Biodiversity indicators as a tool to assess sustainability levels of agro-ecosystems with a special consideration of grasslands areas

The impact of agricultural practices on biodiversity is unquestionable. Biodiversity indicators can therefore be used for assessing both positive and negative effects of different agricultural activities and management strategies on the environment. Consequently, they can be applied as a powerful tool for assessing sustainability levels in agro-ecosystems. Biodiversity can be considered at the level of genetic, species and ecosystem (community) diversity. For agriculture it can be also expressed as planned (agricultural) and associated (para-agricultural and extra-agricultural) biodiversity, which reflect different functions of plants, animals and micro-organisms in agro-ecosystems. Diversity planned by the farmer is represented i.a. by different varieties of crops or livestock breeds. Associated biodiversity appears spontaneously within production systems. Para-agricultural biodiversity plays an important role in agro-ecosystems, including beneficial as well as invasive organisms. Extra-agricultural biodiversity fulfils an important heritage function. Potential indicators are identified for all the above-mentioned biodiversity categories at different spatial scales: field, farm and landscape.