Abstract
Purpose
Characterization factors for biodiversity impact assessment derived from ecological zoning and land use classification have been proposed within life cycle assessment (LCA). However, their applicability to LCA of agricultural production systems has not yet been elucidated. This study clarifies correlations between regional-scale biodiversity indicators (characterization factors) and field-scale biodiversity indicators and estimates the degree of macro-micro inconsistencies in biodiversity indicators.
Methods
Correlation coefficients were calculated between two types of variables. One is biodiversity (potential species loss) at the ecoregion level provided in UNEP/SETAC (2017) and Chaudhary and Brooks (2018), and the other is biodiversity (species richness) at the field level surveyed during a research project on biodiversity in Japan. The data on two taxa (amphibians and plants) in paddy fields were used for the analyses. Two types of correlation coefficients (the Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficient and the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient) were calculated. Uncertainties of the correlation coefficients were estimated by statistical resampling because the number of surveyed years and regions were limited.
Results and discussion
Although in most cases the signs of the coefficients were consistent with theoretical expectations that the correlation between potential species loss and species richness must be negative, the absolute values were low for all cases (especially for the case of amphibians and for the case of using the UNEP/SETAC characterization factors). It was difficult to estimate field-scale biodiversity from ecoregion-scale biodiversity. The introduction of land use intensity into the calculation of biodiversity at the ecoregion-scale increased the correlation coefficients for plants. Uncertainties due to limitations in the number of surveyed locations were larger than those arising from limitations in the number of surveyed years. These results highlighted the existence of macro-micro inconsistencies and the necessity of developing constructive approaches for biodiversity assessment in agriculture.
Conclusions
It is concluded that employing characterization factors based on ecoregions and land use categories was not useful when assessing the biodiversity impacts of rice production systems at the field-scale because of the existence of macro-micro inconsistencies. Use of field monitoring methods, in addition to approaches to construct biodiversity indicators based on management practices, will be necessary for establishing sustainable agricultural production systems.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anderson MJ, Crist TO, Chase JM, Vellend M, Inouye BD, Freestone AL, Sanders NJ, Cornell HV, Comita LS, Davies KF, Harrison SP, Kraft NJB, Stegen JC, Swenson NG (2011) Navigating the multiple meanings of β diversity: a roadmap for the practicing ecologist. Ecol Lett 14:19–28. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2010.01552.x
Begg GS, Cook SM, Dye R, Ferrante M, Franck P, Lavigne C, Loevei GL, Mansion-Vaquie A, Pell JK, Petit S, Quesada N, Ricci B, Wratten SD, Birch ANE (2017) A functional overview of conservation biological control. Crop Prot 97:145–158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2016.11.008
Burivalova Z, Game E, Butler RA (2019) The sound of a tropical forest. Science 363:28–29. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aav1902
Chaudhary A, Brooks T (2018) Land use intensity-specific global characterization factors to assess product biodiversity footprints. Environ Sci Technol 52:5094–5104. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b05570
Chaudhary A, Verones F, de Baan L, Hellweg S (2015) Quantifying land use impacts on biodiversity: combining species-area models and vulnerability indicators. Environ Sci Technol 49:9987–9995. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b02507
Chaudhary A, Pfister S, Hellweg S (2016) Spatially explicit analysis of biodiversity loss due to global Agriculture, Pasture and Forest land use from a producer and consumer perspective. Environmental Science & Technology 50(7):3928–3936
Ciroth A, Becvker H (2006) Validation – the missing link in life cycle assessment: towards pragmatic LCAs. Int J Life Cycle Assess 11:295–297. https://doi.org/10.1065/lca2006.09.271
Crowder DW, Jabbour R (2014) Relationships between biodiversity and biological control in agroecosystems: current status and future challenges. Biol Control 75:8–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2013.10.010
