Rosalind James and Theresa L. Pitts-Singer (eds)
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- September 2008
- ISBN:
- 9780195316957
- eISBN:
- 9780199871575
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195316957.001.0001
- Subject:
- Biology, Animal Biology, Plant Sciences and Forestry
Bees play a vital role as pollinators for many agricultural crops. This book discusses the interplay between bees, agriculture, and the environment. Although honey bees are well recognized as ...
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Bees play a vital role as pollinators for many agricultural crops. This book discusses the interplay between bees, agriculture, and the environment. Although honey bees are well recognized as pollinators, managed bumble bees and solitary bees are also critical for the successful pollination of certain crops, while wild bees provide a free service. As bees liberally pass pollen from one plant to the next, they also impact the broader ecosystem, and not always to the benefit of humankind. Bees can enhance the unintentional spread of genes from genetically engineered plants, and may increase the spread of invasive weeds. Conversely, genetically engineered plants can impact pollinators, and invasive weeds can supply new sources of food for these insects. Bees' flower-visiting activities also can be exploited to spread biological control agents that help to control crop pests. Bee pollination is important for production of native plants used for restoration of wild lands. Managing bees for pollination is complex and must consider bee natural history, physiology, pathology, and behavior. Furthermore, transporting bees from native ranges to new areas for pollination services can be controversial, and should be done only after assuring that a non-native bee introduction will not disrupt the ecosystem. Even though bees are small, unobtrusive creatures, they play large roles in the ecosystem. The connection between bees and humankind is symbolic of a broader interconnection between humans and the natural world.Less
Bees play a vital role as pollinators for many agricultural crops. This book discusses the interplay between bees, agriculture, and the environment. Although honey bees are well recognized as pollinators, managed bumble bees and solitary bees are also critical for the successful pollination of certain crops, while wild bees provide a free service. As bees liberally pass pollen from one plant to the next, they also impact the broader ecosystem, and not always to the benefit of humankind. Bees can enhance the unintentional spread of genes from genetically engineered plants, and may increase the spread of invasive weeds. Conversely, genetically engineered plants can impact pollinators, and invasive weeds can supply new sources of food for these insects. Bees' flower-visiting activities also can be exploited to spread biological control agents that help to control crop pests. Bee pollination is important for production of native plants used for restoration of wild lands. Managing bees for pollination is complex and must consider bee natural history, physiology, pathology, and behavior. Furthermore, transporting bees from native ranges to new areas for pollination services can be controversial, and should be done only after assuring that a non-native bee introduction will not disrupt the ecosystem. Even though bees are small, unobtrusive creatures, they play large roles in the ecosystem. The connection between bees and humankind is symbolic of a broader interconnection between humans and the natural world.
Mark S. Hoddle
- Published in print:
- 2004
- Published Online:
- March 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780520240247
- eISBN:
- 9780520930636
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520240247.003.0013
- Subject:
- Biology, Biodiversity / Conservation Biology
This chapter focuses on the application of biological control in support of conservation programs. It first examines the history, theory, application, benefits, and risks of biological control. It ...
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This chapter focuses on the application of biological control in support of conservation programs. It first examines the history, theory, application, benefits, and risks of biological control. It then identifies non-traditional pest targets of conservation importance suitable for biological control. Finally, it discusses novel biological control techniques and experimental approaches in conservation biology.Less
This chapter focuses on the application of biological control in support of conservation programs. It first examines the history, theory, application, benefits, and risks of biological control. It then identifies non-traditional pest targets of conservation importance suitable for biological control. Finally, it discusses novel biological control techniques and experimental approaches in conservation biology.
Pamela C. Ronald and Raoul W. Adamchak
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- May 2008
- ISBN:
- 9780195301755
- eISBN:
- 9780199867196
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195301755.003.0003
- Subject:
- Biology, Plant Sciences and Forestry
This chapter gives a history of organic farming and the biological technologies that organic farmers rely upon. Based on present trends, consumer demand and organic-based research are likely to ...
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This chapter gives a history of organic farming and the biological technologies that organic farmers rely upon. Based on present trends, consumer demand and organic-based research are likely to increase. This raises the question of whether GE varieties can help forge a future sustainable agriculture.Less
This chapter gives a history of organic farming and the biological technologies that organic farmers rely upon. Based on present trends, consumer demand and organic-based research are likely to increase. This raises the question of whether GE varieties can help forge a future sustainable agriculture.
