Bottom‐up effects of soil quality on a coffee arthropod interaction web

Gonthier, David J.; Domínguez, G.; Witter, Jason D.; Spongberg, Alison L.; Philpott, Stacy M.

doi:10.1890/es13-00072.1

Cited by 12 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…Pheidole synanthropica is one of the most widely distributed ant species found in the coffee farm—recognized for both its competitive ability and pest‐control potential (Gonthier et al . b). Although this species is commonly found in disturbed areas and coffee farms, relatively little is known about its effects on other ants.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Strong influences of a dominant, ground‐nesting ant on recruitment, and establishment of ant colonies and communities

Ennis

Philpott

2017

Biotropica

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Many factors drive the organization of communities including environmental factors, dispersal abilities, and competition. In particular, ant communities have high levels of interspecific competition and dominance that may affect community assembly processes. We used a combination of surveys and nest supplementation experiments to examine effects of a dominant ground‐nesting ant (Pheidole synanthropica) on (1) arboreal twig‐nesting, (2) ground‐foraging, and (3) coffee‐foraging ant communities in coffee agroecosystems. We surveyed these communities in high‐ and low‐density areas of P. synanthropica over 2 years. To test for effects on twig ant recruitment, we placed artificial nesting resources on coffee plants in areas with and without P. synanthropica. The first sampling period revealed differences in ant species composition on the ground, in coffee plants, and artificial nests between high‐ and low‐density sites of P. synanthropica. High‐density sites also had significantly lower recruitment of twig ants and had species‐specific effects on twig ant species. Prior to the second survey period, abundance of P. synanthropica declined in the high‐density sites, such that P. synanthropica densities no longer differed. Subsequent sampling revealed no difference in total recruitment of twig ants to artificial nests between treatments. Likewise, surveys of ground and coffee ants no longer showed significant differences in community composition. The results from the first experimental period, followed by survey results after the decline in P. synanthropica densities suggest that dominant ants can drive community assembly via both recruitment and establishment of colonies within the community.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Strong influences of a dominant, ground‐nesting ant on recruitment, and establishment of ant colonies and communities

Ennis

Philpott

2017

Biotropica

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“…Coffee ( Coffea arabica L.) plants provided with more nitrogen, potassium, and organic compost amendments supported more Coccus viridis (Green) than poorly fertilized plants ( Fernandes et al. 2012 , Gonthier et al. 2013 ).…”

Section: Economic Importancementioning

confidence: 99%

General Biology and Current Management Approaches of Soft Scale Pests (Hemiptera: Coccidae)

Camacho

Chong

2015

J Integr Pest Manag

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We summarize the economic importance, biology, and management of soft scales, focusing on pests of agricultural, horticultural, and silvicultural crops in outdoor production systems and urban landscapes. We also provide summaries on voltinism, crawler emergence timing, and predictive models for crawler emergence to assist in developing soft scale management programs. Phloem-feeding soft scale pests cause direct (e.g., injuries to plant tissues and removal of nutrients) and indirect damage (e.g., reduction in photosynthesis and aesthetic value by honeydew and sooty mold). Variations in life cycle, reproduction, fecundity, and behavior exist among congenerics due to host, environmental, climatic, and geographical variations. Sampling of soft scale pests involves sighting the insects or their damage, and assessing their abundance. Crawlers of most univoltine species emerge in the spring and the summer. Degree-day models and plant phenological indicators help determine the initiation of sampling and treatment against crawlers (the life stage most vulnerable to contact insecticides). The efficacy of cultural management tactics, such as fertilization, pruning, and irrigation, in reducing soft scale abundance is poorly documented. A large number of parasitoids and predators attack soft scale populations in the field; therefore, natural enemy conservation by using selective insecticides is important. Systemic insecticides provide greater flexibility in application method and timing, and have longer residual longevity than contact insecticides. Application timing of contact insecticides that coincides with crawler emergence is most effective in reducing soft scale abundance.

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“…Both biotic and abiotic factors affect the bottom‐up and top‐down forces that drive pest control in agroecosystems (Thies and Tscharntke , Gonthier et al. , Liere et al. ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant damage in urban agroecosystems varies with local and landscape factors

et al. 2020

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Citation: Egerer, M., H. Liere, A. Lucatero, and S. M. Philpott. 2020. Plant damage in urban agroecosystems varies with local and landscape factors. Ecosphere 11(3):Abstract. Biotic and abiotic factors at local to landscape scales influence insect pest and disease dynamics in agricultural systems. However, relative to studies focused on the importance of these drivers of crop plant damage in rural agricultural systems, few studies investigate plant damage from herbivore insects and plant diseases in urban agroecosystems, and consequently, most urban farmers lack knowledge on crop protection tactics. Here we use three common crop species within urban agroecosystems (community gardens) distributed across an urban landscape as a model system to ask how local, landscape, and microclimate factors relate to herbivore and disease plant damage. We hypothesized that plant damage would be lower in gardens with greater local vegetation complexity, landscape-scale complexity, and less variable temperatures, but that the importance of factors is species-and damage-specific. By measuring Brassica, cucurbit, and tomato insect pest and disease damage across the growing season, we confirmed that the importance of factors varies with crop species and by damage type. Both local complexity factors (e.g., number of trees and shrubs) and landscape complexity (percent natural cover in the landscape) relate to lower incidence of herbivore and disease damage on some crops, supporting our prediction that habitat heterogeneity at both local and landscape scales lowers plant damage. Greater temperature variability related to higher disease damage on tomatoes linking microclimate factors to disease prevalence. Yet, local complexity factors also related to higher incidence of plant damage for other crop species, indicating variable species-level impacts of local management factors on plant damage. By measuring the abundance of fungus-feeding lady beetles (Psyllobora) on cucurbits, we confirmed a strong association between natural enemies and powdery mildew. We provide a case study on how changes in local to landscape-scale factors relate to plant damage in urban agroecosystems and suggest how urban farmers and gardeners can apply this ecological knowledge to improve sustainable urban food production.

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Bottom‐up effects of soil quality on a coffee arthropod interaction web

Cited by 12 publications

References 50 publications

Strong influences of a dominant, ground‐nesting ant on recruitment, and establishment of ant colonies and communities

Strong influences of a dominant, ground‐nesting ant on recruitment, and establishment of ant colonies and communities

General Biology and Current Management Approaches of Soft Scale Pests (Hemiptera: Coccidae)

Plant damage in urban agroecosystems varies with local and landscape factors

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