Mice find endophyte‐infected seed of tall fescue unpalatable – implications for the aviation industry

Abstract

Bird strike is a significant problem for the aviation industry, caused in part by the attractiveness of the grass surrounding airports to birds. Endophyte‐infected grasses such as Avanex® have been shown to reduce bird populations at airports through the production of secondary metabolites. These metabolites are unpalatable to herbivorous, omnivorous and granivorous birds and are known to reduce insect densities, thereby making the sown areas less attractive to insectivorous birds. Raptors also provide a bird‐strike threat which could be reduced by controlling mouse populations around airports. In this study, the effect of endophyte‐infected seed on mouse feeding behaviour has been investigated. By performing a choice trial offering diets containing endophyte‐infected and endophyte‐free tall fescue seed, it was shown that endophyte‐infected seed was less palatable to mice (P < 0·001 in a 14‐d trial). Furthermore, when diet positions were reversed, mouse feeding behaviour was modified to again select endophyte‐free material (P < 0·001 over a further 14 d). This result shows that endophyte‐infected grasses could not only be used in the control of bird populations but they also have the potential to control mouse populations which in turn would decrease the number of raptors. This use of endophyte‐infected grasses in areas surrounding airport runways shows great promise for the aviation industry.

Ontogenetic and trans‐generational dynamics of a vertically transmitted fungal symbiont in an annual host plant in ozone‐polluted settings

“…In addition, there is a strong genetic component controlling the survival of endophytes in seed, explaining some of the observed differences in endophyte status within grass populations (Gundel et al, 2010;Hill & Roach, 2009;Tian et al, 2013). Although the majority of studies investigating endophyte-derived alkaloids are concerned with the vegetative plant, this function has also been linked to the protection of reproductive structures and the seed (Faeth, 2009;Finch, Pennell, Kerby, & Cave, 2016;Pennell et al, 2017;Uchitel, Omacini, & Chaneton, 2011), which can extend to protection of the developing seedling (Gundel, Rudgers, & Whitney, 2017;Gundel, Seal, et al, 2018;Justus, Witte, & Hartmann, 1997;Ruppert, Matthew, McKenzie, & Popay, 2017;A. V. Stewart, 1985).…”

Toxicity Studies of Chanoclavine in Mice

“…Ergovaline is well recognised to reduce food intake in a range of animals including cattle, birds, rabbits, and small mammals [26,27,28]. An experiment using perennial ryegrass-Neotyphodium sp.…”

A Tale of Two Grass Species: Temperature Affects the Symbiosis of a Mutualistic Epichloë Endophyte in Both Tall Fescue and Perennial Ryegrass

“…High concentrations of endophyte-derived alkaloids are also found in seed, sometimes at higher levels than in vegetative plants, and probably evolved to reduce the probability of predation by granivores such as insects, small rodents and birds (Madej and Clay, 1991;Knoch et al, 1993;Finch et al, 2016;Pennell et al, 2017). Even seeds containing endophyte that has died can retain high alkaloid concentrations, which can protect seed from predation (Stewart, 1985;Ball et al, 1993).…”