David Wainhouse
- Published in print:
- 2004
- Published Online:
- April 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780198505648
- eISBN:
- 9780191728150
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198505648.001.0001
- Subject:
- Biology, Ecology, Plant Sciences and Forestry
This book aims to provide a critical appraisal of the theory and practice of key methods of forest pest management. The appropriate application of these ‘ecological methods’ in the development of ...
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This book aims to provide a critical appraisal of the theory and practice of key methods of forest pest management. The appropriate application of these ‘ecological methods’ in the development of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programmes depends on a clear understanding of pest biology and population dynamics, and an appreciation of the ecology and economic importance of both semi-natural and plantation forests. These aspects provide a focus for discussion throughout the book. The main themes of the first four chapters are the influence of forest composition and structure on the nature and severity of pest problems, the threat posed by the introduction of exotic pests in global trade, how risk-rating of forests can provide an early warning of outbreaks, and the role that silviculture can play in both contributing to and helping to reduce the impact of pests. The following four chapters discuss in turn the nature of tree resistance and its exploitation, the principles and practice of biological and microbial control, and the use of semiochemicals in manipulating insect populations. The final chapter on IPM includes a discussion of the economic and environmental impact of pests, with practical examples of IPM illustrated in a series of case studies. The potential impact of climate change is briefly discussed. Many of the examples and case studies relate to insect pests, but the term ‘pest’ is used in its widest sense to include fungal pathogens. Brief reference is also made to mammalian herbivores.Less
This book aims to provide a critical appraisal of the theory and practice of key methods of forest pest management. The appropriate application of these ‘ecological methods’ in the development of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programmes depends on a clear understanding of pest biology and population dynamics, and an appreciation of the ecology and economic importance of both semi-natural and plantation forests. These aspects provide a focus for discussion throughout the book. The main themes of the first four chapters are the influence of forest composition and structure on the nature and severity of pest problems, the threat posed by the introduction of exotic pests in global trade, how risk-rating of forests can provide an early warning of outbreaks, and the role that silviculture can play in both contributing to and helping to reduce the impact of pests. The following four chapters discuss in turn the nature of tree resistance and its exploitation, the principles and practice of biological and microbial control, and the use of semiochemicals in manipulating insect populations. The final chapter on IPM includes a discussion of the economic and environmental impact of pests, with practical examples of IPM illustrated in a series of case studies. The potential impact of climate change is briefly discussed. Many of the examples and case studies relate to insect pests, but the term ‘pest’ is used in its widest sense to include fungal pathogens. Brief reference is also made to mammalian herbivores.
Franck Courchamp, Luděk Berec, and Joanna Gascoigne
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- May 2008
- ISBN:
- 9780198570301
- eISBN:
- 9780191717642
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198570301.003.0005
- Subject:
- Biology, Biodiversity / Conservation Biology
This chapter deals with the more applied aspects of the Allee effect. It starts by considering the role and impact of Allee effects in the conservation of rare and endangered populations, including ...
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This chapter deals with the more applied aspects of the Allee effect. It starts by considering the role and impact of Allee effects in the conservation of rare and endangered populations, including their interaction with habitat fragmentation and reserve design, (re)introductions, ex-situ conservation, and conservation target setting. It then considers Allee effects in the context of population management, including the management of exploited populations (fisheries, the economics of value and rarity), and pest outbreaks and eradication. It reviews methods that managers and conservationists might use for evaluating Allee effects in a population, including scientifically rigorous techniques for demonstrating their presence and calculating the Allee threshold, but also more general precautionary-type strategies for assessing the probability of Allee effects being present. The chapter ends by summarizing key points as a sort of Allee effect aide-mémoire for endangered species and conservation management.Less
This chapter deals with the more applied aspects of the Allee effect. It starts by considering the role and impact of Allee effects in the conservation of rare and endangered populations, including their interaction with habitat fragmentation and reserve design, (re)introductions, ex-situ conservation, and conservation target setting. It then considers Allee effects in the context of population management, including the management of exploited populations (fisheries, the economics of value and rarity), and pest outbreaks and eradication. It reviews methods that managers and conservationists might use for evaluating Allee effects in a population, including scientifically rigorous techniques for demonstrating their presence and calculating the Allee threshold, but also more general precautionary-type strategies for assessing the probability of Allee effects being present. The chapter ends by summarizing key points as a sort of Allee effect aide-mémoire for endangered species and conservation management.
David Wainhouse
- Published in print:
- 2004
- Published Online:
- April 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780198505648
- eISBN:
- 9780191728150
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198505648.003.0006
- Subject:
- Biology, Ecology, Plant Sciences and Forestry
Biocontrol can be a useful tool in forest pest management. Using insect predators, parasitoids and disease-causing pathogens as examples, this chapter discusses the different methods of biocontrol. ...
