Managing insect services and disservices in cocoa agroforestry systems

Ambele, Chaba F; Bisseleua, Hervé; Djuideu, Christian T. L.; Akutse, Komivi Senyo

doi:10.1007/s10457-023-00839-x

Cited by 11 publications

(10 citation statements)

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“…We found that brown capsids occur at very low densities, averaging 1.6 individuals per tree. This estimate is similar to previous estimates of 2.1 individuals per tree (Babin et al, 2010) and <1 individual per tree (Bisseleua et al, 2011), and above the economic threshold for phytosanitary intervention (0.7 individuals/tree in Cameroon; Ambele et al, 2023;Babin et al, 2010). Additionally, we found a significant decrease in capsid abundance with increasing shade cover, in accordance with Babin et al (2010) andBagny Beilhe et al (2018).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…We found that farms with less shade cover had higher abundances of Hemiptera, Coleoptera and brown capsids. Whilst both et al (1974, 1987) and Klein et al (2002), and may be a reason behind the shorter productive life-spans of sunny farms in the Afrotropics (Ambele et al, 2023).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…In Africa, the main cocoa pests are the brown capsid Sahlbergella singularis (Hemiptera: Miridae; Ambele et al., 2023; Bagny Beilhe et al., 2018), as well as other Hemipteran groups such as mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) and mosquito capsids (Hemiptera: Afropeltis). These pests are still among the most important factors limiting cocoa production, causing annual crop losses of 25%–40% (Wessel & Quist‐Wessel, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These pests are still among the most important factors limiting cocoa production, causing annual crop losses of 25%–40% (Wessel & Quist‐Wessel, 2015). Hemipteran bugs tend to occur at higher abundances in sunnier farms, though evidence supporting this is still limited (Ambele et al., 2023; Bagny Beilhe et al., 2018). Whilst pests decrease agricultural productivity, several arthropod groups provide ecosystem services in cocoa farms, such as pollination and pest suppression.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There is still very limited information available on cocoa pollinators in Africa, but in Indonesia, pollination is thought to be accomplished primarily by small Dipterans (Toledo‐Hernández et al., 2021). The effect of shade cover on potential pollinators of cocoa is still largely unknown, especially in the Afrotropics (Ambele et al., 2023; Toledo‐Hernández et al., 2021). Natural enemies such as ants and spiders may provide pest suppression in cocoa agroforestry, and there is some evidence that these groups prefer shadier farms (Anjos et al., 2022; Bisseleua et al., 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fewer pests and more ecosystem service‐providing arthropods in shady African cocoa farms: Insights from a data integration study

Jarrett,

Cyril,

Haydon

et al. 2023

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Agricultural intensification is leading to conversion of cocoa agroforestry towards monocultures across the tropics. In the context of cocoa agriculture, arthropods provide a range of ecosystem services and dis‐services. Arthropod pests (e.g., mirids and mealybugs) can cause major damage to crops, whilst pollinators and natural enemies (e.g., predatory insects and parasitoids) have the potential to enhance agricultural yields. Understanding how intensification of cocoa farming affects different arthropod groups is therefore important in maximising the abundance of beneficial arthropod taxa and reducing pest burdens. However, little is known about the influences of agricultural intensification on tropical arthropod communities, especially in Africa, where ~70% of the world's cocoa is produced. Most research on arthropod communities considers data from different sampling methods separately, as proxies of abundance; whilst these proxies can be informative, estimating true abundance enables direct comparison between arthropod taxa, and therefore the study of community dynamics. Here, we develop a Bayesian hierarchical model that integrates data from three common arthropod survey techniques to estimate population size of arthropod orders and to investigate how arthropod community composition responds to farm shade cover (an indicator of management intensity). Our results show that eight of 11 arthropod taxa responded to farm shade cover; importantly, brown capsids (the primary pest of cocoa in Africa), Coleoptera pests and Hemiptera pests decreased with increasing farm shade cover, whilst Araneae (natural enemies) and Diptera (potential pollinators) were more abundant in shady farms. Synthesis and applications. To achieve lower pest burdens and higher abundances of potential pollinators and natural enemies, African cocoa farms should maintain a dense canopy of shade trees. The current shift towards high‐intensity cocoa farming in Africa could result in long‐term losses due to pest infestations and loss of arthropod‐mediated ecosystem services.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fewer pests and more ecosystem service‐providing arthropods in shady African cocoa farms: Insights from a data integration study

