Biodiversity in Agricultural and Forest Ecosystems - AGRODIV

The AGRODIV group aims to improve our knowledge on the ecology of managed agricultural and forest ecosystems, in order to assess the impacts of practices, policies (at national and EU-level), and environmental change on biodiversity and ecosystem services (BES).

Agricultural systems and policy/management impacts: This research line focuses on the impacts of farmland management on biodiversity, and how policy changes and management (in particular the Common Agricultural Policy) can affect farming systems and drive biodiversity. Ongoing research topics include:

1. exploring farming systems approaches to model policy impacts on farmland biodiversity and ecosystem services (BES);
2. assessing how changing agricultural management practices (ranging from agriculture intensification to abandonment)  impact BES;
3. evaluating the effects of agricultural intensification on BES;
4. operationalizing approaches to identify High Nature Value farming systems and assess the corresponding BES values;
5. developing methods and tools to support ecological restoration in agricultural land;

Global change and farmland biodiversity: This research line focuses on the impacts of climate and anthropogenic-driven changes on farmland biodiversity. Research topics include:

1. assessing the impacts of climate change on farmland birds;
2. applying animal tracking and movement ecology approaches to learn key aspects of the ecology of farmland bird species with conservation value;
3. evaluating the effects of social-ecological change on agroecosystems (plants and habitats);

Forest ecology and management impacts: Research ranges from applied ecology studies to biodiversity assessment and includes:

1. understanding how forest structure, composition, and management influence biodiversity and ecosystem functioning;
2. investigating plant-animal interactions, including plant and seed dispersal patterns;
3. evaluating the role of assisted natural regeneration and active restoration for restoration of native forests;
4. rewilding for forest ecosystems’ recovery;
5. soil carbon and soil biodiversity in response to management;