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Biocontrol can be a useful tool in forest pest management. Using insect predators, parasitoids and disease-causing pathogens as examples, this chapter discusses the different methods of biocontrol. The augmentation and conservation of natural enemies is illustrated by case studies of the inoculative release of fungal pathogens against gypsy moth, and the inundative release of egg parasitoids against spruce budworm. In classical biocontrol, the selection of appropriate natural enemies is discussed under the topics of evaluation of the pest in the target region, exploration in the pest area of origin, selection of appropriate natural enemies, quarantine and rearing, release of one or more species, and evaluation and monitoring. The risk to non-target populations is considered in relation to the use of generalist natural enemies. Classical biocontrol is illustrated by two case studies: the release of parasitoids against larch casebearer and the role of parasitoids and predators in biocontrol of winter moth. The economic benefits of biocontrol are briefly discussed.Less
Biocontrol can be a useful tool in forest pest management. Using insect predators, parasitoids and disease-causing pathogens as examples, this chapter discusses the different methods of biocontrol. The augmentation and conservation of natural enemies is illustrated by case studies of the inoculative release of fungal pathogens against gypsy moth, and the inundative release of egg parasitoids against spruce budworm. In classical biocontrol, the selection of appropriate natural enemies is discussed under the topics of evaluation of the pest in the target region, exploration in the pest area of origin, selection of appropriate natural enemies, quarantine and rearing, release of one or more species, and evaluation and monitoring. The risk to non-target populations is considered in relation to the use of generalist natural enemies. Classical biocontrol is illustrated by two case studies: the release of parasitoids against larch casebearer and the role of parasitoids and predators in biocontrol of winter moth. The economic benefits of biocontrol are briefly discussed.
Carolyn M. King and Roger A. Powell
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- April 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780195322712
- eISBN:
- 9780199894239
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195322712.001.0001
- Subject:
- Biology, Animal Biology
Weasels are the most common and the least known of the world's carnivores. In predatory power they rival any of the big cats; indeed, gram for gram they are much stronger than any lion. But they are ...
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Weasels are the most common and the least known of the world's carnivores. In predatory power they rival any of the big cats; indeed, gram for gram they are much stronger than any lion. But they are small and hard to see in the wild, and they can live their secret lives alongside people who never guess that they are there. In their native environments the weasels (Mustela nivalis, M. erminea, and M. frenata) are small but important members of a community of predators. They balance a fine line between the hunters and the hunted: they can follow their prey under snow and into their last refuges, but are also vulnerable to attack by larger predators, especially foxes and raptors. In New Zealand they are out of place, a tragic example of a human attempt to manipulate nature which has backfired both on the weasels and on the native fauna. This book tells the stories of these animals in both words and artwork, using a mixture of descriptions, analysis and anecdote. It describes how the weasels fit into their own environments, yet also cause serious conservation damage in New Zealand.Less
Weasels are the most common and the least known of the world's carnivores. In predatory power they rival any of the big cats; indeed, gram for gram they are much stronger than any lion. But they are small and hard to see in the wild, and they can live their secret lives alongside people who never guess that they are there. In their native environments the weasels (Mustela nivalis, M. erminea, and M. frenata) are small but important members of a community of predators. They balance a fine line between the hunters and the hunted: they can follow their prey under snow and into their last refuges, but are also vulnerable to attack by larger predators, especially foxes and raptors. In New Zealand they are out of place, a tragic example of a human attempt to manipulate nature which has backfired both on the weasels and on the native fauna. This book tells the stories of these animals in both words and artwork, using a mixture of descriptions, analysis and anecdote. It describes how the weasels fit into their own environments, yet also cause serious conservation damage in New Zealand.
Jeffrey D. Corbin, Carla M. D’Antonio, and Susan J. Bainbridge
- Published in print:
- 2004
- Published Online:
- March 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780520240247
- eISBN:
- 9780520930636
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520240247.003.0011
- Subject:
- Biology, Biodiversity / Conservation Biology
This chapter evaluates the efficiency of experimental techniques in reducing invasive plant species in California grassland ecosystems. It discusses native plant restoration approaches, focusing on ...
