Data from: The interplay of landscape composition and configuration: new pathways to manage functional biodiversity and agro-ecosystem services across Europe

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.