Miscanthus fields can have a large number of gaps in crop cover, adversely impacting yield and hence economic viability. Predominantly positive effects of Miscanthus on biodiversity reported from previous research might be attributable to high crop patchiness, particularly during the establishment phase. The aim of this research was to assess crop patchiness on a field scale and to analyse the relationship between Miscanthus yield and species richness and abundance of selected taxa of farmland wildlife. For 14 Miscanthus fields at the end of their establishment phase (4-5years after planting), which had been planted either on improved grassland (MG) or tilled arable land (MT), we determined patchiness of the crop cover, percentage light penetration (LP) to the lower canopy, Miscanthus shoot density and height, vascular plants and epigeic arthropods. Plant species richness and noncrop vegetation cover in Miscanthus fields increased with increasing patchiness, due to higher levels of LP to the lower canopy. The species richness of ground beetles and the activity density of spiders followed the increase in vegetation cover. Plant species richness and activity density of spiders on both MT and MG fields, as well as vegetation cover and activity density of ground beetles on MG fields, were negatively associated with Miscanthus yield. In conclusion, positive effects of Miscanthus on biodiversity can diminish with increasing productivity. This matter needs to be considered when assessing the relative ecological impacts of developing biomass crops in comparison with other land use.