Improvement of ecosystem services

Background and Objective

In a long-term project, we develop concepts and scenarios for optimizing ecosystem services of insects at landscape level. We address questions such as: (i) how much insect-friendly area (e.g. flower strips, semi-natural grassland) is required for preserving insect populations and their ecosystem services, and (ii) how should such areas be distributed in agricultural landscapes both spatially and temporally in order to achieve optimal effects? To answer these questions, we develop spatial simulation models of selected insect species. Using these models, we analyse the effects of different land-use options and scenarios on insect populations and predict their ecosystem services. Further, we will pinpoint critical thresholds of area, connectivity and longevity of insect-friendly sites in the landscape and identify optimal trade-offs between efforts and ecosystem services.

Approach

Development of agent-based, spatially-explicit simulation models of insect populations at landscape level on the basis of selected species

Links and Downloads

agrarmonitoring-monvia.de/monitoring-spezieller-fragestellungen/verbesserung-der-bestaeubung-1/