Loading...
Biodiversity
Benefits and limitations of perennial bioenergy crop production in agricultural landscapes on pollinators and plant diversity
Invertebrate and Plant Community Diversity of an Illinois Corn-Soybean Field with Integrated Shrub Willow Bioenergy Buffers
- Zumpf C, Quinn J, Cacho J, Grasse N, Negri MC, Lee D. Invertebrate and Plant Community Diversity of an Illinois Corn-Soybean Field with Integrated Shrub Willow Bioenergy Buffers. Sustainability. 2021; 13(21):12280. https://doi.org/10.3390/su132112280
- Although the willow bioenergy buffer system was designed to address water quality, this study evaluates the potential for the agricultural-bioenergy system to also support non-target services such as biodiversity.
- Greater plant diversity and richness were observed within the willow buffers compared to grain plots (corn/soybean).
- Seasonality had a greater impact on canopy dwelling invertebrates with similar communities observed in willow and grain plots.
- Presence of unique species and foraging pollinators across willow, grain, and riparian edge habitats highlights the importance of habitat heterogeneity for biodiversity support and the potential benefits of a buffer bioenergy design.
Assessing wild bees in perennial bioenergy landscapes: Effects of bioenergy crop composition, landscape configuration, and bioenergy crop area
- Graham, J. B., J.I. Nassauer, W. Currie, H. Ssegane, and M.C. Negri, 2017, Assessing wild bees in perennial bioenergy landscapes: Effects of bioenergy crop composition, landscape configuration, and bioenergy crop area. Landscape Ecology, 32(5), 1023-1037. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-017-0506-y.
- Investigation of the potential for perennial bioenergy crops to support native bee populations in the Indian Creek, IL watershed.
- Spatially explicit modeling of three bioenergy crop types in a range of converted farmland and planting configurations.
- Crop type and overall area are important regionally; planting configuration is important at the local scale.