Curran M, de Baan L, Schryver AM, Zelm R, Hellweg S, Koellner T, Sonnemann G, Huijbregts MA (2011) Toward meaningful end points of biodiversity in life cycle assessment. Environ Sci Technol 45:70–79. https://doi.org/10.1021/es101444k
Curran M, de Souza D, Anton A, Teixeira RFM, Michelsen O, Vidal-Legaz B, Sala S, Mila i Canals L (2016) How well does LCA model land use impacts on biodiversity?—a comparison with approaches from ecology and conservation. Environ Sci Technol 50:2782–2795. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b04681
de Baan L, Alkemade R, Koellner T (2013a) Land use impacts on biodiversity in LCA: a global approach. Int J Life Cycle Assess 18:1216–1230. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-012-0412-0
de Baan L, Mutel CL, Curran M, Hellweg S, Koellner T (2013b) Land use in life cycle assessment: global characterization factors based on regional and global potential species extinction. Environ Sci Technol 47:9281–9290. https://doi.org/10.1021/es400592q
de Baan L, Curran M, Rondinini C, Visconti P, Hellweg S, Koellner T (2015) High-resolution assessment of land use impacts on biodiversity in life cycle assessment using species habitat suitability models. Environ Sci Technol 49:2237–2244. https://doi.org/10.1021/es504380t
Fehrenbach H, Grahl B, Giegrich J, Busch M (2015) Hemeroby as an impact category indicator for the integration of land use into life cycle (impact) assessment. Int J Life Cycle Assess 20:1511–1527. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-015-0955-y
Gabel V, Meier M, Koepke U, Stolze M (2016) The challenges of including impacts on biodiversity in agricultural life cycle assessments. J Environ Manag 181:249–260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.06.030
Hayashi K (2013) Practical recommendations for supporting agricultural decisions through life cycle assessment based on two alternative views of crop production: the example of organic conversion. Int J Life Cycle Assess 18:331–339. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-012-0493-9
Hayashi K, Hondo H, Moriizumi Y (2016) Preference construction processes for renewable energies: assessing the influence of sustainability information and decision support methods. Sustainability 8:1114. https://doi.org/10.3390/su8111114
Hayashi K, Erwinsyah, Lelyana VD, Yamamura K (2020) Acoustic dissimilarities between an oil palm plantation and surrounding forests: analysis of index time series for beta-diversity in South Sumatra, Indonesia. Ecol Indic 112:106086. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.106086
Jeanneret P, Baumgartner D, Knuchel R, Koch B, Gaillard G (2014) An expert system for integrating biodiversity into agricultural life-cycle assessment. Ecol Indic 46:224–231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2014.06.030
Katayama N, Osada Y, Mashiko M, Baba Y, Tanaka K, Kusumoto Y, Okubo S, Ikeda H, Natuhara Y (2019) Organic farming and associated management practices benefit multiple wildlife taxa: a large-scale field study in rice paddy landscapes. J Appl Ecol 56:1970–1981. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13446
Kleijn D, Bommarco R, Fijen TPM, Garibaldi LA, Potts SG, van der Putten WH (2019) Ecological intensification: bridging the gap between science and practice. Trends Ecol Evol 34:154–166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2018.11.002
Koellner T, Geyer R (2013) Global land use impact assessment on biodiversity and ecosystem services in LCA. Int J Life Cycle Assess 18:1185–1187. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-013-0580-6
Koellner T, Scholz R (2007) Assessment of land use impacts on the natural environment. Part 1: an analytical framework for pure land occupation and land use change. Int J Life Cycle Assess 12:16–23. https://doi.org/10.1065/lca2006.12.292.1
Koellner T, Scholz R (2008) Assessment of land use impacts on the natural environment. Part 2: generic characterization factors for local species diversity in Central Europe. Int J Life Cycle Assess 13:32–48. https://doi.org/10.1065/lca2006.12.292.2
Lichtenstein S, Slovic P (2006) The construction of preference: an overview. In: Lichtenstein S, Slovic P (eds) The construction of preference. Cambridge University Press, New York, pp 1–40
Lindeijer E (2000) Biodiversity and life support impacts of land use in LCA. J Clean Prod 8:313–319. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0959-6526(00)00025-1
Lindner JP, Niblick B, Eberle U, Bos U, Schmincke E, Schwarz S, Luick R, Blumberg M, Urbanek A (2014) Proposal of a unified biodiversity impact assessment method. Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Life Cycle Assessment in the Agri-Food Sector. American Center for Life Cycle Assessment, Vashon, WA, pp 8–10
