Early establishment and dispersal of the weevil,<i>Mogulones cruciger</i>(Coleoptera: Curculionidae) for biological control of houndstongue (<i>Cynoglossum officinale</i>) in British Columbia, Canada

Clerck-Floate, Rosemarie De; Wikeem, Brian M.; Bourchier, Robert S.

doi:10.1080/09583150400016050

Cited by 23 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…The weevil is functionally univoltine but can reach outbreak population densities within several generations when not limited by C. officinale availability (Schwarzlaender , De Clerck‐Floate et al. ). Mogulones crucifer is an excellent example of a “search and destroy” biocontrol agent (Murdoch et al.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biocontrol insect impacts population growth of its target plant species but not an incidentally used nontarget

et al. 2016

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Abstract. Understanding the impact of herbivory on plant populations is a fundamental goal of ecology.Damage to individual plants can be visually striking and affect the fates of individuals, but these impacts do not necessarily translate into population-level differences in vital rates (survival, growth, or fecundity) or population growth rates. In biological control of weeds, quantitative assessments of population-level impacts of released agents on both target invasive plants and native, nontarget plants are needed to inform evaluations of the benefits and risks of releasing agents into new regions. Here we present a 3-yr experimental demographic field study using the European root-feeding biocontrol weevil, Mogulones crucifer, first released in Canada in 1997 to control the invasive weed Cynoglossum officinale (Boraginaceae). Mogulones crucifer is an effective "search and destroy" agent in Canada, but sporadically feeds, oviposits, and develops on native nontarget Boraginaceae. We investigated the population-level impacts of this biocontrol insect on its target weed and a native nontarget plant, Hackelia micrantha (Boraginaceae), by releasing large numbers of weevils into naturally occurring patches of H. micrantha growing isolated from or interspersed with C. officinale. We followed the fates of individual plants on release and nonrelease (control) sites for two transition years, developed matrix models to project population growth rates (λ) for each plant species, and examined the contributions from differences in vital rates to changes in λ using life table response experiments (LTRE). In contrast to studies of the insect-plant interaction in its native range, as a biocontrol agent, M. crucifer increased mortality of C. officinale rosettes in the year immediately following release, depressing the weed's λ to below the population replacement level. However, λ for H. micrantha was never depressed below the replacement level, and any differences between release and nonrelease sites in the nontarget could not be explained by significant contributions from vital rates in the LTRE. This study is the first to simultaneously and experimentally examine target and nontarget population-level impacts of a weed biocontrol insect in the field, and supports the theoretical prediction that plant life history characteristics and uneven herbivore host preferences can interact to produce differences in populationlevel impacts between target and nontarget plant species.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biocontrol insect impacts population growth of its target plant species but not an incidentally used nontarget

et al. 2016

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“…Thus, intermediate levels of dispersal by released biological control agents may maximize establishment and appropriate levels of spread-a 'Goldilocks' optimum. This general sentiment has been voiced previously within the context of importation biological control of insects and weeds (De Clerck-Floate et al 2005;Jonsen et al 2007b;Hougardy and Mills 2006), as well as for augmentative biological control of insect pests (Wright et al 2001;Kölliker-Ott et al 2004;Seko et al 2008). The basic elements of the hypothesis are illustrated in Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

A ‘Goldilocks’ hypothesis for dispersal of biological control agents

Heimpel

Asplen

2011

BioControl

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The rate at which biological control agents disperse from release sites has important implications for their establishment and spread. Low rates of dispersal can yield spread that is too slow and may necessitate redistribution efforts for importation biological control and a high density of release sites for augmentation. Low dispersal rates may also lead to inbreeding at the site of release. On the other hand, high rates of dispersal can lead to Allee effects at the leading edge of the invasion front, potentially reducing the likelihood of establishment. Given these disadvantages associated with both low and high dispersal rates, we argue that intermediate rates of dispersal are likely to maximize the probability of establishment and appropriate spread for biological control agents released in the context of either importation or augmentative biological control. We consider this putative relationship a 'Goldilocks hypothesis' since it posits an optimum at intermediate values. In this review paper we begin by discussing the rationale for the Goldilocks hypothesis and then provide a case study from our work on importation biological control of the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines. Work on the soybean aphid parasitoid Binodoxys communis has shown that long-distance dispersal of immature parasitoids within winged migrating aphids is unlikely. This is likely good news for importation biological control because parasitoids dispersed in this manner would likely encounter crippling Allee effects. On the other hand, results from a field release study also suggest that female B. communis females (but not males) disperse actively from release sites. This female-biased dispersal may lead to strong mate-finding Allee effects and therefore may make establishment less likely.

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“…However, it should be noted that rates reported in the biological control literature tend to be averaged over three or more years and include all random findings from beyond transects or planned sample areas (De Clerck-Floate et al, 2005). Because data were collected strictly within 5 m of the four transect lines, initial dispersal rates for C. japonicus are extremely conservative and should be considered as the minimum likely distance that new infestations will effectively move within the first three years.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential for Cleopus japonicus to control the weed Buddleja davidii in plantation forests in New Zealand

Watson

Watt

Withers

et al. 2011

Forest Ecology and Management

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Early establishment and dispersal of the weevil,Mogulones cruciger(Coleoptera: Curculionidae) for biological control of houndstongue (Cynoglossum officinale) in British Columbia, Canada

Cited by 23 publications

References 29 publications

Biocontrol insect impacts population growth of its target plant species but not an incidentally used nontarget

Biocontrol insect impacts population growth of its target plant species but not an incidentally used nontarget

A ‘Goldilocks’ hypothesis for dispersal of biological control agents

Potential for Cleopus japonicus to control the weed Buddleja davidii in plantation forests in New Zealand

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