A Comparison of Ground Beetle (Carabidae: Coleoptera) Communities in an Organic and Conventional Potato Crop

O'Sullivan, C. M.; Gormally, Michael J.

doi:10.1080/01448765.2002.9754954

Cited by 11 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…The importance of the unsown regeneration treatment conflicts with the assertion of Meek et al (2002) that flower mixtures are more effective. The regeneration treatment, with a component of invasive, non-sown, species, may be acting in a manner similar to weed strips (Lys et al 1994) or increased weed cover (Armstrong and McKinlay 1997;O'Sullivan and Gormally 2002), which have been shown to increase beneficial invertebrate activity. In the agricultural landscape of this part of lowland eastern England, dominated by vegetable growing, fields are separated by drainage ditches and roads, with few hedges and trees.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Within organic crops such as carrots (Berry et al 1996) more activity of groups such as parasitic wasps (Hymenoptera) and lacewings (Neuroptera) has been observed, mainly because of the cessation of pesticide use but also enhanced by greater weed cover. Weed strips in cereals have been used to increase activity of ground beetles (Carabidae) (Lys et al 1994) and increased weed cover has been shown to increase activity of some ground beetle species in organic potato (O'Sullivan and Gormally 2002) and cabbage (Armstrong and McKinlay 1997). The manipulation of plant resources to increase beneficial invertebrate activity was reviewed by Landis et al (2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Relationships between beneficial invertebrates, field margin vegetation, and thrip damage in organic leek fields in eastern England

et al. 2010

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Beneficial invertebrate numbers in two organic leek fields in eastern England were assessed in relation to four field margin vegetation treatments (clover/grass, regeneration, two flower mixtures) using pitfall and pan traps. Damage caused by onion thrips in one field was also estimated. Clover/grass and regeneration margins generally had more beneficial invertebrates than either flower mixture margins and invertebrate numbers in the fields were least opposite flower mixture margins. Distance from field margins had a greater effect on invertebrate numbers, with most ladybirds (Coccinellidae), hoverflies (Syrphidae), lacewings (Neuroptera) and parasitic wasps (Hymenoptera) recorded from the middle of fields. High ladybird, hoverfly and parasitic wasp (Icheumonidae) numbers were associated with lowest onion thrip damage, but there was no evidence that field margin treatments were related to damage. Sown flower mixture margins did not positively affect beneficial invertebrate numbers in the leek crop. It appears that an approach in keeping with elements already in the landscape would be just as effective as the use of alien vegetation mixtures in generating invertebrate natural enemy activity in vegetable fields of eastern England.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationships between beneficial invertebrates, field margin vegetation, and thrip damage in organic leek fields in eastern England

et al. 2010

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“…In Ireland, P . niger is highly abundant and often dominates carabid assemblages in agroecosystems (O'Sullivan & Gormally, ), open habitats such as mountain heath and blanket bog (Day, ; McFerran et al ., ), and forested habitats (Williams & Gormally, ). Beetles were collected from a lightly wooded area on the NUIG campus between April and August 2016 (for no‐choice predation trials) and between April and August 2017 (for choice trials examining the defensive mode of slug mucus) using dry pitfall traps (6 cm × 12 cm) covered with a corriboard sheet (10 cm × 10 cm).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Terrestrial slugs (Mollusca: Gastropoda) share common anti‐predator defence mechanisms but their expression differs among species

2018

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Predation is a key selective force in the evolution and maintenance of multiple traits in prey animals. Terrestrial slugs (Mollusca: Gastropoda) are an interesting group in which to study anti‐predator behaviour because few predators are mollusc‐specialists. Ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae), however, are important slug predators and slugs appear to possess general defences when carabids are encountered. Slugs may avoid areas recently visited by carabids (primary defence) or, when attacked, exude highly viscous mucus (secondary defence). Slugs are, however, a polyphyletic group which are present in diverse habitats with varying predation risk. We examined whether avoidance of cues from Pterostichus niger, a generalist carabid predator, is a primary defence shared by a number of slug species from different taxonomic families representing varying degrees of ecological specialization and found, for the first time, that multiple slug species appear to exhibit a general avoidance of carabid scents. Additionally, we examined whether mucus chemistry is altered in response to predation attempts, and whether this is a secondary defence common to multiple species. We found that calcium, a vital element for molluscs, is secreted in greater amounts when slugs are attacked. Choice experiments with P. niger demonstrated that calcium did not affect beetle feeding behaviour but that high‐viscosity gel deterred feeding. We discuss how calcium secretion may contribute to mucus viscosity and represent an effective secondary defence mechanism common to slugs. Results from no‐choice feeding trials suggest that carabid beetles may prevent slugs from exuding defensive mucus by attacking the mantle region. Overall, we show that slugs share common primary and secondary defences but that their expression varies among species, possibly reflecting the natural risk of predation experienced by each slug species. Additionally, some species‐specific anti‐predator traits were observed which cannot be explained as responses to carabids alone, highlighting the importance of considering multiple predators when interpreting anti‐predator behaviour in prey animals.

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“…In the last decade, an increasing number of studies have dealt with the impact of farming systems on the diversity and abundance of fauna, particularly as concerns species involved in natural pest control. Most of these studies have compared organic and conventional farming systems (sometimes, integrated farming systems), with the aim of evaluating the impact of organic farming on the diversity of different biological groups (Booij and Noorlander, 1992;O'Sullivan and Gormally, 2002). Hole et al (2005), in a review of 76 studies, clearly demonstrated that the species abundance and/or richness of several taxa, ranging from plants to mammals and birds, tended to be higher on organic than on conventional farms.…”

Section: General Effects Of Farming Systems On Natural Enemy Biodivermentioning

confidence: 98%

Biological Control of Insect Pests in Agroecosystems

Rusch

Valantin‐Morison

Sarthou

et al. 2010

Advances in Agronomy

197

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A Comparison of Ground Beetle (Carabidae: Coleoptera) Communities in an Organic and Conventional Potato Crop

Cited by 11 publications

References 17 publications

Relationships between beneficial invertebrates, field margin vegetation, and thrip damage in organic leek fields in eastern England

Relationships between beneficial invertebrates, field margin vegetation, and thrip damage in organic leek fields in eastern England

Terrestrial slugs (Mollusca: Gastropoda) share common anti‐predator defence mechanisms but their expression differs among species

Biological Control of Insect Pests in Agroecosystems

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