Lindqvist M, Palme U, Lindner JP (2016) A comparison of two different biodiversity assessment methods in LCA: a case study of Swedish spruce forest. Int J Life Cycle Assess 21:190–201. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-015-1012-6
Luescher G, Nemecek T, Arndorfer M, Balazs K, Dennis P, Fjellstad W, Friedel J, Gaillard G, Herzog F, Sarthou J-P, Stoyanova S, Wolfrum S, Jeanneret P (2017) Biodiversity assessment in LCA: a validation at field and farm scale in eight European regions. Int J Life Cycle Assess 22:1483–1492. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-017-1278-y
Magurran AE (2003) Measuring biological diversity. Blackwell, MA
Michelsen O (2008) Assessment of land use impact on biodiversity: proposal of a new methodology exemplified with forestry operations in Norway. Int J Life Cycle Assess 13:22–31. https://doi.org/10.1065/lca2007.04.316
Milà i Canals L, Bauer C, Depestele J, Dubreuil A, Knuchel RF, Gaillard G, Michelsen O, Müller-Wenk R, Rydgren B (2007) Key elements in a framework for land use impact assessment within LCA. Int J Life Cycle Assess 12:5–15. https://doi.org/10.1065/lca2006.05.250
Mueller C, de Baan L, Koellner T (2014) Comparing direct land use impacts on biodiversity of conventional and organic milk—based on a Swedish case study. Int J Life Cycle Assess 19:52–68. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-013-0638-5
Muniappan R, Director P, Heinrichs EA (2014) Biodiversity and integrated pest management: working together for a sustainable future. Crop Prot 61:102–103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2013.12.043
Munoz I, Flury K, Jungbluth N, Rigarlsford G, Mila i Canals L, King H (2014) Life cycle assessment of bio-based ethanol produced from different agricultural feedstocks. Int J Life Cycle Assess 19:109–119. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-013-0613-1
Penman TD, Law BS, Ximenes F (2010) A proposal for accounting for biodiversity in life cycle assessment. Biodivers Conserv 19:3245–3254. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-010-9889-7
Pretty J (2018) Intensification for redesigned and sustainable agricultural systems. Science 362:eaav0294. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aav0294
R Core Team (2018) R: a language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria. https://www.R-project.org/
Socolar JB, Gilroy JJ, Kunin WE, Edwards DP (2016) How should beta-diversity inform biodiversity conservation? Trends Ecol Evol 31:67–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2015.11.005
Souza DM, Teixeira RFM, Ostermann OP (2015) Assessing biodiversity loss due to land use with life cycle assessment: are we there yet? Glob Chang Biol 21:32–47. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.12709
Spake R, Bellamy C, Graham LJ, Watts K, Wilson T, Norton LR, Wood CM, Schmucki R, Bullock JM, Eigenbrod F (2019) An analytical framework for spatially targeted management of natural capital. Nat Sustain 2:90–97. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-019-0223-4
Sueur J, Farina A (2015) Ecoacoustics: the ecological investigation and interpretation of environmental sound. Biosemiotics 8:493–502. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12304-015-9248-x
Teixeira RFM, de Souza DM, Curran MP, Anton A, Michelsen O, Mila i Canals L (2016) Towards consensus on land use impacts on biodiversity in LCA: UNEP/SETAC life cycle initiative preliminary recommendations based on expert contributions. J Clean Prod 112:4283–4287. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.07.118
UNEP/SETAC (2017) Global guidance for life cycle impact assessment indicators - Volume 1 [Online]. http://www.lifecycleinitiative.org/applying-lca/lcia-cf/. Accessed 26 February 2018
Acknowledgements
This work was in part supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI) Grant Number 26310316 and 18K11745 and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (Development of Technologies for Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change in Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by the author.
Additional information
Responsible editor: Niels Jungbluth
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hayashi, K. Inconsistencies between regional- and field-scale biodiversity indicators within life cycle assessment: the case of rice production systems in Japan. Int J Life Cycle Assess 25, 1278–1289 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-020-01749-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-020-01749-1