Multiple ecosystem service synergies and landscape-mediation of biodiversity within urban agroecosystems

Ecosystem services are essential for human well-being, especially in urban
areas where 60% of the global population will live by 2030. While urban
habitats have the potential to support biodiversity and ecosystem
services, few studies have quantified the impact of local and landscape
management across a diverse suite of services. We leverage five years of
data (>5,000 observations) across a network of urban gardens to
determine the drivers of biodiversity and ecosystem service trade-offs and
synergies. We found multiple synergies and few trade-offs, contrasting
previous assumptions that food production is at odds with biodiversity.
Furthermore, we show that landscape-level natural habitat cover interacts
with local management to mediate services provided by mobile animals,
specifically pest control and pollination. By quantifying the factors that
support a diverse suite of ecosystem services, we highlight the critical
role of garden management and urban planning for optimizing biodiversity
and human benefit.