scholarly journals Carabid activity-density and community composition, and their impact on seed predation in pulse crops

2022 ◽  
Vol 326 ◽  
pp. 107807
Author(s):  
Stefanie E. De Heij ◽  
Dilshan Benaragama ◽  
Christian J. Willenborg
Keyword(s):  
Community Composition ◽  
Seed Predation ◽  
Pulse Crops ◽  
Activity Density

Ground Beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) Activity Density and Community Composition in Vegetationally Diverse Corn Agroecosystems

1997 ◽  
Vol 138 (1) ◽  
pp. 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel M. Pavuk ◽  
Foster F. Purrington ◽  
Charles E. Williams ◽  
Benjamin R. Stinner
Keyword(s):  
Community Composition ◽  
Ground Beetle ◽  
Activity Density

scholarly journals Pest and weed seed predation in field defects within oilseed rape crops

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ezequiel González ◽  
Miroslav Seidl ◽  
Martin Štrobl ◽  
Tomáš Kadlec ◽  
Marco Ferrante ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oilseed Rape ◽  
Seed Predation ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Ground Beetles ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Feeding Guilds ◽  
Weed Seed ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Activity Density ◽  
Field Defects

Non-crop habitats can act as refuge for insects in agricultural landscapes and increase ecosystem services (ESs) in neighboring arable fields. Among the different types of non-crop habitats, field defects are temporary patches where sown plants are poorly developed and other plant species emerge. These defects can be common and large in years with extreme weather conditions. However, their relevance as habitat for beneficial insects and ESs provision is unknown. Here, we quantified two ESs (pest and weed seed predation) in field defects within oilseed rape crops and related ESs levels with the activity-density of ground beetles and temperature. In 10 fields, we used artificial caterpillars made of plasticine and seed cards of two weed species (Taraxacum sp. and Stellaria sp.) to quantify ESs in two sampling periods (spring and summer) and in three habitat types: field defects, standardly grown crop (field interiors) and crop-defect boundaries. Ground beetles were sampled using pitfall traps and classified into feeding guilds and body size classes. Insects and mammals were the main pest predators and predation increased in summer, but did not differ among habitats. Seed predation rates for both species were significantly higher in summer. Predation of Taraxacum seeds was higher at field interiors, whereas predation of Stellaria was significantly higher at field interiors and defects, compared to crop-defect boundaries. Insect predation increased with the activity-density of medium and large carnivorous carabids, whereas seed predation for both weed species was positively related to the activity-density of medium-sized herbivorous carabids. Finally, temperature was negatively linked to predation of artificial caterpillars and seeds of Taraxacum.

Slug activity density increases seed predation independently of an urban–rural gradient

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 ◽  
pp. 15-25
Author(s):  
Victoria L. Miczajka ◽  
Alexandra-Maria Klein ◽  
Gesine Pufal
Keyword(s):  
Seed Predation ◽  
Activity Density ◽  
Urban Rural

Postdispersal Weed Seed Predation and Invertebrate Activity Density in Three Tillage Regimes

Weed Science ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 828-838 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rocio van der Laat ◽  
Micheal D. K. Owen ◽  
Matt Liebman ◽  
Ramon G. Leon
Keyword(s):  
Seed Predation ◽  
Ground Beetles ◽  
Reduced Tillage ◽  
Zero Tillage ◽  
Weed Seed ◽  
Common Waterhemp ◽  
Common Lambsquarters ◽  
Field Crickets ◽  
Activity Density ◽  
Choice Feeding

