Systematic cultivar selection for weed biological control risk assessment

Lefoe, Greg; Hauser, Cindy E.; Steel, Jackie; Slater, Anthony T.; Kwong, R. M.; Lubanga, Umar K.; Rumpff, Libby

doi:10.1016/j.biocontrol.2021.104816

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Further, Heard (1999) argued that the sequential nature of host selection behavior, the effects of experience, and time‐dependent changes of host acceptance or rejection were important determinants of ecological host range, but were seldom tested. Advances in the science of host range determination include a phylogenetic approach to the selection of test plants (Briese, 2003; Lefoe et al, 2022), the use of chemical ecology (Gaffke et al, 2021), and the use of open field trials in the region of origin (Paterson et al, 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Performance and field host range of the life stages of Cornops aquaticum, a biological control agent of water hyacinth

Franceschini

Hill

Fuentes‐Rodríguez

et al. 2023

Entomologia Exp Applicata

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Host specificity determination of weed biocontrol agents has historically relied on evidence generated through quarantine trials in the region of introduction. These trials could give ‘false positive’ results due to a maximum type I error probability, and where possible, more research under field conditions should be conducted in the region of origin. The oligophagous, semiaquatic grasshopper, Cornops aquaticum Bruner (Orthoptera: Acrididae, Tetrataeniini), was released in South Africa for the biological control of Pontederia crassipes Pellegrini and Horn (Pontederiaceae). The aim of this study was to assess how the performance and field host range of C. aquaticum varies according to its stages of development, and how this contributes to the understanding of the relationship between the fundamental (laboratory‐based) and the ecological (field‐based) host range of this grasshopper, and its implications for water hyacinth biocontrol. We conducted post‐release laboratory no‐choice trials, confining early instars (instars 1 and 2), later instars (instars 3–6), and adult females and males in mesh cages, to determine insect performance on wetland plants growing in sympatry with P. crassipes. Also, gut analysis from field‐collected C. aquaticum was done to determine the ecological host range of this insect, identifying epidermal tissue of consumed plants. In no‐choice trials, survival rates of the later instars and adult C. aquaticum were similar on Pistia stratiotes L. (Araceae), Oxycaryum cubense (Poepp. & Kunth) Lye (Cyperaceae), and P. crassipes. However, under field conditions, P. crassipes and the congeneric Pontederia azurea Sw. were the only plant contents in the guts of early instars and the most abundant species in later instars and adults. The results support the hypothesis that C. aquaticum is an oligophagous insect on the genus Pontederia, and that different life stages should be considered when conducting host‐specificity trials in externally feeding mobile herbivore species. Diet composition of field‐collected insects thus could help detect false positives in laboratory trials, being an additional and realistic approach in understanding and predicting the selection processes of the insect in the new environment. Retrospective analysis of potential agents that were rejected due to lack of host‐specificity, using the methods from this study, could add a suite of additional agents to programs where invasive weeds remain unmanaged.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Performance and field host range of the life stages of Cornops aquaticum, a biological control agent of water hyacinth

Franceschini

Hill

Fuentes‐Rodríguez

et al. 2023

Entomologia Exp Applicata

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“…Bars represent back-transformed 95% confidence intervals using the average SE. Counts are back transformed from the log scale predictions from the GLMM analysis the prioritization of cultivar for test species selection for host-range testing to reduce uncertainty in risk assessment (Lefoe et al 2022). The value of integrating chemical-ecological methods into host specificity testing procedures has also been demonstrated (Avila et al 2016a, b;Park et al 2018;Saunders 2022).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterising uncertainty in risk assessments for biological control: using case studies from New Zealand to inform future research

2023

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Areas of uncertainty in the assessment of risks and benefits in applications for new biological control agents submitted to the regulator for proposed introduction into New Zealand were identified. This was done with the aim of informing future research priorities which might be able to address and reduce these areas of uncertainty to assist decision-making in the future. A sample of 20 applications received by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) between 2009 and 2019 were selected, with examples from weed and insect targets. Expressions of uncertainty were identified by applicants as well as the EPA staff assessment report of the application, and the final decision document prepared by the Authority’s committee. The most common risk uncertainties expressed were potential direct non-target effects (85%), cultural risks (75%), and whether there were existing (and possibly effective) natural enemies of the target already present in the new range (70%). Food web indirect effects and adequacy of host range testing were also mentioned in more than half of the case study applications and associated documents. For uncertainty relating to benefits, 75% of case studies mentioned uncertainty about the efficacy of the proposed biological control agent, or if the agent would be successful by establishing and spreading (60%). For several of the case studies questions were raised about the method of cost: benefit analyses that had been presented in the application. Recommendations for future research are presented.

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Investigating the host finding behaviour of the weevil Phytobius vestitus for the biological control of the invasive aquatic weed Myriophyllum aquaticum

Pessina,

Humair,

Naderi

et al. 2024

Biological Control

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Systematic cultivar selection for weed biological control risk assessment

Cited by 3 publications

References 48 publications

Performance and field host range of the life stages of Cornops aquaticum, a biological control agent of water hyacinth

Performance and field host range of the life stages of Cornops aquaticum, a biological control agent of water hyacinth

Characterising uncertainty in risk assessments for biological control: using case studies from New Zealand to inform future research

Investigating the host finding behaviour of the weevil Phytobius vestitus for the biological control of the invasive aquatic weed Myriophyllum aquaticum

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