Exploring biodiversity patterns at the landscape scale by linking landscape energy and land use/land cover heterogeneity

Abstract

Agricultural Biodiversity dynamics has been evaluated by social metabolism or by landscape structure-function analysis. In this study, by using ELIA modeling, we used both methods in combination to understand how the interplay between social metabolism and landscape structure-function can affect biodiversity pattern distribution. We used energy reinvestment (E) as an indicator of social metabolism and landscape heterogeneity (Le) as an indicator of landscape structure-function. We propose a research hypothesis to analyze biodiversity patterns considering four different clusters identified based on high or low E or Le. As cluster 1, we defined E as high and Le as low and associated natural ecosystems to it. These ecosystems are expected to contain high species abundance but low richness. As cluster 2, both E and Le were defined as high and semi-natural ecosystems were associated to it, where nature friendly farm system developed. In these ecosystems, high species abundance and richness are expected. Cluster 3 with low E and Le was associated intensive farmland, which is due to the simplification of the landscape. Here, low energy reinvestment and landscape heterogeneity confirm that ecosystem services related to biodiversity have been drastically reduced. Lastly, cluster 4 with low E but high Le refers to intensive mosaics of farmland and pasture. In this cluster, the biodiversity richness index is high due to spatial landscape diversity, but the biodiversity abundance index is low due to the lack of energy reinvestment. We evaluate the proposed hypothesis for biodiversity analysis in the Qazvin province, emphasizing the interplay between energy availability and landscape heterogeneity in shaping ecological communities. This study highlights the importance of understanding biodiversity patterns at spatial scale and emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary research to address conservation and sustainability challenges. Our approach would be very useful where there is lack of biodiversity data.

Keywords: Biodiversity abundance; Biodiversity richness; Iran; Landscape ecology; Spatial landscape heterogeneity.