Plant-mediated interactions: Considerations for agent selection in weed biological control programs

Milbrath, Lindsey R.; Nechols, James R.

doi:10.1016/j.biocontrol.2014.02.011

Cited by 37 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…Similar increases in pest suppression with increasing natural enemy diversity have emerged often as well in experimental studies conducted at necessarily smaller spatial and temporal scales (e.g., Losey and Denno 1998 ; Snyder et al 2006 ; Stephens and Myers 2014 ; Van Hezewijk and Bourchier 2012 ). Complementarity is not always apparent, however, in such experimental studies (e.g., Evans 1991 ; Ferguson and Stiling 1996 , Milbrath and Nechols 2014 ). A priori, complementarity might be expected to emerge most clearly and most consistently as temporal and spatial scales are expanded (thereby giving more opportunity for consequences of diverse aspects of niche partitioning to emerge; e.g., Huffaker and Kennett 1966 ; Takagi and Hirose 1994 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and classical biological control

Evans

2016

Appl Entomol Zool

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Increasing concern over worldwide loss of biodiversity has led ecologists to focus intently on how ecosystem functioning may depend on diversity. In applied entomology, there is longstanding interest in the issue, especially as regards the importance of natural enemy diversity for pest control. Here I review parallels in interest, conceptual framework, and conclusions concerning biodiversity as it affects ecosystem functioning in general and classical biological control in particular. Whereas the former focuses on implications of loss of diversity, the latter focuses on implications of increase in diversity as additional species of natural enemies are introduced to novel communities in new geographic regions for insect pest and weed control. Many field studies now demonstrate that ecosystem functioning, e.g., as reflected in primary productivity, is enhanced and stabilized over time by high diversity as the community increases in its efficiency in exploiting available resources. Similarly, there is growing field support for the generalization that increasing species and functional diversity of natural enemies leads to increasing pest suppression. Nonetheless a central concern of classical biological control in particular, as it seeks to minimize non-target effects, remains as to whether one or a few species of natural enemies can provide sufficient pest control.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and classical biological control

Evans

2016

Appl Entomol Zool

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“…This assumption, however, requires greater scrutiny. Indeed, the plethora of ways in which biological control agents interact, indirectly, through their effects on the host plant are reviewed by Milbrath and Nechols [31]. These indirect interactions by herbivores include eliciting changes in plant chemistry, nutritional quality, and morphology [32], as well as influencing the number and activity of natural enemies [33].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Direct and indirect interactions among herbivores are common, but are often overlooked in the context of weed biological control, but see Reference [31]. Addressing these interactions can help to improve decision-making on the suitability of candidate biological control agents, aid agent establishment, and maximize weed suppression.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interactions between Two Biological Control Agents on Lygodium microphyllum

Jones

Lake

2018

Insects

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Lygodium microphyllum (Lygodiaceae) is an invasive climbing fern in peninsular Florida. Two classical biological control agents are currently being released against L. microphyllum: a leaf galling mite, Floracarus perrepae (Acariformes: Eriophyidae), and a moth, Neomusotima conspurcatalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Little is known about how the two species interact in the field; thus we conducted oviposition choice tests to determine the effects of F. perrepae presence on oviposition behavior in N. conspurcatalis. Further, we conducted feeding trials with N. conspurcatalis larvae to establish the effects of gall presence on larval survival and rate of development, and determine whether N. conspurcatalis larvae would directly consume F. perrepae galls. Neomusotima conspurcatalis laid significantly more eggs on mite galled (52.66 ± 6.211) versus ungalled (34.40 ± 5.587) L. microphyllum foliage. Feeding trials revealed higher mortality in N. conspurcatalis larvae raised on galled (60%) versus ungalled (36%) L. microphyllum material. In gall feeding trials, N. conspurcatalis larvae consumed or damaged 13.52% of galls, and the rate of direct gall feeding increased over time as leaf resources were depleted. Our results suggest that, where N. conspurcatalis and F. perrepae co-occur, competitive interactions could be more frequent than previously anticipated; however, we do not expect these antagonistic interactions to affect the establishment of either agent.

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“…Biological control agents can exhibit antagonistic effects with other biological control agents that reduce their efficacy (e.g. Crowe & Bourchier, ; Milbrath & Nechols, ). For nodding thistle (case 3), the efficacy of a superior biological control agent was shown to be reduced by the presence of an inferior biological control agent (the notorious R. conicus ) using both modeling and empirical findings (Shea et al ., ; Groenteman et al ., ).…”

Section: Current Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biological control of invasive plant species: a reassessment for theAnthropocene

Seastedt

2014

New Phytologist

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Contents 490I.490II.491III.492IV.494V.497VI.498499References499 Summary The science of finding, testing and releasing herbivores and pathogens to control invasive plant species has achieved a level of maturity and success that argues for continued and expanded use of this program. The practice, however, remains unpopular with some conservationists, invasion biologists, and stakeholders. The ecological and economic benefits of controlling densities of problematic plant species using biological control agents can be quantified, but the risks and net benefits of biological control programs are often derived from social or cultural rather than scientific criteria. Management of invasive plants is a ‘wicked problem’, and local outcomes to wicked problems have both positive and negative consequences differentially affecting various groups of stakeholders. The program has inherent uncertainties; inserting species into communities that are experiencing directional or even transformational changes can produce multiple outcomes due to context‐specific factors that are further confounded by environmental change drivers. Despite these uncertainties, biological control could play a larger role in mitigation and adaptation strategies used to maintain biological diversity as well as contribute to human well‐being by protecting food and fiber resources.

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Plant-mediated interactions: Considerations for agent selection in weed biological control programs

Cited by 37 publications

References 65 publications

Biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and classical biological control

Biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and classical biological control

Interactions between Two Biological Control Agents on Lygodium microphyllum

Biological control of invasive plant species: a reassessment for theAnthropocene

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