Patterns of shade plant diversity in four agroforestry systems across Central America: a meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT: Agroforestry systems can potentially increase tree diversity within agricultural landscapes, but to date, there is little understanding of the patterns of shade plant diversity within different agroforestry systems (AFS) at large spatial scales. Using compiled plant inventory data (from 23 sources, 2517 plots, and 148,255 individuals) encompassing four AFS (shaded coffee; shaded cocoa; dispersed trees on pastures; and live fences) across six countries in Central America we estimated different metrics of diversity to assess the conservation value of different AFS for shade plants. 458 shade plant species were recorded across the four agroforestry systems. Primary forest species accounted for 28% of the shade species recorded, but only 6% of the recorded individuals. No single AFS was consis

SUBMITTER: Esquivel MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10219940 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature