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Effectiveness of augmentative biological control depends on landscape context.
Ricardo Perez-Alvarez1, Brian A Nault2, Katja Poveda3
1Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 14853, USA. mrp245@cornell.edu.
Scientific Reports
|June 19, 2019
Summary
Augmentative biological control effectiveness depends on landscape complexity. Complex landscapes enhance predator augmentation for pest control, while simple landscapes reduce its efficacy due to predator interference.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Entomology
- Sustainable Agriculture
Background:
- Biological pest control using natural enemies is key for sustainable farming.
- Natural enemy augmentation offers an alternative when native populations are insufficient.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how landscape composition affects the success of predator augmentation for biological pest control.
- To understand how interactions with resident natural enemies influence pest suppression.
Main Methods:
- Combined field and laboratory experiments to assess predator augmentation effectiveness.
- Evaluated impacts on pest abundance, plant damage, and crop biomass across different landscape types.
Main Results:
- Predator augmentation effectiveness is landscape-dependent.
- In complex landscapes, augmentation improved pest control, increasing crop biomass.
- In simple landscapes, augmentation was detrimental, increasing plant damage and reducing crop biomass.
Conclusions:
- Landscape composition significantly modulates the efficacy of augmentative biological control.
- Landscape simplification can increase predator interference, reducing foraging efficiency and pest control outcomes.
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