Diet composition of introduced barn owls (Tyto alba javanica) in urban area in comparison with agriculture settings

Abstract This study investigated the diet of introduced barn owls (Tyto alba javanica, Gmelin) in the urban area of the Main Campus of Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia, based on collected regurgitated pellets. We also compared the diet of the introduced barn owls with the diet of barn owls from two agricultural areas, i.e. oil palm plantations and rice fields. Pellet analysis of introduced barn owls showed that commensal Norway rats, Rattus norvegicus, made up the highest proportion of the diet (65.37% prey biomass) while common shrews, Suncus murinus were the second highest consumed prey (30.12% prey biomass). Common plantain squirrel, Callosciurus notatus, made up 4.45% of the diet while insects were taken in a relatively small amount (0.046% prey biomass). Introduced barn owls showed a preference for medium-sized prey, i.e. 40–120 g (52.96% biomass and 38.71% total). In agricultural areas, rice field rats, Rattus argentiventer predominated the diet of barn owls (98.24% prey biomass) in rice fields while Malayan wood rats, Rattus tiomanicus, were the most consumed prey in oil palm plantations (99.5% prey biomass). Food niche breadth value was highest for barn owls introduced in an urban area with a value of 2.90, and 1.06 in rice fields and 1.22 in oil palm plantations. Our analysis reiterates the prey preference of barn owls in various landscapes for small mammals. Our results also indicate the suitability of utilizing barn owls as a biological control not only in agricultural areas, but also as a biological control agent for commensal rodent pests in urban areas.

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Diet composition of introduced Barn Owls (Tyto alba javanica) in urban area in comparison with agriculture settings

10.1101/574277 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Safwan Saufi ◽

Shakinah Ravindran ◽

Noor Hisham Hamid ◽

Cik Mohd Rizuan Zainal Abidin ◽

Hamdan Ahmad ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Urban Area ◽

Oil Palm ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Biological Control Agent ◽

Rice Fields ◽

Tyto Alba ◽

Prey Biomass ◽

Barn Owls ◽

Agricultural Areas

AbstractThis study investigated the diet of introduced barn owls (Tyto alba javanica, Gmelin) in the urban area of the Main Campus of Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia, based on collected regurgitated pellets. We also compared the diet of introduced urban barn owls with the diet of barn owls from two agricultural areas, i.e. oil palm plantations and rice fields. Pellet analysis of barn owls introduced in the urban area showed that commensal Norway rats,Rattus norvegicus, made up the highest proportion of the diet (65.37% prey biomass) while common shrews,Suncus murinuswere the second highest consumed prey (30.12% prey biomass). Common plantain squirrel,Callosciurus notatus, made up 4.45% of the diet while insects were taken in a relatively small amount (0.046% prey biomass). Introduced barn owls showed a preference for medium-sized prey, i.e. 40 to 120g (52.96% biomass and 38.71% total). In agricultural areas,Rattus argentiventerpredominated the diet of barn owls (98.24% prey biomass) in rice fields while Malayan wood rats,Rattus tiomanicus, were the most consumed prey in oil palm plantations (99.5% prey biomass). Food niche breadth value was highest for barn owls introduced in an urban area with a value of 2.90, and 1.06 in rice fields and 1.22 in oil palm plantations. Our analysis reiterates the prey preference of barn owls in various landscapes for small mammals. Our results also indicate the suitability of utilizing barn owls as a biological control not only in agricultural areas, but also as a biological control agent for commensal rodent pests in urban areas.

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Pathogenicity of Beauveria bassiana Vuill in compost media for Oryctes rhinoceros L. oil palm pest control

CROPSAVER - Journal of Plant Protection ◽

10.24198/cropsaver.v4i1.31039 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

Rina Novianti ◽

Hafiz Fauzana ◽

Rusli Rustam

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Beauveria Bassiana ◽

Pest Control ◽

Oil Palm ◽

Biological Control Agent ◽

Early Death ◽

Breeding Site ◽

Control Agent ◽

Oryctes Rhinoceros ◽

Plant Pest

The Oryctes rhinoceros pest is an important pest of palm oil plant. Pest problems occur because Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches (OPEFB) is added for soil fertility to create a breeding site for larvae O. rhinoceros. Generally, OPEFB will receive the plants more quickly when composted, and pest control is carried out in the compost. Biological control is more recommended because it is environmentally friendly, Therefore compost is added with biological control agent O. rhinoceros namely B. bassiana. This study is aimed to obtain the best conidia density of Beauveria bassiana in compost in controlling larvae O. rhinoceros. The research was carried out at the Plant Pest Laboratory and Experimental Garden, Faculty of Agriculture, Riau of University. The study was carried out from February to November 2020. The experiment on the conidia density of B. bassiana fungi in compost media against larvae O. rhinoceros, using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD), with 6 treatments 4 replications obtained 24 experimental units, while the treatments were 0 g.l-1, 15 g.l-1, 30 g.l-1, 45 g.l-1, 60 g.l-1 and 75 g.l-1. The results of the research revealed that OPEFB compost + sawdust containing the fungus B. bassiana 75 g.l-1 (83,2 x108 kon/ml) had the best ability to control larvae O. rhinoceros with a total larvae mortality of 87% which caused early death of 54 hours after application, LT50 of 213 hours after application, and LC50 of 3,3% or the equivalent of 33 g.l-1 at 14 days after application.

