The Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function in Tropical Agriculture
The Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function in Tropical Agriculture (BEFTA) Programme aims to quantify the effect of incorporating habitat complexity within oil palm plantations on biodiversity and experimentally test the role of this biodiversity in ecosystem functioning and productivity.
Palm oil is among the most important sources of vegetable oil worldwide. With increasing demand as a feedstock for biofuel production, its global demand is set to increase. It is clear that forest conversion to oil palm plantation has severe impacts on biodiversity. However, little research has focused on methods that can be employed to maximise biodiversity within plantation habitats, nor the role this biodiversity plays in ecosystem functioning and crop production.
Working with the oil palm industry and an international team of collaborative researches, the projects aim to establish the role of biodiversity within tropical agro-ecosystems, which will support the development of improved oil palm management and industry-compatible biodiversity surveys and guides.
Congratulations – Hsiao Hang Tao on finishing her PhD
Congratulations to Hsiao Hang Tao on passing her viva for her work on soil biodiversity and processes associated with EFB application. To read more about Hsiao’s work: Tao, H-H., Slade, E.M., Willis, K.W., Caliman, J-P., Snaddon, J.L. (2016) Effects of soil management practices on soil fauna feeding activity in an…
Ayam hutan
While we were working in one of the plots this morning, I was startled by the sudden eruption of a pheasant-like bird from a clump of ferns a few metres in front of me. Like a pheasant, the dark bird also had wings that made a whirring noise as it…