Agricultural extensification enhances functional diversity but not phylogenetic diversity in Mediterranean olive groves: A case study with ant and bird communities

Agroforests are of well-known importance for biodiversity conservation, especially in the tropics, because they structurally stable and may resemble natural forests. Previous studies have characterized jointly taxonomic, functional phylogenetic diversity these agro-ecosystems to comprehensively examine mechanisms by which agriculture impacts on biodiversity. However, this approach has been barely applied other woody crops economic importance, such as olive grove, is a remarkable overwintering habitat frugivorous/insectivorous birds from central northern Europe, whose original distribution overlaps with Mediterranean hotspot. We examined effects landscape complexity intensive management practices at local scale (recurrent plowing pesticides use) animal communities inhabiting groves. Since response traits or clades vary across different taxonomic groups, we conducted our study two levels: ants, considered semi-sessile organisms, birds, exhibit high dispersal capacity. In neither type nor had an effect (PD) indices. Extensively managed farms harbored bird higher values (FD), but only was evident when considering cultivated (productive) zones within farm (i.e., infield diversity). Ant assemblages intensively exhibited lower level clustering than those located extensive farms, vanished excluding non-cultivated zones. increased complexity. Our results indicate that PD FD responses farming intensification Although does not erode due existence redundancy, loss species associated modern leads reduction being indicative complementarity. This provides evidence land-use extensification (extensive diversification) promotes more functionally rich findings also show need set apart (e.g., hedgerows, margins) evaluating effectiveness agri-environment schemes joint consideration areas obscure benefits