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This chapter evaluates the efficiency of experimental techniques in reducing invasive plant species in California grassland ecosystems. It discusses native plant restoration approaches, focusing on techniques to tip the competitive balance toward native species and away from exotic species. These techniques include the reduction of soil nitrogen availability, livestock grazing, prescribed burning, herbicide application, and biological control.Less
This chapter evaluates the efficiency of experimental techniques in reducing invasive plant species in California grassland ecosystems. It discusses native plant restoration approaches, focusing on techniques to tip the competitive balance toward native species and away from exotic species. These techniques include the reduction of soil nitrogen availability, livestock grazing, prescribed burning, herbicide application, and biological control.
Jerry A. Powell and Paul A. Opler
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- March 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780520251977
- eISBN:
- 9780520943773
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520251977.003.0003
- Subject:
- Biology, Animal Biology
This chapter discusses the major role of Lepidoptera populations in natural and human communities. Lepidoptera larvae damage agricultural crops and are a major problem in stored meal, grain, nuts, ...
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This chapter discusses the major role of Lepidoptera populations in natural and human communities. Lepidoptera larvae damage agricultural crops and are a major problem in stored meal, grain, nuts, and in woolen products. Conversely, they play significant roles in pollination in natural communities and aid in crop pollination. Caterpillars convert complex chemical energy in plants to digestible food for other members of the food chain. Lepidoptera are also decomposers, assisting in reducing fallen leaves and fruit, fungi, and animal products to humus. Several species are also introduced as biological control agents.Less
This chapter discusses the major role of Lepidoptera populations in natural and human communities. Lepidoptera larvae damage agricultural crops and are a major problem in stored meal, grain, nuts, and in woolen products. Conversely, they play significant roles in pollination in natural communities and aid in crop pollination. Caterpillars convert complex chemical energy in plants to digestible food for other members of the food chain. Lepidoptera are also decomposers, assisting in reducing fallen leaves and fruit, fungi, and animal products to humus. Several species are also introduced as biological control agents.
Dan Bean, Tom Dudley, and Kevin Hultine
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- May 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780199898206
- eISBN:
- 9780190267896
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:osobl/9780199898206.003.0022
- Subject:
- Biology, Ecology
This chapter focuses on the history and impact of tamarisk biological control in the form of defoliation by Diorhabda spp. leaf beetles. The beetles have become controversial despite their ...
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This chapter focuses on the history and impact of tamarisk biological control in the form of defoliation by Diorhabda spp. leaf beetles. The beetles have become controversial despite their spectacular success as biological control agents. The chapter first presents a brief history of weed biological control before turning to the selection of tamarisk as a biocontrol target and the leaf beetle as biocontrol agent. It then examines the biology of leaf beetles, including their taxonomy and phenology, in order to have a better understanding of their current and future impact on riparian ecosystems as well as their use as a tamarisk management tool. It also considers how beetles congregate to defoliate tamarisk and concludes by discussing the long-term outlook for Diorhabda in tamarisk control.Less
This chapter focuses on the history and impact of tamarisk biological control in the form of defoliation by Diorhabda spp. leaf beetles. The beetles have become controversial despite their spectacular success as biological control agents. The chapter first presents a brief history of weed biological control before turning to the selection of tamarisk as a biocontrol target and the leaf beetle as biocontrol agent. It then examines the biology of leaf beetles, including their taxonomy and phenology, in order to have a better understanding of their current and future impact on riparian ecosystems as well as their use as a tamarisk management tool. It also considers how beetles congregate to defoliate tamarisk and concludes by discussing the long-term outlook for Diorhabda in tamarisk control.
Daniel Simberloff
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- September 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780226422954
- eISBN:
- 9780226423142
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of Chicago Press
- DOI:
- 10.7208/chicago/9780226423142.003.0008
- Subject:
- Environmental Science, Environmental Studies
In its early history, the US National Park Service (NPS) had no policy on nonnative species, and even introduced nonnative fishes for sport fishing and plants for landscaping. By the 1920s, ...
