scholarly journals Ground cover presence in organic olive orchards affects the interaction of natural enemies against Prays oleae, promoting an effective egg predation

2021 ◽  
Vol 315 ◽  
pp. 107441
Author(s):  
Hugo Alejandro Álvarez ◽  
Raquel Jiménez-Muñoz ◽  
Marina Morente ◽  
Mercedes Campos ◽  
Francisca Ruano
Keyword(s):  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Egg Predation ◽  
Prays Oleae

scholarly journals Ground cover presence in organic olive orchards affects the interaction of natural enemies against Prays oleae, promoting an effective egg predation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugo Alejandro Alvarez ◽  
Raquel Jiménez-Muñoz ◽  
Marina Morente ◽  
Mercedes Campos ◽  
Francisca Ruano
Keyword(s):  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Arthropod Community ◽  
Ecological Interactions ◽  
Egg Predation ◽  
Egg Hatching ◽  
Prays Oleae ◽  
Potential Damage ◽  
The Relationship

The olive moth, Prays oleae, is one of the most common insects that damages olives in the circum-Mediterranean region. The establishment of ground cover within olive orchards has been promoted in this region in recent years to avoid erosion and soil degradation. Nevertheless, its role as a shelter for natural enemies of pests has been controversial. In this study we have investigated the effectiveness of the biological control of P. oleae in organic olive orchards with ground cover (mowed) and without ground cover (tilled). For this (1) we assessed the relationship between predated eggs and the abundance of natural enemies in both types of orchards; (2) we compared both the potential damage of the pest and the egg hatching in the two types of orchards; and (3) we examined the interaction amongst families of natural enemies and P. oleae (as adults and as predated eggs). The results showed that there is a high rate of predation in the studied olive orchards, 81% of the eggs were predated, 12.2% hatched, and 6.9% were live eggs. However, mowed orchards were more effective for controlling P. oleae by means of egg predation rather than tilled orchards, i.e., in mowed orchards, whilst the potential damage of the pest was higher, egg hatching was rather low. The structure of the adult arthropod community, i.e., the composition and abundance of families of natural enemies did not differ between the orchards, but the abundance of the families Anthocoridae, Miridae and Scelionidae was significantly higher in the mowed orchards. Finally, the interaction amongst natural enemies and P. oleae showed that the families that better explained the effects on egg predation were Aeolothripidae, Anthocoridae, Miridae, Chrysopidae (predators), and Formicidae (omnivore). We discuss the results in terms of ecological interactions of trophic guilds and we conclude that the establishment and maintenance of ground cover in organic olive orchards, at least in June and July, is of great significance because it positively affects the egg predation of P. oleae. This effect is especially significant when there is a low abundance of natural enemies in the olive orchards.

scholarly journals Bottom-up effects on arthropod communities in Platycyamus regnellii (Fabaceae) fertilized with dehydrated sewage sludge

2021 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gezilene Fernandes de Souza ◽  
Germano Leão Demolin Leite ◽  
Farley William Souza Silva ◽  
Regynaldo Arruda Sampaio ◽  
Júlia Letícia Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Organic Compound ◽  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Phytophagous Insect ◽  
Arthropod Communities ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Disturbed Areas ◽  
Arthropods Community

Sewage sludge is a nitrogen-rich organic compound, which can be used to aid development in plants such as Platycyamus regnellii (Fabaceae), in the recovery of degraded areas. This study aimed to assess the bottom-up effects on leaf mass and percentage ofground cover (leaf litter, herbaceous plants, and grasses) in P. regnellii trees fertilized (or not) with dehydrated sewage sludge and arthropod communities over 24 months. Platycyamus regnellii trees fertilized with dehydrated sewage sludge presented significantly more leavesper branch, branches per tree, and a higher percentage of ground cover compared to unfertilized trees. Phenacoccus sp. (Pseudococcidae) was the most abundant phytophagous insect associated with P. regnellii trees. Fertilization did not affect the abundance, diversity, and species richness of Hemiptera phytophagous on P. regnellii trees. However, fertilizedtrees presented higher abundance and species richness of trophobiont-tending ants compared to unfertilized trees, with Camponotus sp. being the most abundant regardless of the treatment. Fertilized P. regnellii trees also presented higher species richness of natural enemies compared to unfertilized ones, with Aranae and Dolichopodidae being the most abundant. We concluded that fertilization with dehydrated sewage sludge improved P. regnellii trees leafmass and ground cover and increased the diversity of trophobiont-tending ants and natural enemies. To our knowledge, this is the first study on the arthropods community associated withthis tree species. This suggests that upon fertilization, P. renellii trees are useful for ecological restoration in severely disturbed areas.

