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Predation pressure in maize across Europe and in Argentina: an intercontinental comparison
- Source :
- Ferrante, M, Lövei, G L, Magagnoli, S, Minarcikova, L, Tomescu, E L, Burgio, G, Cagan, L & Ichim, M C 2019, ' Predation pressure in maize across Europe and in Argentina : an intercontinental comparison ', Insect Science, vol. 26, no. 3, pp. 545-554 . https://doi.org/10.1111/1744-7917.12550
- Publication Year :
- 2017
- Publisher :
- Wiley, 2017.
-
Abstract
- Humankind draws important benefits from large-scale ecological processes termed ecosystem services, yet the status of several of them is declining. Reliable monitoring methods are essential for tracking the status of ecosystem services. Predation is the mainstay of natural pest control, a key ecosystem service. We used green plasticine caterpillars to monitor predation pressure, and to obtain baseline data on predator activity in transgenic Bt versus non-Bt maize fields in Old and New World countries. Predation pressure was measured at ground and canopy levels using an identical, small-plot experimental design in four European countries (Denmark, Slovakia, Romania and Italy) and Argentina. Total predation rate in maize was 11.7%d −1 (min. 7.2%d −1 in Argentina, max. 29.0%d −1 in Romania). Artificial caterpillars were attacked both by invertebrates (mostly chewing insects with 42.0% of the attack marks, and ants with 7.1%, but also predatory and parasitoid wasps, spiders and slugs), and vertebrates (small mammals 25.5%, and birds 20.2%). Total predation at ground level (15.7%d −1 ) was significantly higher than in maize canopies (6.0%d −1 ) in all countries, except Argentina. We found no significant differences between predator pressure in Bt versus non-Bt maize plots. The artificial caterpillar method provided comparable, quantitative data on predation intensity, and proved to be suitable for monitoring natural pest control. This method usefully expands the existing toolkit by directly measuring ecological function rather than structure.
- Subjects :
- INDICATORS
0106 biological sciences
0301 basic medicine
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
transgenic plants
01 natural sciences
Predation
law.invention
Ecosystem services
Parasitoid
artificial caterpillars
Hemolysin Proteins
law
Predator
2. Zero hunger
biology
Artificial caterpillar
Ecology
Plants, Genetically Modified
Sentinel prey
sentinel prey
Europe
Plasticine
SPIDERS
Transgenic plant
MULTIPLE CROPS
Ecosystem service
Argentina
Zea mays
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
03 medical and health sciences
Bacterial Proteins
MANAGEMENT
Animals
Mortality
CARABIDAE
Caterpillar
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Functional ecology
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (all)
Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins
business.industry
GROUND BEETLES COLEOPTERA
BT COTTON
Pest control
15. Life on land
biology.organism_classification
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematic
mortality
Endotoxins
010602 entomology
030104 developmental biology
Predatory Behavior
Insect Science
BIODIVERSITY
business
Agronomy and Crop Science
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 17447917 and 16729609
- Volume :
- 26
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Insect Science
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....338b5209f393b5b9c1df76efe73f0081