Managing agricultural landscapes to support biodiversity and ecosystem services is
a key aim of a sustainable agriculture. However, how the spatial arrangement of crop
fields and other habitats in landscapes impacts arthropods and their functions is
poorly known. Synthesising data from 49 studies (1515 landscapes) across Europe, we
examined effects of landscape composition (% habitats) and configuration (edge density)
on arthropods in fields and their margins, pest control, pollination and yields. Configuration
effects interacted with the proportions of crop and non‐crop habitats, and species’
dietary, dispersal and overwintering traits led to contrasting responses to landscape
variables. Overall, however, in landscapes with high edge density, 70% of pollinator
and 44% of natural enemy species reached highest abundances and pollination and pest
control improved 1.7‐ and 1.4‐fold respectively. Arable‐dominated landscapes with
high edge densities achieved high yields. This suggests that enhancing edge density
in European agroecosystems can promote functional biodiversity and yield‐enhancing
ecosystem services.
