Contrasting effects of bioenergy crops on biodiversity

Haan, Nathan L.; Benucci, Gian N. M.; Fiser, Cynthia M.; Bonito, Gregory; Landis, Douglas A.

doi:10.1126/sciadv.adh7960

Title: Contrasting effects of bioenergy crops on biodiversity

Journal Article · 22 September 2023 · Science Advances

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adh7960 · OSTI ID:2202274

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^[2]; Landis, Douglas A. ^[2]

Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI (United States); University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY (United States); Michigan State University Department of Entomology
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI (United States)

Agriculture is driving biodiversity loss, and future bioenergy cropping systems have the potential to ameliorate or exacerbate these effects. Using a long-term experimental array of 10 bioenergy cropping systems, we quantified diversity of plants, invertebrates, vertebrates, and microbes in each crop. For many taxonomic groups, alternative annual cropping systems provided no biodiversity benefits when compared to corn (the business-as-usual bioenergy crop in the United States), and simple perennial grass–based systems provided only modest gains. In contrast, for most animal groups, richness in plant-diverse perennial systems was much higher than in annual crops or simple perennial systems. Microbial richness patterns were more eclectic, although some groups responded positively to plant diversity. Future agricultural landscapes incorporating plant-diverse perennial bioenergy cropping systems could be of high conservation value. However, increased use of annual crops will continue to have negative effects, and simple perennial grass systems may provide little improvement over annual crops.

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Research Organization:: Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC), Madison, WI (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0018409; FC02-07ER64494

OSTI ID:: 2202274

Journal Information:: Science Advances, Journal Name: Science Advances Journal Issue: 38 Vol. 9; ISSN 2375-2548

Publisher:: AAASCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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