Do you drink coffee? A lot of people do—coffee is a major tropical crop, valued at over $100 billion per year. The most popular species of coffee, Coffea arabica, originated in Africa and is now planted extensively in Central and South America. The pest called the coffee berry borer beetle (Hypothenemus hampeii) moved along with the coffee and is a major problem for coffee farmers, sometimes destroying half of the coffee crop in mature plantations. Draw a simple model to compare the relative species richness and species diversity of these two coffee plantations: one is clear-cut and planted with only coffee shrubs, the other retains some natural forest. For symbols, use a few letters to represent different species of plants and a few numbers to represent different species of animals in a square 1-ha plot.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Define the symbols for species in the model. For example, use 'C' for Coffea arabica, 'F' for other forest trees, 'B' for the coffee berry borer beetle, and '1', '2', '3' etc., for other animal species.
2. Step 2: Draw two squares representing 1-ha plots for each plantation type. Label one square as 'Clear-cut Coffee Plantation' and the other as 'Diverse Coffee Plantation with Natural Forest'.
3. Step 3: In the 'Clear-cut Coffee Plantation' square, fill the plot predominantly with 'C' to represent the high density of coffee shrubs, and include a few 'B' symbols scattered around to represent the presence of the coffee berry borer beetle.
4. Step 4: In the 'Diverse Coffee Plantation with Natural Forest' square, distribute 'C' symbols less densely than in the clear-cut plot. Add multiple 'F' symbols to represent the retained forest trees, and include symbols '1', '2', '3', etc., to represent a variety of animal species, along with a few 'B' symbols.
5. Step 5: Compare the two squares to analyze species richness and diversity. The diverse plantation will show a greater variety of symbols (indicating higher species richness and diversity) compared to the clear-cut plantation, which has fewer types of symbols.

Key Concepts

Species Richness

Species richness refers to the number of different species present in a given area. It is a fundamental measure of biodiversity, indicating the variety of life forms in an ecosystem. In the context of the coffee plantations, comparing species richness between a clear-cut area and one that retains natural forest will highlight the impact of land use on biodiversity.

Species Diversity

Species diversity encompasses both species richness and the evenness of species' abundances within an ecosystem. It provides a more comprehensive understanding of biodiversity by considering not just how many species are present, but also how they are distributed. This concept is crucial for evaluating the ecological health of the two coffee plantations described in the question.

Ecosystem Services

Ecosystem services are the benefits that humans derive from ecosystems, including provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting services. In the context of coffee plantations, retaining natural forest can enhance ecosystem services such as pest control, pollination, and soil health, which are vital for sustainable coffee production. Understanding these services helps in assessing the long-term viability of different agricultural practices.