Field experiments were conducted near Boone, IA, to quantify postdispersal seed predation of common lambsquarters and common waterhemp in corn (2003) and soybean (2004) managed with conventional, reduced, and zero-tillage systems. Seed predation in each tillage regime was quantified using selective exclusion treatments during July through September 2003 and June through October 2004. In addition, the activity density of ground-dwelling invertebrates was estimated with pitfall traps. Choice and no-choice feeding trials were conducted in the laboratory using the most abundant weed seed predators found in the field to determine seed preferences of the potential predator organisms. The greatest seed loss occurred during July and August. In 2003, seed predation was lower in zero tillage than in conventional and reduced tillages, but no differences in seed predation between tillage regimes were observed in 2004. Maximum seed predation for common lambsquarters was 53% in 2003 and 64% in 2004. Common waterhemp seed predation reached 80% in 2003 and 85% in 2004. The majority of seed predation was by invertebrate organisms. The most common invertebrate species captured with pitfall traps were field crickets (Gryllus pennsylvanicusDe Geer [Gryllidae, Orthoptera]) and ground beetles (Harpalus pensylvanicusBurmeister [Coleoptera, Carabidae]). In 2003, field crickets were relatively more abundant in conventional and reduced tillage than in zero-tillage plots. In 2004, field crickets were more abundant in the reduced tillage than in the other two tillage regimes. No differences were detected for ground beetles among tillage regimes (P = 0.57). Choice and no-choice feeding experiments confirmed the preferences of field crickets and ground beetles for common lambsquarters and common waterhemp seeds over the larger seeds of giant foxtail and velvetleaf. Under field conditions, the activity density of field crickets was a significant predictor of common lambsquarters (r2= 0.47) and common waterhemp (r2= 0.53) seed predation. Positive relationships were also detected between the activity density of ground beetles and common lambsquarters (r2= 0.30) and common waterhemp (r2= 0.30) seed predation. This research demonstrated that weed seed predation is an important component affecting weed seedbanks and that crop management practices that favor the activity of predators such as field crickets or ground beetles could influence weed populations. Also, the results suggested that tillage is more important in determining the number of weed seeds available on the soil surface to predators than directly affecting predator activity density.

Spatial and temporal patterns of carabid activity-density in cereals do not explain levels of predation on weed seeds

2007 ◽  
Vol 98 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Saska ◽  
W. van der Werf ◽  
E. de Vries ◽  
P.R. Westerman
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Variation ◽  
Seed Predation ◽  
Physiological State ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Carabid Beetles ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variation ◽  
Pitfall Traps ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Patterns ◽  
Background Density ◽  
Activity Density

AbstractSeed predation is an important component of seed mortality of weeds in agro-ecosystems, but the agronomic use and management of this natural weed suppression is hampered by a lack of insight in the underlying ecological processes. In this paper, we investigate whether and how spatial and temporal variation in activity-density of granivorous ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) results in a corresponding pattern of seed predation. Activity-density of carabids was measured by using pitfall traps in two organic winter wheat fields from March to July 2004. Predation of seeds (Capsella bursa-pastoris,Lamium amplexicaule,Poa annuaandStellaria media) was assessed using seed cards at the same sites and times. As measured by pitfall traps, carabids were the dominant group of insects that had access to the seed cards. In the field, predation of the four different species of seed was in the order:C. bursa-pastoris>P. annua>S. media>L. amplexicaule; and this order of preference was confirmed in the laboratory using the dominant species of carabid. On average, seed predation was higher in the field interior compared to the edge, whereas catches of carabids were highest near the edge. Weeks with elevated seed predation did not concur with high activity-density of carabids. Thus, patterns of spatial and temporal variation in seed predation were not matched by similar patterns in the abundance of granivorous carabid beetles. The lack of correspondence is ascribed to effects of confounding factors, such as weather, the background density of seeds, the composition of the carabid community, and the phenology and physiological state of the beetles. Our results show that differences in seed loss among weed species may be predicted from laboratory trials on preference. However, predator activity-density, as measured in pitfall traps, is an insufficient predictor of seed predation over time and space within a field.