Ground cover management with mixtures of flowering plants to enhance insect pollinators and natural enemies of pests in olive groves

2019 ◽  
Vol 274 ◽  
pp. 76-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Filitsa Karamaouna ◽  
Vaya Kati ◽  
Nikos Volakakis ◽  
Kyriaki Varikou ◽  
Nikos Garantonakis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Flowering Plants ◽  
Insect Pollinators ◽  
Olive Groves

Ground cover management affects parasitism of Prays oleae (Bernard)

2016 ◽  
Vol 96 ◽  
pp. 72-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Villa ◽  
Sónia A.P. Santos ◽  
António Mexia ◽  
Albino Bento ◽  
José Alberto Pereira
Keyword(s):  
Ground Cover ◽  
Prays Oleae

Effect of ground-cover management on spider mites and their phytoseiid natural enemies in clementine mandarin orchards (II): Top-down regulation mechanisms

2011 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Aguilar-Fenollosa ◽  
M.V. Ibáñez-Gual ◽  
S. Pascual-Ruiz ◽  
M. Hurtado ◽  
J.A. Jacas
Keyword(s):  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Spider Mites ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Down Regulation ◽  
Regulation Mechanisms

Effect of ground-cover management on spider mites and their phytoseiid natural enemies in clementine mandarin orchards (I): Bottom-up regulation mechanisms

2011 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 158-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Aguilar-Fenollosa ◽  
M.V. Ibáñez-Gual ◽  
S. Pascual-Ruiz ◽  
M. Hurtado ◽  
J.A. Jacas
Keyword(s):  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Spider Mites ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Regulation Mechanisms

scholarly journals Habitat complexity in organic olive orchards modulates the abundance of natural enemies but not the attraction to plant species

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugo Alejandro Álvarez ◽  
Marina Morente ◽  
Francisca Ruano
Keyword(s):  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Habitat Complexity ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Additive Models ◽  
Plant Structure ◽  
Natural Ecosystems ◽  
Plant Resources ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Plant Richness

AbstractSemi-natural habitat complexity and organic management could affect the abundance and diversity of natural enemies and pollinators in olive orchards. Nonetheless, in such agroecosystems the effect of plant structure, plant richness, and plant attraction on the arthropod fauna has been poorly documented. Here we evaluate the influence of those effects jointly as an expression of arthropod abundance and richness in olive trees, ground cover, and adjacent vegetation within organic olive orchards. For this, we used generalized linear models and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) integrating generalized additive models. Our results suggest that natural enemies and pollinators are mainly attracted to A. radiatus, D. catholica, and L. longirrostris within ground cover and G. cinerea speciosa, Q. rotundifolia, R. officinalis, T. zygis gracilis, and U. parviflorus within adjacent vegetation. Accordingly, habitat complexity showed a positive relationship with the abundance of key families of natural enemies and pollinators but not with the number of taxa. NMDS showed that plant richness and plant arrangement and scattering affected the key families differently, suggesting that each key family responds to their individual needs for plant resources but forming groups modulated by complexity. This pattern was especially seeing in predators and omnivores. Our findings support that the higher the plant richness and structure of a semi natural-habitat within an olive orchard, the higher the abundance and richness of a given arthropod community (a pattern found in natural ecosystems). The information presented here can be used by producers and technicians to increase the presence and abundance of natural enemies and pollinators within organic olive orchards, and thus improve the ecosystem services provided by semi-natural habitats.Graphical abstract

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