Mixed-species plantations can support biodiversity – but context matters, new SUPERB study finds
A new study from the SUPERB project, published in Biological Conservation, takes a close look at one key question: Are mixed-species plantations better for biodiversity than monocultures?
Based on a global review of 71 scientific studies, the answer is: yes, often – but not always.
The results point to a clear trend: mixing species tends to support greater biodiversity overall, especially for birds, litter microbiota, understory plants, and arthropods. But the picture isn’t uniform. In many cases, no major differences were found – highlighting that outcomes depend on factors like region, species used, or plantation age.
What else was found
- The more tree species in the mix, the stronger the biodiversity effect.
- Warmer climates showed stronger positive effects than temperate or continental ones.
- Native species mixtures tended to support biodiversity more than non-native combinations.
Most of the plantations studied were still relatively young. The authors note that biodiversity gains often take time to emerge and call for more research in older and more varied plantation settings.
Read on the full paper here
Photo: KM Wong / Pexels