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Factors influencing the predation rates of Anisops breddini (Hemiptera: Notonectidae) feeding on mosquito larvae

Journal of Entomological and Acarological Research ◽

10.4081/jear.2014.4036 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 46 (3) ◽

pp. 107 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

R. Weterings ◽

K.C. Vetter ◽

C. Umponstira

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Prey Density ◽

Biological Control Agent ◽

Prey Type ◽

Control Agent ◽

Mosquito Larvae ◽

Predator Density ◽

Water Bugs ◽

Predation Rates

Notonectidae are a family of water bugs that are known to be important predators of mosquito larvae and have great potential in the biological control of vector mosquitoes. An experiment was conducted to assess mosquito larvae predation by Anisops breddini, a species common to Southeast Asia. The predation rates were recorded in context of prey density, predator density, predator size and prey type. Predation rates were strongly affected by prey type and less by prey density and predator density. They ranged between 1.2 prey items per day for pupae of Aedes aegeypti and Armigeres moultoni to 5.9 for Ae. aegypti larvae. Compared with studies on other Notonectidae species, the predation rates appear low, which is probably caused by the relative small size of the specimens used in this study. An. breddini is very common in the region and often found in urban areas; therefore, the species has potential as a biological control agent.

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Study of Insect Diversity in Rice Agroecosystem in Karawang West Java

Jurnal ILMU DASAR ◽

10.19184/jid.v19i1.5619 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 51

Author(s):

Siti Latifatus Siriyah ◽

Miftakhul B.R. Khamid ◽

Fawzy M Bayfurqon

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Rice Field ◽

Biological Control Agent ◽

Insect Pest ◽

Light Trap ◽

Control Agent ◽

Rice Fields ◽

Insect Diversity ◽

Potential Candidate ◽

West Java

Insects were collected from rice fields in Karawang West Java. Since insects are dominant in Rice field, their role in the ecosystem are important regarding the rice production. Therefore, the occurance of insect species and their role in ecosystem are important to understand. The aim of this reasearch was to study the insect occurance in rice field in Karawang to obtain the potential candidate for biological control agent. The insects were collected using sweep net, pit fall trap and light trap. Nine insect orders were collected and 49 morphospecies were identified including insect pest, parasitoids, predator, tourist and detritivore. Paederus sp., Cyrtohinus and Micraspis sp., were the most abundant entomophagous insect that is potential candidate for biological control agent in Karawang. Keywords: insect, insect diversity, rice fields, karawang

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EFFICIENCY OF THE FUNGUS, Beauveria bassiana (BALS.) AS A BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENT AGAINST Ostrinia nubilalis (HUB.) AND Chilo agamemnon (BLES.) IN MAIZE AND RICE FIELDS AT KAFR EL-SHEIKH REGION

Journal of Plant Protection and Pathology ◽

10.21608/jppp.2010.86893 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 1 (7) ◽

pp. 567-575

Author(s):

M. Metwally

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Beauveria Bassiana ◽

Ostrinia Nubilalis ◽

Biological Control Agent ◽

Control Agent ◽

Rice Fields ◽

Fungus Beauveria Bassiana

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Trichospilus diatraeae(Hymenoptera: Eulophidae): A Potential Biological Control Agent of Lepidopteran Pests of Oil Palm in the Brazilian Amazon

Florida Entomologist ◽

10.1653/024.096.0245 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 96 (2) ◽

pp. 676-678 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Rafael C. Ribeiro ◽

Walkymário De P. Lemos ◽

Ancidériton A. De Castro ◽

Júlio C. M. Poderoso ◽

José E. Serrão ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Oil Palm ◽

Biological Control Agent ◽

Brazilian Amazon ◽

Control Agent ◽

Lepidopteran Pests

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Cultivated Lands within Urban Area

Geographic Information Analysis for Sustainable Development and Economic Planning - Advances in Geospatial Technologies ◽

10.4018/978-1-4666-1924-1.ch010 ◽

2013 ◽

pp. 143-157

Author(s):

G. Mauro

Keyword(s):

Urban Area ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Suburban Areas ◽

North East ◽

The North ◽

Relevant Role ◽

Agricultural Areas ◽

The City ◽

The Town

Several studies put in evidence the relevant role of cultivated lands in the urban areas. Using GIS methodologies in order to map agricultural areas near or within the town, it is possible to analyze their relationship with the urban area. In this study, the author used several different cartography sources, like digital cartography and orthophotos, in order to locate the urban domestic gardens and the terraced landscapes accurately. The study area is a medium city of a North-East Region of Italy, Trieste. Built on a hill morphology, it had a great and fast growth in the 19th and 20th centuries. These changes deeply transformed its landform, mainly reducing its surrounding cultivated lands. At present, the residual terraced landscapes are mainly placed in the north side of the city and they represent a kind of “cultural heritage.” On the contrary, the most important garden areas are located in the terrain embankments of the south suburban areas.

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