Prey and predator biodiversity mediate aphid consumption by generalists

Krey, Karol L.; Smith, Olivia M.; Chapman, Eric G.; Crossley, Michael S.; Crowder, David W.; Fu, Zhen F.; Harwood, James D.; Jensen, Andrew S.; Lynch, Christine A.; Snyder, Gretchen B.; Snyder, William E.

doi:10.1016/j.biocontrol.2021.104650

Cited by 16 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…First, we developed a species-specific PCR primer that allowed detection of DNA of F. occidentalis. Second, we surveyed densities of Nabis and Geocoris predators, thrips, and other arthropods that might serve as prey, in organic and conventional potato fields managed by cooperating commercial growers (see Krey et al, 2021). Third, during these arthropod community surveys we used molecular gut content analysis to test a subsample of Nabis and Geocoris adults for the presence of F. occidentalis DNA, using model fitting to attempt to link detection of thrips DNA to management and arthropod community metrics.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…and Nabis sp. [molecular identification failed to reveal a confident species determination for either predator; Krey et al (2021)] in potato (S. tuberosum) fields. The crops were managed by growers using organic or conventional management practices, which creates site-to-site differences in predator and prey communities Crowder et al, 2010;Krey et al, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[molecular identification failed to reveal a confident species determination for either predator; Krey et al (2021)] in potato (S. tuberosum) fields. The crops were managed by growers using organic or conventional management practices, which creates site-to-site differences in predator and prey communities Crowder et al, 2010;Krey et al, 2021). Both predator taxa are generalists that presumably feed on a broad diversity of arthropods, with thrips typically being among the most abundant herbivores at our study sites (Krey et al, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The crops were managed by growers using organic or conventional management practices, which creates site-to-site differences in predator and prey communities Crowder et al, 2010;Krey et al, 2021). Both predator taxa are generalists that presumably feed on a broad diversity of arthropods, with thrips typically being among the most abundant herbivores at our study sites (Krey et al, 2021). Our central hypotheses were that (1) greater arthropod abundance and/or diversity would increasingly draw attacks away from thrips, reducing the probability of detecting thrips predation by Geocoris and Nabis, but that (2) this could be counteracted by reduced predator-predator interference in fields with more robust arthropod communities, indirectly enhancing foraging efficiency by the generalists.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Alternative Prey and Predator Interference Mediate Thrips Consumption by Generalists

et al. 2022

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Generalist predators’ complex feeding relationships make it difficult to predict their contribution to pest suppression. Alternative prey can either distract predators from attacking pests, weakening biocontrol, or provide food that support larger predator communities to enhance it. Similarly, predator species might both feed upon and complement one another by occupying different niches. Here, we use molecular gut-content analysis to examine predation of western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) by two generalist predatory bugs, Geocoris sp. and Nabis sp. We collected predators from conventional and organic potato fields that differed in arthropod abundance and composition, so that we could draw correlations between abundance and biodiversity of predators and prey, and thrips predation. We found that alternative prey influenced the probability of detecting Geocoris predation of thrips through a complex interaction. In conventionally-managed potato fields, thrips DNA was more likely to be detected in Geocoris as total abundance of all arthropods in the community increased. But the opposite pattern was found in organic fields, where the probability of detecting thrips predation by Geocoris decreased with increasing total arthropod abundance. Perhaps, increasing abundance (from a relatively low baseline) of alternative prey triggered greater foraging activity in conventional fields, but drew attacks away from thrips in organic fields where prey were consistently relatively bountiful. The probability of detecting Geocoris predation of thrips generally increased with increasing thrips density, but this correlation was steeper in organic than conventional fields. For both Geocoris and Nabis, greater Nabis abundance correlated with reduced probability of detecting thrips DNA; for Nabis this was the only important variable. Nabis is a common intraguild predator of the smaller Geocoris, and is highly cannibalistic, suggesting that predator-predator interference increased with more Nabis present. Complex patterns of thrips predation seemed to result from a dynamic interaction with alternative prey abundance, alongside consistently negative interactions among predators. This provides further evidence that alternative prey and predator interference must be studied in concert to accurately predict the contributions of generalists to biocontrol.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Alternative Prey and Predator Interference Mediate Thrips Consumption by Generalists

