Special Example 2 Climate Change and Biological Control

AbstractClimate change is one of the major threats to biodiversity, but its impact varies among the species. Bark beetles (Ips spp.), as well as other wood-boring pests of European forests, show escalating numbers in response to the changes driven by climate change and seriously affect the survival of the forests through the massive killing of trees. Many methods were developed to control these wood-boring beetles, however, their implementation can be detrimental for other forest specialists. Ants are widely used for biological pest-control, so in our study, we aimed to test the effect of Formica polyctena on the control of the wood-boring beetles. The results show that the proportion of infested trees is significantly reduced by the increase of the number of F. polyctena nests, with a strong effect on those infested by Ips species. We also show that the boring beetle community is shaped by different biotic and abiotic factors, including the presence of F. polyctena nests. However, the boring beetle infestation was not related to the latitude, altitude and age of the forests. Based on our results, we assert the effectiveness of the red wood ants as biological pest control and the importance of their conservation to keep the health of the forests.

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Biological control of aflatoxins in Africa: current status and potential challenges in the face of climate change

World Mycotoxin Journal ◽

10.3920/wmj2016.2130 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 771-789 ◽

Cited By ~ 111

Author(s):

R. Bandyopadhyay ◽

A. Ortega-Beltran ◽

A. Akande ◽

C. Mutegi ◽

J. Atehnkeng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Biological Control ◽

Value Chain ◽

Large Scale ◽

Aflatoxin Contamination ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Current Status ◽

Health Food ◽

Carrier Distribution ◽

Sub Saharan

Aflatoxin contamination of crops is frequent in warm regions across the globe, including large areas in sub-Saharan Africa. Crop contamination with these dangerous toxins transcends health, food security, and trade sectors. It cuts across the value chain, affecting farmers, traders, markets, and finally consumers. Diverse fungi within Aspergillus section Flavi contaminate crops with aflatoxins. Within these Aspergillus communities, several genotypes are not capable of producing aflatoxins (atoxigenic). Carefully selected atoxigenic genotypes in biological control (biocontrol) formulations efficiently reduce aflatoxin contamination of crops when applied prior to flowering in the field. This safe and environmentally friendly, effective technology was pioneered in the US, where well over a million acres of susceptible crops are treated annually. The technology has been improved for use in sub-Saharan Africa, where efforts are under way to develop biocontrol products, under the trade name Aflasafe, for 11 African nations. The number of participating nations is expected to increase. In parallel, state of the art technology has been developed for large-scale inexpensive manufacture of Aflasafe products under the conditions present in many African nations. Results to date indicate that all Aflasafe products, registered and under experimental use, reduce aflatoxin concentrations in treated crops by >80% in comparison to untreated crops in both field and storage conditions. Benefits of aflatoxin biocontrol technologies are discussed along with potential challenges, including climate change, likely to be faced during the scaling-up of Aflasafe products. Lastly, we respond to several apprehensions expressed in the literature about the use of atoxigenic genotypes in biocontrol formulations. These responses relate to the following apprehensions: sorghum as carrier, distribution costs, aflatoxin-conscious markets, efficacy during drought, post-harvest benefits, risk of allergies and/or aspergillosis, influence of Aflasafe on other mycotoxins and on soil microenvironment, dynamics of Aspergillus genotypes, and recombination between atoxigenic and toxigenic genotypes in natural conditions.