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In its early history, the US National Park Service (NPS) had no policy on nonnative species, and even introduced nonnative fishes for sport fishing and plants for landscaping. By the 1920s, scientists within and outside the NPS militated against new introductions and urged the agency to minimize or eradicate existing ones, but not until a 1968 directive was such a policy substantially implemented. Some park efforts to eradicate or decrease mammal populations aroused opposition from hunters or advocates of animal rights. Park Science was first published in 1980 and initially targeted NPS managers; in the 1990s it broadened its audience to include the general public. Articles in Park Science, though more heavily focused on management than those in most academic journals, track most of the explosive recent development of invasion biology, in particular incorporating the recognition that some invasions can affect entire ecosystems rather than just particular native species. The journal has generally downplayed controversies that have recently roiled invasion biology. National parks, islands in a larger landscape and unable to control national policy on nonnative species, are continually invaded by new nonnatives, but the NPS has risen to the challenge of managing them with some striking successes.Less
In its early history, the US National Park Service (NPS) had no policy on nonnative species, and even introduced nonnative fishes for sport fishing and plants for landscaping. By the 1920s, scientists within and outside the NPS militated against new introductions and urged the agency to minimize or eradicate existing ones, but not until a 1968 directive was such a policy substantially implemented. Some park efforts to eradicate or decrease mammal populations aroused opposition from hunters or advocates of animal rights. Park Science was first published in 1980 and initially targeted NPS managers; in the 1990s it broadened its audience to include the general public. Articles in Park Science, though more heavily focused on management than those in most academic journals, track most of the explosive recent development of invasion biology, in particular incorporating the recognition that some invasions can affect entire ecosystems rather than just particular native species. The journal has generally downplayed controversies that have recently roiled invasion biology. National parks, islands in a larger landscape and unable to control national policy on nonnative species, are continually invaded by new nonnatives, but the NPS has risen to the challenge of managing them with some striking successes.
Carolyn M. King and Roger A. Powell
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- April 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780195322712
- eISBN:
- 9780199894239
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195322712.003.0012
- Subject:
- Biology, Animal Biology
The traditional view of weasels as ruthless predators capable of holding down the numbers of pest rodents tends to underestimate the rate at which pest populations can replace the individuals killed. ...
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The traditional view of weasels as ruthless predators capable of holding down the numbers of pest rodents tends to underestimate the rate at which pest populations can replace the individuals killed. In fact, weasels can exterminate rodents only in a small area where they have no prey choice and no escape. Contrariwise, shooting of game birds is a widespread sport in North America, Britain, and Europe, and concern to maximize the productivity of game bird nesting seasons often includes control of nest predators, including stoats and weasels. By protecting nesting game- and song-birds from temporary damage by weasels, game estates in the UK also play a valuable conservation role which benefits many other species that would otherwise get no protection at all from their main enemy, chemical-based agriculture. Weasels are abundant and resilient, so are seldom included in any conservation legislation, but they do need protection from cruel traps and secondary poisoning.Less
The traditional view of weasels as ruthless predators capable of holding down the numbers of pest rodents tends to underestimate the rate at which pest populations can replace the individuals killed. In fact, weasels can exterminate rodents only in a small area where they have no prey choice and no escape. Contrariwise, shooting of game birds is a widespread sport in North America, Britain, and Europe, and concern to maximize the productivity of game bird nesting seasons often includes control of nest predators, including stoats and weasels. By protecting nesting game- and song-birds from temporary damage by weasels, game estates in the UK also play a valuable conservation role which benefits many other species that would otherwise get no protection at all from their main enemy, chemical-based agriculture. Weasels are abundant and resilient, so are seldom included in any conservation legislation, but they do need protection from cruel traps and secondary poisoning.
Kirsten M. Prior and Jessica J. Hellmann
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- May 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780226166049
- eISBN:
- 9780226166216
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of Chicago Press
- DOI:
- 10.7208/chicago/9780226166216.003.0012
- Subject:
- Biology, Ecology
Once established, some introduced species experience increased fitness or demographic rates in their introduced range compared to their native range. The phenomenon of species becoming invasive as a ...
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Once established, some introduced species experience increased fitness or demographic rates in their introduced range compared to their native range. The phenomenon of species becoming invasive as a result of increased success is referred to as “invasion success.” The enemy release hypothesis (ERH) is a leading hypothesis of invasion success; it posits that introduced species lose enemies and undergo release from enemy control. The ERH provides the underpinnings for the management practice of biological control; if enemy release is important, then re-establishing the link between introduced species and natural enemies could provide an effective means of control. Despite the popularity of the ERH as an explanation for invasion success and its implications for biological control, our review reveals that it has only been properly evaluated in limited contexts. More rigorous tests of the ERH are needed for invasive species in higher trophic levels and in aquatic systems to reveal the general importance of this hypothesis of invasion success. A fundamental understanding of what causes invasion success is essential to apply effective control strategies for the management of invasive species.Less
Once established, some introduced species experience increased fitness or demographic rates in their introduced range compared to their native range. The phenomenon of species becoming invasive as a result of increased success is referred to as “invasion success.” The enemy release hypothesis (ERH) is a leading hypothesis of invasion success; it posits that introduced species lose enemies and undergo release from enemy control. The ERH provides the underpinnings for the management practice of biological control; if enemy release is important, then re-establishing the link between introduced species and natural enemies could provide an effective means of control. Despite the popularity of the ERH as an explanation for invasion success and its implications for biological control, our review reveals that it has only been properly evaluated in limited contexts. More rigorous tests of the ERH are needed for invasive species in higher trophic levels and in aquatic systems to reveal the general importance of this hypothesis of invasion success. A fundamental understanding of what causes invasion success is essential to apply effective control strategies for the management of invasive species.