et al. 2022

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“…It is therefore important to look at effects of both predator diversity and density on prey suppression, rather than only using a substitutive approach (i.e., keeping predator density constant; Ives et al, 2005), which might bias the results. When niche differentiation is allowed, for example with habitat heterogeneity or longer timeframe that include potential differences in phenology, increase in predator diversity should intensify prey suppression because of functional diversity rather than because of diversity per se (Finke & Snyder, 2008;Greenop et al, 2018;Krey et al, 2021). Here, two predators of a same species rather than a single predator intensified prey suppression at warmer temperature despite the small scale of the experiment.…”

Section: Similar Effects Of Intra-versus Interspecific Multiple Parasitoids On Top-down Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

Presence of multiple parasitoids decreases host survival under warming, but parasitoid performance also decreases

Thierry

Pardikes

Rosenbaum

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Current global changes are reshaping ecological communities and modifying environmental conditions. We need to recognize the combined impact of these biotic and abiotic factors on species interactions, community dynamics and ecosystem functioning. Specifically, the strength of predator-prey interactions often depends on the presence of other natural enemies: it weakens with competition and interference, or strengthens with facilitation. Such effects of multiple predators on prey are likely to be affected by changes in the abiotic environment, altering top-down control, a key structuring force in both natural and agricultural ecosystems. Here, we investigated how warming alters the effects of multiple predators on prey suppression using a dynamic model coupled with empirical laboratory experiments with Drosophila-parasitoid communities. While the effects of multiple parasitoids on host suppression were the average of the effects of individual parasitoid at ambient temperature, host suppression with multiple parasitoids was higher than expected under warming. Multiple parasitoid species had equivalent effect to multiple individuals of a same species. While multiple parasitoids enhanced top-down control under warming, parasitoid performance generally declined when another parasitoid was present due to competitive interactions, which could reduce top-down control in the long-term. Our study highlights the importance of accounting for interactive effects between abiotic and biotic factors to better predict community dynamics in a rapidly changing world, and better preserve ecosystem functioning and services such as biological control.

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Alternative prey and farming system mediate predation of Colorado potato beetles by generalists

Lynch

Smith

Chapman

et al. 2021

Pest Management Science

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BACKGROUND: Biological control by generalist predators can be mediated by the abundance and biodiversity of alternative prey. When alternative prey draw predator attacks away from the control target, they can weaken pest suppression. In other cases, a diverse prey base can promote predator abundance and biodiversity, reduce predator-predator interference, and benefit biocontrol. Here, we used molecular gut-content analysis to assess how community composition altered predation of Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say)) by Nabis sp. and Geocoris sp. Predators were collected from organic or conventional potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) fields, encouraging differences in arthropod community composition.RESULTS: In organic fields, Nabis predation of potato beetles decreased with increasing arthropod richness and predator abundance. This is consistent with Nabis predators switching to other prey species when available and with growing predatorpredator interference. In conventional fields these patterns were reversed, however, with potato beetle predation by Nabis increasing with greater arthropod richness and predator abundance. For Geocoris, Colorado potato beetle predation was more frequent in organic than in conventional fields. However, Geocoris predation of beetles was less frequent in fields with higher abundance of the detritus-feeding fly Scaptomyza pallida Zetterstedt, or of all arthropods, consistent with predators choosing other prey when available.CONCLUSION: Alternative prey generally dampened predation of potato beetles, suggesting these pests were less-preferred prey. Nabis and Geocoris differed in which alternative prey were most disruptive to feeding on potato beetles, and in the effects of farm management on predation, consistent with the two predator species occupying complementary feeding niches.

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Prey and predator biodiversity mediate aphid consumption by generalists

Cited by 16 publications

References 63 publications

Alternative Prey and Predator Interference Mediate Thrips Consumption by Generalists

Alternative Prey and Predator Interference Mediate Thrips Consumption by Generalists

Presence of multiple parasitoids decreases host survival under warming, but parasitoid performance also decreases

Alternative prey and farming system mediate predation of Colorado potato beetles by generalists

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