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Potential effects of climate change on biological control systems: case studies from New Zealand

BioControl ◽

10.1007/s10526-012-9480-0 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 58 (2) ◽

pp. 149-162 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

P. J. Gerard ◽

J. R. F. Barringer ◽

J. G. Charles ◽

S. V. Fowler ◽

J. M. Kean ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Biological Control ◽

New Zealand ◽

Control Systems ◽

Case Studies

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Climate change and biological control: the consequences of increasing temperatures on host–parasitoid interactions

Current Opinion in Insect Science ◽

10.1016/j.cois.2017.03.006 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 20 ◽

pp. 39-44 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

Michael J Furlong ◽

Myron P Zalucki

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Biological Control

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Sarracenia carnivorous plants cannot serve as efficient biological control of the invasive hornet Vespa velutina nigrithorax in Europe

Rethinking Ecology ◽

10.3897/rethinkingecology.3.28516 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

pp. 41-50 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Marie-Anne Wycke ◽

Romaric Perrocheau ◽

Eric Darrouzet

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Biological Control ◽

Invasive Species ◽

Carnivorous Plant ◽

Direct Result ◽

Mass Trapping ◽

Target Species ◽

Pollination Services ◽

Vespa Velutina ◽

Current Context

Vespavelutinanigrithorax, an invasive species, a direct result of increased trade and climate change, is spreading rapidly in Europe and endangering entomofauna in general and more alarmingly honeybee (Apismellifera) populations, and therefore their pollination services. All traps used now, to try to control this species, seem to be not efficient enough and non-selective. However, in the current context of massive disappearance of insects in general, it is urgent to find means of protection for the entomofauna. While no selective trapping is still occurring, we performed a pilot study to test a carnivorous plant as a potential biocontrol tool to trap V.velutina. In our study, we analyzed the hornet-capturing ability of two Sarracenia hybrids (S.juthatipsoper and S.evendine) on a 2-years period (2015 and 2016). Our results show that these plants trapped more dipterans than other taxa, and they do not attract many hornets. In such condition, both Sarracenia hybrids cannot therefore be used in a mass trapping system, because they are not selective, and too few hornets are trapped. To maximize captures of V.velutina while minimizing captures of non-target species, other systems need to be thus developed, as traps using hornet pheromone-based baiting.

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Alternative disease management strategies for organic apple production in the United Kingdom

CABI Agriculture and Bioscience ◽

10.1186/s43170-021-00054-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Lucas Alexander Shuttleworth

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Biological Control ◽

United Kingdom ◽

Disease Management ◽

Disease Control ◽

Disease Ecology ◽

Biological Control Agents ◽

Active Ingredients ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

Apple Production

AbstractApple is a globally important tree fruit. In the United Kingdom (UK) and mainland Europe, there is ongoing consumer and environmental concern regarding over-reliance on conventional chemicals for disease control. This has resulted in an increase in withdrawal of active ingredients and legal use restrictions over recent years. The loss of active ingredients can be problematic for growers, who have relied on the generally more predictable and efficacious management that results from using conventional chemicals. Organic disease management methods are generally more sustainable over the long term as organic methods have fewer negative impacts on the environment and on human health. Key diseases of organic UK apple production include scab, European canker, powdery mildew, apple replant disease, and brown rot/blossom wilt. The recommended organic control measures depend on the disease. Measures range from the use of host resistance, rootstock and scion cultivar selection, planting location of trees, application of biological control agents, soil amendments, cultural management, postharvest treatments, disease modelling and forecasting. The challenge when using organic methods is results are often more variable and less predictable than when using conventional chemicals. Biological control agents, for example, often require more applications than chemicals, need correct timing to work effectively, and can be sensitive to weather and orchard management. Additionally, a thorough understanding of disease ecology by growers is helpful for more effective implementation of organic control methods. Invasive pathogens not currently present in the UK that may affect apple production including Xylella fastidiosa and Valsa mali, and the potential effects of climate change on pathogens already present such as Erwinia amylovora (fireblight) are discussed. The consequences of climate change are difficult to predict due to the changeable nature of the weather and the variation in factors contributing to climate change. However, a warming planet and more unpredictable weather patterns may favour range expansion of pathogens, while increasing plant stress and susceptibility. This review presents various methods that can be applied as alternatives to conventional chemicals for disease control in organic apple production to provide economic efficiency, environmental sustainability, and the supply of safe nutritious food.

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