Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in palm oil landscapes: a systematic literature review

Abstract

Palm oil plantations contribute to global trade for affordable vegetable oil supply. To ensure sustainability, there’s a growing global emphasis on understanding and preserving plantation biodiversity and its diverse ecosystem functions. Based on biodiversity indicators, this study aims to identify and examine research trends related to palm oil plantations’ ecological roles or ecosystem functions. We obtained a total of 959 articles from the Web of Science. The utilization of systematic literature review methodology and bibliometric analysis allows for addressing the research inquiries’ focal points. Research trends on palm oil biodiversity and ecosystem function from 2010 to 2023 correlate with palm production. Quadrant 3 in bibliometric maps draws attention to rarely discussed yet impactful topics, such as the effects of deforestation and ecosystem services, which in turn prompts further research. Boxplot analysis reveals a greater focus on insect research, including ants, butterflies, and spiders, compared to avian studies.