Does Organic Management Help Preserve Local Functional Diversity? A Case Study In The Pampa Of South America

Summary

Organic agriculture is a production management system that promotes and improves the health of agroecosystems. We studied the association between changes in taxonomic diversity and changes in ecosystem functions in highly modified landscapes. We sampled birds across the land use intensification gradient from relict and organically farmed land to conventionally farmed land in the Pampa ecoregion of Argentina. Using bird traits as indicators of species’ response to environmental change or the effect of ecosystem functions, we calculate functional diversity (FD) metrics. We show a consistent change in the taxonomic and functional diversity from undisturbed habitats to agroecosystems with organic and conventional production systems. Organic farm management retains a significant amount –but not all - of birds’ functional diversity. Organic management linked with the maintenance of natural habitats could be a key to conserving ecosystem functioning.