Habitat diversity

A habitat is defined as a place where organisms of a species are found periodically, whereas a biotope is a uniform and more or less bordered area which is the living space of a biocoenosis (ANL 1994). Agricultural land use generally interferes with wildlife habitats. However, the point of interest in this study is to identify differences between conventional and organic farming systems with reference to habitat diversity. 

To measure habitat diversity, the OECD (1997) proposes the following indicators  

The prepertien ef ecologically diversified land area per farm (%) 

Therefore, the habitat diversity of organic farm land is assessed to be higher than that of integrated farmed land due to a higher diversity of living conditions. Redman (1992) and Unwin et al. (1995) state that banning synthetic pesticides on organic farms improves the quality of both crop and non-crop habitats. 

Even though habitat diversity is not a specific part of organic standards, organic management practice has a characteristic impact on habitat diversity, which is due to  

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Organic farming s impact on wildlife conservation and landscape is reviewed for the following indicator subcategories species, diversity (floral and faunal), habitat diversity and landscape. 

The reviewed research results indicate that organic farming provides more positive effects on wildlife conservation and landscape than conventional farming systems on a per area unit of land used for agriculture. While data on faunal and floral diversity allow an rmambiguous and positive assessment, the available information on habitat diversity and landscape can only lead to the conclusion that organic farming has the potential to provide positive effects. 

Floral diversity Faunal diversity Habitat diversity Landscape... 

The effects on biological diversity are reviewed in more detail for the following three aspects genetic diversity, species diversity (floral and faunal) and habitat diversity. 

Gaines, S. D., Herbivory and between-habitat diversity the differential effectiveness of defenses in a marine plant, Ecology, 66, 473, 1985. 

Edwards, K. J., Bach, W., McCollom, T. M., and Rogers, D. R. (2004). Neutrophilic iron-oxidizing bacteria in the ocean their habitats, diversity, and roles in mineral deposition, rock alteration, and biomass production in the deep-sea. Geomicrobiol. J. 21, 393-404. 

Ecosystem indicators floral and faunal biodiversity, habitat diversity and landscape conservation... 

Exploring Patterns of Habitat Diversity Across Landscapes Using Partial Ordering... 

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