Cover Crops and Disturbance Influence Activity-Density of Weed Seed PredatorsAmara aeneaandHarpalus pensylvanicus(Coleoptera: Carabidae)

Weed Science ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meredith J. Ward ◽  
Matthew R. Ryan ◽  
William S. Curran ◽  
Mary E. Barbercheck ◽  
David A. Mortensen
Keyword(s):  
Seed Predation ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Treatment Time ◽  
Hairy Vetch ◽  
Weed Seed ◽  
Activity Density ◽  
Bare Fallow ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Influence Activity ◽  
Amara Aenea

The activity-density ofAmara aenea(DeGeer) andHarpalus pensylvanicus(DeGeer) (Coleoptera: Carabidae) was monitored in an experiment that compared five management treatments representing a range of disturbance frequencies, crops, and aboveground biomass production. In 2004 and 2005, three treatments comprised of multiple summer cover crops were compared to bare fallow and soybean, the latter of which used mechanical cultivation to manage weeds. In 2005 weed seed predation was assessed from June to September in two of the treatments (bare fallow and oat–pea/rye–hairy vetch). Beetle activity-density varied with treatment, time of sampling, and year. In 2004 peak activity-density ofA. aeneawas highest in the mustard/buckwheat/canola, but there was no difference inH. pensylvanicusactivity-density. In 2005 activity-density ofH. pensylvanicuswas higher in oat–pea/rye–hairy vetch than in soybean treatment. Seed predation rates were relatively consistent across treatments, averaging between 38 and 63%. In fallow and oat–pea/rye–hairy vetch,H. pensylvanicusactivity-density accounted for 29 and 33% of the variation in seed predation, respectively. Our findings suggest cover crops have a positive effect on the activity-density ofA. aeneaandH. pensylvanicusand that disturbance negatively influences their activity-density in the absence of cover crops.

scholarly journals The resilience of weed seedbank regulation by carabid beetles, at continental scales, to alternative prey

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Carbonne ◽  
Sandrine Petit ◽  
Veronika Neidel ◽  
Hana Foffova ◽  
Eirini Daouti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seed Predation ◽  
Carabid Beetles ◽  
Generalist Predators ◽  
Alternative Prey ◽  
Weed Seed ◽  
Agricultural Ecosystem ◽  
Continental Scale ◽  
Activity Density ◽  
Soil Seedbank ◽  
Cereal Fields

Abstract Carabids are generalist predators that contribute to the agricultural ecosystem service of seedbank regulation via weed seed predation. To facilitate adoption of this ecosystem services by farmers, knowledge of weed seed predation and the resilience of seedbank regulation with co-varying availability of alternative prey is crucial. Using assessments of the seedbank and predation on seed cards in 57 cereal fields across Europe, we demonstrate a regulatory effect on the soil seedbank, at a continental scale, by groups formed of omnivore, seed-eating (granivore + omnivore) and all species of carabids just prior to the crop-harvest. Regulation was associated with a positive relationship between the activity-density of carabids and seed predation, as measured on seed cards. We found that per capita seed consumption on the cards co-varied negatively with the biomass of alternative prey, i.e. Aphididae, Collembola and total alternative prey biomass. Our results underline the importance of weed seedbank regulation by carabids, across geographically significant scales, and indicate that the effectiveness of this biocontrol may depend on the availability of alternative prey that disrupt the weed seed predation.

Brassicaceous Weed Seed Predation by Ground Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

Weed Science ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 294-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharavari S. Kulkarni ◽  
Lloyd M. Dosdall ◽  
John R. Spence ◽  
Christian J. Willenborg
Keyword(s):  
Seed Predation ◽  
Weed Management ◽  
Physiological State ◽  
Seed Removal ◽  
Weed Seed ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Wild Mustard ◽  
Activity Density ◽  
Field Pennycress ◽  
Species Activity

We used laboratory and field feeding trials to investigate adult carabid beetle preferences for three brassicaceous weed species (rapeseed, wild mustard, and field pennycress) that are pests in canola. All carabid species preferred seeds of rapeseed most and those of field pennycress least and showed intermediate preference for wild mustard seeds. Beetles highly preferred imbibed seeds of all three weed species. Activity–density of carabids and mean weed seed removal were highly correlated in field plots of canola, with activity–density accounting for 67% of the observed variation in seed removal. Our study indicates that seed consumption among carabids is influenced by several factors, including weed species, physiological state of seeds, and carabid activity–density. Carabid seed predation is significant in canola agroecosystems; therefore, understanding these influences has implications for ecological weed management.

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