Avian predators as a biological control system of common vole (<i>Microtus arvalis</i>) populations in north‐western Spain: experimental set‐up and preliminary results

Paz, Alfonso; Jareño, Daniel; Arroyo, Leticia; Viñuela, Javier; Arroyo, Beatriz; Mougeot, François; Luque‐Larena, Juan José; Fargallo, Juan A.

doi:10.1002/ps.3289

Cited by 80 publications

(88 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Our results concur with several other meta-analyses (e.g. Salo et al, 2010;Prevedello et al, 2013) lending support that attracting avian predators can be useful in the biological control of rodent pests (Paz et al, 2013). However, the majority of studies lacked replicated experimental treatment setups to detect causation which is needed to conclusively attribute declines in rodent abundance and crop damage to increased avian predator abundance.…”

Section: Impact Of Avian Predators and Experimental Designsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…by attracting avian predators by the erection of artificial nest boxes and/or perches; Paz et al, 2013). Such an experimental design could be used to untangle effects of predation and natural mortality on rodent populations (Krebs 1999).…”

Section: Impact Of Avian Predators and Experimental Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although the effective application of rodenticides can suppress rodent pest populations, there are some limitations to such an approach. Their misuse can have environmental and management implications (Paz et al, 2013) and can become a health concern to humans and other animals. Direct exposure, secondary poisoning (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Direct exposure, secondary poisoning (e.g. predators and scavengers preying/scavenging on dead/dying rodents) or indirect exposure by chemicals leaching in to the soil and water causing environmental pollution are possible pathways of concern (Albert et al, 2010;Paz et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Are avian predators effective biological control agents for rodent pest management in agricultural systems?

et al. 2016

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Worldwide rodent pests are of significant economic and health importance.Controlling rodent pests will, therefore, not only benefit food security, but also human and animal health. While rodent pests are most often chemically controlled, there is increased interest in biological control through avian predation. A rich body of research has addressed the impact of avian predators on wild rodent populations, but little is known about the effectiveness of avian predators as biological control agents of rodent pests in agricultural systems. In this study we systematically reviewed research that investigated different aspects of avian predation on rodent pest populations in order to increase our understanding of the impact and effectiveness of avian predation on rodent pests. Several avian predators (Tyto alba, Elanus axillaris Falco tinnunculus, F. cenchroides, Bubo bengalensis, Buteo rufinus) were commonly cited in the biological control of rodents; however, barn owls (T. alba) are the most cited species (86% of studies). We found some support that the use of avian predators produced positive, measurable effects where increased presence of avian predators tended to lower rodent pest numbers, resulting in lower crop damage. However, our review highlighted several shortcomings related to research on avian predation of rodent pests. First, research concerning rodent pest control through avian predation was limited (1.86 articles per year). Secondly we found that studies lack statistical rigor to detect and measure change in rodent pest species abundance. Finally, the majority of studies were short term and therefore not able to evaluate long term sustainable rodent pest population suppression. We suggest that current shortcomings could be adequately addressed with control-treatment studies that quantitatively investigate the effects of avian predation on rodent pest populations and agricultural impact.Such research could help develop recommendations regarding the use of avian predators in rodent pest management.

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Section: Impact Of Avian Predators and Experimental Designsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Impact Of Avian Predators and Experimental Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Are avian predators effective biological control agents for rodent pest management in agricultural systems?

et al. 2016

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“…Cutting technique is another important point to consider, a mower with a tall cutter bar being less detrimental to a wide range of animals species than rotary mowers or grinding techniques (Oppermann and Krismann, 2001). Criterion 6: Finally, an alternative environmental strategy to control rodents is to provide nests and raptor perches, and to preserve hedgerows, which increase predator density (Paz et al, 2013).…”

Section: Preserving Biological Diversity In Agroecosystems By Adaptinmentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards an agroecological assessment of dairy systems: proposal for a set of criteria suited to mountain farming

Botreau

Farruggia

Martin

et al. 2014

Animal

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Ruminant production systems have been facing the sustainability challenge, namely, how to maintain or even increase production while reducing their environmental footprint, and improving social acceptability. One currently discussed option is to encourage farmers to follow agroecological principles, that is, to take advantage of ecological processes to reduce inputs and farm wastes, while preserving natural resources, and using this diversity to increase system resilience. However, these principles need to be made more practical. Here, we present the procedure undertaken for the collaborative construction of an agroecological diagnostic grid for dairy systems with a focus on the mountain farming relying on the use of semi-natural grasslands. This diagnosis will necessarily rely on a multicriteria evaluation as agroecology is based on a series of complementary principles. It requires defining a set of criteria, based on practices to be recommended, that should be complied with to ensure agroecological production. We present how such agroecological criteria were identified and organized to form the architecture of an evaluation model. As a basis for this work, we used five agroecological principles already proposed for animal production systems. A group of five experts of mountain production systems and of their multicriteria evaluation was selected, with a second round of consultation with five additional experts. They first split up each principle into three to four generic sub-principles. For each principle, they listed three to eight categories of state variables on which the fulfilment of the principle should have a positive impact (e.g. main health disorders for the integrated health management principle). State variables are specific for a given production, for example, dairy farms. Crossing principles with state variables enabled experts to build five matrices, with 75 cells relevant for dairy systems. In each cell, criteria are specific to the local context, for example, mountain dairy systems in this study. Finally, we discuss the opportunities offered by our methodology, and the steps remaining for the construction of the evaluation model.

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Numerical response of predators to large variations of grassland vole abundance and long‐term community changes

Giraudoux

Levret²,

Afonso

et al. 2020

Ecology and Evolution

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Avian predators as a biological control system of common vole (Microtus arvalis) populations in north‐western Spain: experimental set‐up and preliminary results

Cited by 80 publications

References 25 publications

Are avian predators effective biological control agents for rodent pest management in agricultural systems?

Are avian predators effective biological control agents for rodent pest management in agricultural systems?

Towards an agroecological assessment of dairy systems: proposal for a set of criteria suited to mountain farming

Numerical response of predators to large variations of grassland vole abundance and long‐term community changes

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