Victor Rico-Gray and Paulo S. Oliveira
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- February 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780226713472
- eISBN:
- 9780226713540
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of Chicago Press
- DOI:
- 10.7208/chicago/9780226713540.003.0011
- Subject:
- Biology, Ecology
Data obtained from studies of various topics in ant–plant interactions could potentially be applied in insect pest management programs of agricultural systems. Ants possess many characteristics that ...
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Data obtained from studies of various topics in ant–plant interactions could potentially be applied in insect pest management programs of agricultural systems. Ants possess many characteristics that are associated with the potential to act as biological control agents, especially in tropical agroecosystems, and an economically beneficial role has been associated with ants used for such purposes. Nevertheless, the positive effects of several ant attributes (for example, predation of herbivores, pollination, soil improvement, and nutrient cycling) must be weighed against possible disadvantages (such as leaf-cutter ants and seed predators). Some ants feed on or disturb plants, act as vectors of plant diseases, benefit damaging Hemiptera, and may attack humans, domestic animals, or other beneficial animals. In short, virtually all ant species that prey on pests also possess some potential disadvantages. This chapter reviews some general characteristics of agricultural systems, the herbivore–ant relationship, the role of ants as biological control agents (describing two case studies: maize and coffee), and the relationship between biological control and the study of interspecific interactions.Less
Data obtained from studies of various topics in ant–plant interactions could potentially be applied in insect pest management programs of agricultural systems. Ants possess many characteristics that are associated with the potential to act as biological control agents, especially in tropical agroecosystems, and an economically beneficial role has been associated with ants used for such purposes. Nevertheless, the positive effects of several ant attributes (for example, predation of herbivores, pollination, soil improvement, and nutrient cycling) must be weighed against possible disadvantages (such as leaf-cutter ants and seed predators). Some ants feed on or disturb plants, act as vectors of plant diseases, benefit damaging Hemiptera, and may attack humans, domestic animals, or other beneficial animals. In short, virtually all ant species that prey on pests also possess some potential disadvantages. This chapter reviews some general characteristics of agricultural systems, the herbivore–ant relationship, the role of ants as biological control agents (describing two case studies: maize and coffee), and the relationship between biological control and the study of interspecific interactions.
Pamela J. Mueller
- Published in print:
- 2004
- Published Online:
- March 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780520240247
- eISBN:
- 9780520930636
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520240247.003.0010
- Subject:
- Biology, Biodiversity / Conservation Biology
This chapter demonstrates the use of experimental approaches to control or eliminate exotic and invasive species. It provides an overview of case studies that employ traditional techniques of ...
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This chapter demonstrates the use of experimental approaches to control or eliminate exotic and invasive species. It provides an overview of case studies that employ traditional techniques of experimental design to gather information on both invading and indigenous species and form solutions to the invasion problem. It highlights several aspects of integrated pest management (IPM) approaches, the integration and application of multiple control methods, and the correct application of biological control.Less
This chapter demonstrates the use of experimental approaches to control or eliminate exotic and invasive species. It provides an overview of case studies that employ traditional techniques of experimental design to gather information on both invading and indigenous species and form solutions to the invasion problem. It highlights several aspects of integrated pest management (IPM) approaches, the integration and application of multiple control methods, and the correct application of biological control.
Patricia J. Vittum
- Published in print:
- 2020
- Published Online:
- January 2021
- ISBN:
- 9781501747953
- eISBN:
- 9781501747977
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Cornell University Press
- DOI:
- 10.7591/cornell/9781501747953.003.0027
- Subject:
- Biology, Animal Behavior / Behavioral Ecology
This chapter assesses biological control strategies that can reduce turfgrass insect pest populations. Biological control refers to the suppression of pest populations through the activity of living ...
