Accompanying dataset; 'Agroforestry enhances biological activity, diversity and soil-based ecosystem functions in mountain agroecosystems of Latin America: A meta-analysis.'

The database created as part of the meta-analysis is designed to facilitate the comparison of biological activity, diversity (BIAD), and ecosystem functions (EFs) between agroforestry systems (AFS) and other land-use types. It incorporates data extracted from selected studies, each record comprising a mean value, sample size, and a variance measure to compute standard deviation. The database also categorizes data according to 22 explanatory variables, including geographical coordinates, climate classification, soil type, AFS classification, and more, to characterize the sites and management systems involved. This detailed classification enables a nuanced analysis of how different factors might influence the BIAD and EFs in the context of AFS. The database supports the meta-analysis by allowing for the estimation of effect sizes using response ratios, which compare the relative difference in BIAD and EFs between AFS and other land uses. Data extraction from primary studies was meticulous, employing both direct and indirect methods such as graph digitizing software, and missing data were supplemented using reliable sources or direct communication with the original study authors. The comprehensive nature of this database ensures that the analysis can account for a wide range of variables that may affect the outcomes of interest in the meta-analysis. 
For an in-depth exploration of the study's findings and methodology, refer to the comprehensive meta-analysis available in Global Change Biology (2024), entitled "Agroforestry Enhances Biological Activity, Diversity, and Soil-Based Ecosystem Functions in Mountain Agroecosystems of Latin America: A Meta-Analysis."