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 ◽  
...  

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.

2020 ◽  
Vol 295 ◽  
pp. 106894 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ezequiel González ◽  
Miroslav Seidl ◽  
Tomáš Kadlec ◽  
Marco Ferrante ◽  
Michal Knapp

Weed Science ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 828-838 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rocio van der Laat ◽  
Micheal D. K. Owen ◽  
Matt Liebman ◽  
Ramon G. Leon

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.


Weed Science ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 294-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharavari S. Kulkarni ◽  
Lloyd M. Dosdall ◽  
John R. Spence ◽  
Christian J. Willenborg

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.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandre M M C Loureiro ◽  
G Christopher Cutler ◽  
Vilis O Nams ◽  
Scott N White

Abstract Poecilus lucublandus (Say), Pterostichus mutus (Say), and Harpalus rufipes (De Geer) are abundant Carabidae in lowbush blueberry fields and may contribute to weed seed predation. We used laboratory no-choice test experiments to determine if these beetles feed on seeds of hair fescue (Festuca filiformis Pourr., Poales: Poaceae), poverty oatgrass (Danthonia spicata L.), and red sorrel (Rumex acetosella L., Caryophyllales: Polygonaceae), which are common weeds in lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait., Ericales: Ericaceae) fields. Poecilus lucublandus and P. mutus did not feed on seeds of the test weed species, but H. rufipes consumed on average over 30 seeds of each species. There are other weed seeds in blueberry fields that could be palatable to P. lucublandus and P. mutus, which warrants further research on the granivory potential of these important carabid species.


1999 ◽  
Vol 92 (4) ◽  
pp. 825-829 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dora M. Carmona ◽  
Fabian D. Menalled ◽  
Doug A. Landis

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Carbonne ◽  
David Bohan ◽  
Sandrine Petit

For future arable agriculture, there is a need for more sustainable methods to manage weeds that are less reliant on herbicides and maintain food production. Control of weeds by natural enemies is an agro-ecological alternative to reduce the use of herbicides. While strong evidence points to carabid beetles exerting a regulatory effect on certain weed species, it is difficult to predict whether a particular assemblage of carabid species or functional groups will drive the function of weed seed predation in field conditions. There are also uncertainties about which key local and landscape-scale factors affect the function of weed seed predation, and the functional characteristics of carabid communities. In this presentation, we report on specific research actions being conducted within the wider C-IPM BioAWARE project that focuses on weed regulation by carabid biodiversity. We first briefly present statistical analyses aimed at identifying key assemblages of carabid taxa delivering high weed seed predation of Viola arvensis seeds during spring. We then present the principles and the implementation of the BioAWARE large-scale European survey currently in place. We explain how this large-scale design will be used to assess: (i) how landscape characteristics and infield trophic resources determine the functional characteristics and the diversity of carabid communities; and, (ii) key carabid assemblages delivering high seed predation of a large range of weeds through the evolution of the seedbank.


1988 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald E. Brust ◽  
Garfield J. House

AbstractWeed seed consumption experiments involving comparison of rates of seed loss by seed feeders were conducted over a five-week period in low-input (no insecticide, low herbicide usage) conventional- and no-tillage soybean agroecosystems. Seeds of four broadleaf weed species (ragweed[Ambrosia artemisiifoliaL.], pigweed[Amaranthus retroflexusL.], sicklepod[Cassia obtusifoliaL.], and jimsonweed[Datura stramoniumL.]) and one grain crop species (wheat[Triticum aestivumL.]) were provided in a free choice design at densities of 10, 25, and 50 seeds/24 cm3. Approximately 2.3 times more seeds overall, and 1.4 times more large seeds as a group were consumed in notillage systems than in conventional-tillage systems. In our experimental low-input, notillage treatments, large ground beetles (Carabidae: Coleoptera) (15–25 mm) and mice preferentially fed on the larger seed species, while small carabids (< 15 mm), ants and crickets, fed almost exclusively on the smaller seed species. Carabid beetles were responsible for more than half of all seeds consumed. Laboratory and field studies indicated that ground beetles selectively consumed specific seed species. In conventional-tillage, ants were one of the dominant consumers of seeds, suggesting different patterns of resource partitioning in each tillage system. We suggest that selective feeding by arthropod seed feeders, in combination with their high number, could affect the species composition and possibly the abundance of weeds in low-input, no-tillage agroecosystems.


Weed Science ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-26
Author(s):  
Lauren M. Schwartz-Lazaro ◽  
Lovreet S. Shergill ◽  
Jeffrey A. Evans ◽  
Muthukumar V. Bagavathiannan ◽  
Shawn C. Beam ◽  
...  

Seed retention, and ultimately seed shatter, are extremely important for the efficacy of harvest weed seed control (HWSC) and likely influenced by various agro-ecological and environmental factors. Field studies investigated seed shattering phenology of 22 weed species across three soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] producing regions in the US. We further evaluated the potential drivers of seed shatter in terms of weather conditions, growing degree days, and plant biomass. Based on the results, weather conditions had no consistent impact on weed seed shatter. However, there was a positive correlation between individual weed plant biomass and delayed weed-seed shattering rates during harvest. This work demonstrates that HWSC can potentially reduce weed seedbank inputs of plants that have escaped early season management practices and retained seed through harvest. However, smaller individuals of plants within the same population that shatter seed before harvest pose a risk of escaping early season management and HWSC.


Weed Science ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 619-624 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio DiTommaso ◽  
Matthew R. Ryan ◽  
Charles L. Mohler ◽  
Daniel C. Brainard ◽  
Rachel E. Shuler ◽  
...  

Indirect effects of insect control strategies on weed populations are important to consider when developing robust integrated pest management strategies. Weed seed predation rates were investigated in corn managed under three contrasting treatments based on control practices for corn rootworm: (1) the transgenic crop Cry3Bb Bt corn, (2) the broad-spectrum insecticide tefluthrin, and (3) no insecticide control. This 2-yr field study conducted near Ithaca, NY, involved quantifying seed loss from velvetleaf, common lambsquarters, and giant foxtail in arenas with and without vertebrate exclosures. Velvetleaf and giant foxtail were unaffected by the insecticide treatment; however, average seed predation of common lambsquarters was lower in both the Bt corn (11.9%) and insecticide-treated plots (11.8%) compared with control plots (17.5%) that did not receive any insecticide. Seed predation of common lambsquarters was not affected by the vertebrate exclosure. Lower seed predation in the transgenic Bt corn and insecticide treatments was likely due to nontarget effects on carabids (Coleoptera: Carabidae). Although the reduction in seed predation was modest and limited to only one of the three weed species tested, our results highlight the need for greater risk assessment that includes the ecosystem service of weed seed predation when considering insect pest management options.


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

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.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document