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This chapter assesses biological control strategies that can reduce turfgrass insect pest populations. Biological control refers to the suppression of pest populations through the activity of living organisms or their by-products. Although a majority of this book is devoted to understanding turfgrass pests, most organisms associated with turfgrass are not pests but instead may be considered beneficial because they reduce thatch, help recycle soil nutrients, or are natural enemies of pest species. Pest outbreaks can sometimes be traced to the absence of natural control agents in the turf environment. Vertebrate and invertebrate predators, insect parasitoids, and microbial pathogens may act as natural enemies of turfgrass pests. Although the effect of one species of natural enemy may be minor, the combined effects of predators, parasitoids, and pathogens can cause considerable reductions in pest populations. Additional agents can be considered as biological controls. These include fungal endophytes (which confer host-plant resistance to some insects), botanicals (botanically derived insecticides), and synthetic compounds that mimic the activity of insect-produced compounds, such as growth hormones and pheromones.Less
This chapter assesses biological control strategies that can reduce turfgrass insect pest populations. Biological control refers to the suppression of pest populations through the activity of living organisms or their by-products. Although a majority of this book is devoted to understanding turfgrass pests, most organisms associated with turfgrass are not pests but instead may be considered beneficial because they reduce thatch, help recycle soil nutrients, or are natural enemies of pest species. Pest outbreaks can sometimes be traced to the absence of natural control agents in the turf environment. Vertebrate and invertebrate predators, insect parasitoids, and microbial pathogens may act as natural enemies of turfgrass pests. Although the effect of one species of natural enemy may be minor, the combined effects of predators, parasitoids, and pathogens can cause considerable reductions in pest populations. Additional agents can be considered as biological controls. These include fungal endophytes (which confer host-plant resistance to some insects), botanicals (botanically derived insecticides), and synthetic compounds that mimic the activity of insect-produced compounds, such as growth hormones and pheromones.
Roger Arditi and Lev R. Ginzburg
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- May 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780199913831
- eISBN:
- 9780190267902
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:osobl/9780199913831.003.0005
- Subject:
- Biology, Ecology
This chapter focuses on mechanistic theoretical approaches to explain the emergence of ratio dependence at a global scale from various behavioral models of species interaction. It explains how ...
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This chapter focuses on mechanistic theoretical approaches to explain the emergence of ratio dependence at a global scale from various behavioral models of species interaction. It explains how refuges and spatial heterogeneity as well as forms of temporal and biological heterogeneities can lead to a ratio-dependent functional response. It provides a two-patch model that shows by what method donor control can emerge from being a prey refuge and being subject to intense predation. It also discusses how ratio dependence emerges in realistic models of predator-prey interactions where spatial distribution of both the predator and prey is explicitly followed. It highlights application of these models to the explanation of successful biological control of insect pests.Less
This chapter focuses on mechanistic theoretical approaches to explain the emergence of ratio dependence at a global scale from various behavioral models of species interaction. It explains how refuges and spatial heterogeneity as well as forms of temporal and biological heterogeneities can lead to a ratio-dependent functional response. It provides a two-patch model that shows by what method donor control can emerge from being a prey refuge and being subject to intense predation. It also discusses how ratio dependence emerges in realistic models of predator-prey interactions where spatial distribution of both the predator and prey is explicitly followed. It highlights application of these models to the explanation of successful biological control of insect pests.
Anna Sher and Martin F. Quigley (eds)
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- May 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780199898206
- eISBN:
- 9780190267896
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:osobl/9780199898206.001.0001
- Subject:
- Biology, Ecology
Few plant species have had as much combined scientific, public, and political attention as exotic Tamarix spp. (tamarisk, saltcedar), attracting the public eye in the early 2000s when widespread ...
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Few plant species have had as much combined scientific, public, and political attention as exotic Tamarix spp. (tamarisk, saltcedar), attracting the public eye in the early 2000s when widespread drought in the West corresponded to assertions that the introduced tree used as much water as whole cities. This book contains twenty-four chapters on the hybrid swarm that represents invasive tamarisk, including its biology, ecology, politics, history, management, and even the philosophical and ethical issues involved with designating a particular species as “good” or “bad.” The chapters reflect the controversy that has arisen around tamarix's role in our ecosystems and what should (or should not) be done about it, particularly in the context of the release of a biological control agent. This is the first text to examine these many facets of tamarisk with chapters by the most important researchers in the field, representing the full spectrum of scientific perspectives.Less
Few plant species have had as much combined scientific, public, and political attention as exotic Tamarix spp. (tamarisk, saltcedar), attracting the public eye in the early 2000s when widespread drought in the West corresponded to assertions that the introduced tree used as much water as whole cities. This book contains twenty-four chapters on the hybrid swarm that represents invasive tamarisk, including its biology, ecology, politics, history, management, and even the philosophical and ethical issues involved with designating a particular species as “good” or “bad.” The chapters reflect the controversy that has arisen around tamarix's role in our ecosystems and what should (or should not) be done about it, particularly in the context of the release of a biological control agent. This is the first text to examine these many facets of tamarisk with chapters by the most important researchers in the field, representing the full spectrum of scientific perspectives.
