Post-dispersal weed seed predation in Michigan crop fields as a function of agricultural landscape structure

Cropping system effects on giant foxtail demography

“…Following harvest, wheat, corn and soybean all had relatively low amounts of residue on the soil surface, whereas large amounts of live red clover biomass remained (6.0 ± 0.8 x 10 3 kg red cloxer shoot biomass ha" 1 was harvested in late October). Our results corroborate previous studies in which habitat diversification through refuge strips, cover crops and hedgerows promoted greater post-dispersal seed prédation and greater activity-density of arthropod seed predators Menai led et al 2000).…”

“…Estimates of seed prédation (.fislpred)) and arthropod seed predator activity-density were obtained using the methods of Menalled et al (2000). Every two weeks after onset of seed rain in August 2001 and 2002, 200 giant foxtail seeds were placed on a 10 cm by 10 cm piece of Bemis s " humidifier filter that lay flush with the soil surface.…”

“…The literature on ecological determinants of weed population dynamics is small, but growing (Arntz et al 2000;Teasdale and Mohler 2000;Weaver et al 1988). Few studies, however, attempt to link ecological effects of specific management practices with changes in weed population ecology in the field Menalled et al 2000;Ullrich 2000). Such an approach is essential to the development of new weed prevention strategies for LEI farming systems.…”

Predação de sementes de plantas daninhas em áreas cultivadas

“…Isso dificulta a sobrevivência dos animais nativos, os quais, de modo geral, instalam-se nas bordas das lavouras nas quais existe um meio natural que se constitui num habitat apropriado à sobrevivência e à reprodução dos agentes de predação. Verificou-se que, em lavouras de 12há, a predação de sementes foi 25% inferior àquela ocorrida em lavouras de 3ha (MENALLED et al, 2000). Quanto menor o tamanho da lavoura menor também é a distância do centro da área cultivada até as bordas.…”

Impact of Weed Management Practices on Grapevine Growth, Yield Components, Plant and Arthropod Abundance, and Carabid Seed Predation in Paso Robles Vineyard

“…The cards were flushed and pinned to the soil surface on the berm. For vertebrate exclusion treatment, the card was enclosed within a wire cage (15 cm x 15 cm x 15 cm, mesh size = 1.25 cm 2 ), which permitted access to the seed to invertebrate but not to vertebrate seed predators (Menalled et al, 2000). Cards with no cages were used for the controls.…”