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The effect of within-crop habitat manipulations on the conservation biological control of aphids in field-grown lettuce
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Skirvin, David J., Kravar-Garde, L. (Lidija), Reynolds, K., Wright, C. and Mead, A. (Andrew) (2011) The effect of within-crop habitat manipulations on the conservation biological control of aphids in field-grown lettuce. Bulletin of Entomological Research, Vol.101 (No.6). pp. 623-631. doi:10.1017/S0007485310000659 ISSN 0007-4853.
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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0007485310000659
Abstract
Within-crop habitat manipulations have the potential to increase the biological
control of pests in horticultural field crops. Wildflower strips have been shown to
increase the abundance of natural enemies, but there is little evidence to date of an
impact on pest populations. The aim of this study was to determine whether withincrop
wildflower strips can increase the natural regulation of pests in horticultural
field crops. Aphid numbers in plots of lettuce grown adjacent to wildflower strips
were compared with those in plots grown in the absence of wildflowers. The presence
of wildflower strips led to a decrease in aphid numbers on adjacent lettuce plants
during June and July, but had less impact in August and September. The decrease in
aphid numbers was greatest close to the wildflower strips and, the decrease in aphid
numbers declined with increasing distance from the wildflower strips, with little
effect at a distance of ten metres. The main natural enemies found in the crop were
those that dispersed aerially, which is consistent with data from previous studies on
cereal crops. Analysis and interpretation of natural enemy numbers was difficult due
to low recovery of natural enemies, and the numbers appeared to follow changes in
aphid abundance rather than being directly linked to the presence of wildflower
strips. Cutting the wildflower strips, to remove floral resources, had no impact on the
reduction in aphid numbers achieved during June and July, but decreased the effect
of the wildflower strips during August and September. The results suggest that
wildflower strips can lead to increased natural regulation of pest aphids in outdoor
lettuce crops, but more research is required to determine how this is mediated by
natural enemies and how the impact of wildflower strips on natural pest regulation
changes during the growing season.
Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||
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Subjects: | S Agriculture > SB Plant culture | ||||
Divisions: | Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Science > Life Sciences (2010- ) Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Science > Life Sciences (2010- ) > Warwick HRI (2004-2010) |
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Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Lettuce -- Diseases and pests -- Biological control, Aphids -- Biological control, Wild flowers | ||||
Journal or Publication Title: | Bulletin of Entomological Research | ||||
Publisher: | Cambridge University Press | ||||
ISSN: | 0007-4853 | ||||
Official Date: | January 2011 | ||||
Dates: |
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Volume: | Vol.101 | ||||
Number: | No.6 | ||||
Page Range: | pp. 623-631 | ||||
DOI: | 10.1017/S0007485310000659 | ||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||
Publication Status: | Published | ||||
Access rights to Published version: | Restricted or Subscription Access | ||||
Date of first compliant deposit: | 18 December 2015 | ||||
Date of first compliant Open Access: | 18 December 2015 | ||||
Funder: | Great Britain. Dept. for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) |
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