Jarrett,

Cyril,

Haydon

et al. 2023

Journal of Applied Ecology

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A scarab beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) causes tree mortality, delayed growth, and yield reduction in cacao with genotype‐specific susceptibility to herbivory

Porcel,

Miranda,

Pisco‐Ortiz

et al. 2024

Pest Management Science

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BackgroundThis study explored the impact of Leucothyreus femoratus, a previously unreported folivorous pest in cacao cultivation, on cacao tree survival, development, and yield. The study was conducted in an experimental cacao plot in the colombian plains, it featured twenty cacao genotypes in an agroforestry system, with plantain and mexican sunflower providing temporary shade, and yopo offering permanent shade.ResultsWe found an infestation rate of 2.9 ± 0.3 adult beetles per cacao tree. L. femoratus larvae were discovered in association with the roots of all plants within the agroforestry arrangement; however, Yopo and plantain exhibited the highest incidence of root‐feeding larvae among these associated plants. Interestingly, male and female L. femoratus displayed distinct leaf consumption patterns in the lab, with females consuming more foliage relative to their body weight. Moreover, field observations highlighted the detrimental impact of L. femoratus herbivory on cacao tree survival and growth, leading to leaf skeletonization, reduced plant height, and stem diameter. Trees with over 50% leaf consumption suffered more than 20% mortality. Additionally, herbivory negatively affected cacao yield, correlating higher leaf surface damage with a decrease in harvested pods. The study also identified varying antixenotic resistance in different cacao genotypes, with some consistently displaying resistance while others showed variable levels during tree establishment and production stages.ConclusionThis research underscores the significant role of L. femoratus as a cacao pest, emphasizing its adverse effects on cacao tree survival, development, and yield. Consequently, implementing effective control measures is vital for ensuring sustainable cacao cultivation.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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Ecosystem services in coffee agroforestry: their potential to improve labour efficiency amongst smallholder coffee producers

Tilden,

Aranka,

Curry

2023

Agroforest Syst

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This paper investigates the potential labour efficiencies and socio-cultural benefits of agroforestry for coffee smallholders practising low input production strategies. Employing both qualitative and quantitative methods, our case study of coffee smallholders in the highlands of Papua New Guinea, shows that despite managing very small holdings of coffee trees (< 500 trees), productivity is challenged by labour shortages and by very low levels of farm inputs. Constraints on labour supply include barriers to mobilising women’s labour; competition for labour from alternative livelihoods; the absence of a market in hired labour; and the time, labour and income demands of the indigenous socio-economy. The indigenous social economy draws heavily on smallholders’ time, labour and coffee income, to the extent that there is little labour for coffee garden maintenance and little coffee income invested in other farm inputs. To address these input shortfalls we explore the potential of ecosystem services from shade-grown coffee to generate labour efficiencies to partly fill some of the unmet maintenance requirements of coffee gardens and to partly fill the role of other farm inputs. Coffee extension must become more holistic and consider smallholder families’ diverse livelihoods and recognise the enduring nature of the low input production strategy, its socio-cultural value, its role in determining life quality, and thus its resistance to change. Extension must align with, rather than challenge, the low input production strategy to promote the potential labour efficiencies and benefits of agroforestry to create more resilient, sustainable and culturally-enriching coffee-based farming systems.

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Managing insect services and disservices in cocoa agroforestry systems

Cited by 11 publications

References 91 publications

Fewer pests and more ecosystem service‐providing arthropods in shady African cocoa farms: Insights from a data integration study

Fewer pests and more ecosystem service‐providing arthropods in shady African cocoa farms: Insights from a data integration study

A scarab beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) causes tree mortality, delayed growth, and yield reduction in cacao with genotype‐specific susceptibility to herbivory

Ecosystem services in coffee agroforestry: their potential to improve labour efficiency amongst smallholder coffee producers

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