Biodiversity in Mexican Shade Coffee Agroecosystems: A Systematic Review of Patterns, Knowledge Gaps, and Conservation Implications

Abstract

Shade coffee agroecosystems are recognized as biodiversity-friendly systems that make an important contribution to biodiversity conservation in tropical landscapes. This study synthesized the scientific evidence on biodiversity associated with Mexican coffee agroecosystems through a systematic review of literature published between 1990 and 2026. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, searches in ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, Web of Science, Scopus, and SciELO yielded 1424 records, of which 126 met the inclusion criteria. The selected studies were further classified according to research axes, methodological approaches, production-system comparisons, and ecosystem functions. Research efforts were strongly concentrated in Veracruz and Chiapas, while several coffee-producing regions remained poorly represented. Arthropods were the most studied group, followed by plants and trees, while mammals and birds were equally represented; fungi and herpetofauna received comparatively less attention. Scientific output increased compared with the early years of the study period but showed considerable temporal variation, particularly during the most recent decade. Despite these advances, relevant geographic and taxonomic gaps persist, particularly for fungi, soil microorganisms, and herpetofauna. The evidence indicates that shade coffee agroecosystems serve as valuable reservoirs of biodiversity and support ecosystem services, ecological connectivity, and landscape conservation. Future studies should focus on underrepresented regions and taxa and incorporate functional diversity, ecological interactions, and landscape-scale approaches to strengthen biodiversity conservation and sustainable management in Mexican coffee-growing landscapes.