Isabel Jones, Andrea Lund, Gilles Riveau, Nicolas Jouanard, Raphael A. Ndione, Susanne H. Sokolow, and Giulio A. De Leo
- Published in print:
- 2018
- Published Online:
- August 2018
- ISBN:
- 9780198789833
- eISBN:
- 9780191831508
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780198789833.003.0015
- Subject:
- Biology, Disease Ecology / Epidemiology, Evolutionary Biology / Genetics
Human modification of the landscape can increase the transmission of schistosomiasis, a snail-borne parasitic infection prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa. The construction of dams and irrigation ...
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Human modification of the landscape can increase the transmission of schistosomiasis, a snail-borne parasitic infection prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa. The construction of dams and irrigation schemes increases the habitat available for the freshwater snails that serve as the parasite’s intermediate host. Schistosomiasis is considered both a cause and consequence of poverty. The disease is treatable, but its persistence in the environment makes it difficult to prevent reinfection after treatment. Interventions that address the environmental source of infection are a necessary complement to mass treatment campaigns. We present a promising ecological solution for schistosomiasis control that harnesses predator-prey dynamics to suppress snail populations and parasite transmission. We present data on the ecological and epidemiological impacts of restoring Macrobrachium vollenhovenii, a freshwater prawn native to the Senegal River. Harnessing ecology to control disease transmission may be a viable strategy in other geographic regions and other disease systems.Less
Human modification of the landscape can increase the transmission of schistosomiasis, a snail-borne parasitic infection prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa. The construction of dams and irrigation schemes increases the habitat available for the freshwater snails that serve as the parasite’s intermediate host. Schistosomiasis is considered both a cause and consequence of poverty. The disease is treatable, but its persistence in the environment makes it difficult to prevent reinfection after treatment. Interventions that address the environmental source of infection are a necessary complement to mass treatment campaigns. We present a promising ecological solution for schistosomiasis control that harnesses predator-prey dynamics to suppress snail populations and parasite transmission. We present data on the ecological and epidemiological impacts of restoring Macrobrachium vollenhovenii, a freshwater prawn native to the Senegal River. Harnessing ecology to control disease transmission may be a viable strategy in other geographic regions and other disease systems.
Amy Zhang
- Published in print:
- 2020
- Published Online:
- May 2020
- ISBN:
- 9781501747021
- eISBN:
- 9781501747045
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Cornell University Press
- DOI:
- 10.7591/cornell/9781501747021.003.0008
- Subject:
- History, Asian History
This chapter follows Dr. Wu in his work to devise a solution for organic waste treatment using insects. By examining the tension between China's urban development and the sustainable treatment of ...
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This chapter follows Dr. Wu in his work to devise a solution for organic waste treatment using insects. By examining the tension between China's urban development and the sustainable treatment of organic waste, the chapter argues that China's project to institute a green modernity increasingly shows a preference for scientific solutions that address local conditions. This preference is in stark contrast to previous policies and approaches under which Chinese cities, for example, pushed for the adoption of imported waste management technologies and, in the case of organic waste, expelled the animals that served as a de facto waste management system. The chapter also highlights the longer historical traditions and practices that buttress the development of technology. China has a specific history of using insects as a tool and resource and has also focused on biological pest control in domestic entomological research. As a waste management technology, the Black Soldier Fly project creates a new use for insects while simultaneously generating increased interspecies dependencies between insects and humans.Less
This chapter follows Dr. Wu in his work to devise a solution for organic waste treatment using insects. By examining the tension between China's urban development and the sustainable treatment of organic waste, the chapter argues that China's project to institute a green modernity increasingly shows a preference for scientific solutions that address local conditions. This preference is in stark contrast to previous policies and approaches under which Chinese cities, for example, pushed for the adoption of imported waste management technologies and, in the case of organic waste, expelled the animals that served as a de facto waste management system. The chapter also highlights the longer historical traditions and practices that buttress the development of technology. China has a specific history of using insects as a tool and resource and has also focused on biological pest control in domestic entomological research. As a waste management technology, the Black Soldier Fly project creates a new use for insects while simultaneously generating increased interspecies dependencies between insects and humans.