Predation pressure in Ugandan cotton fields measured by a sentinel prey method

Andy G. Howe; Gosta Nachman; Gabor L. Lovei

doi:10.1111/eea.12267

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Predation pressure in Ugandan cotton fields measured by a sentinel prey method

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Predation pressure in Ugandan cotton fields measured by a sentinel prey method

Andy G. Howe, Gosta Nachman and Gabor L. Lovei

Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, Vol.154(2), pp.161-170

2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.12267

Abstract

biological control

tropical agroecosystems

spillover predation

intercropping

Uganda

pesticides

natural enemies

artificial caterpillars

ecosystem service

Malvaceae

Pest suppression by natural enemies is an important ecosystem service, which is a valuable resource to poor smallholders in developing countries. Diverse natural enemy assemblages of arthropod predators and parasitoids are documented in various regions in Africa, but our knowledge of their impact on herbivores in agroecosystems remains limited. We conducted experiments in cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L. (Malvaceae), under typical local agronomic practices in Uganda to assess levels of predation pressure ascribed to natural enemies. We measured predation rates on artificial caterpillars made of plasticine glued to cotton plants. Predation pressure on cotton fields varied between 1.96 and 4.1% per day, but was not significantly influenced by cotton treatments (insecticide/no insecticide, monocropping/intercropping with Phaseolus spp.). Predation pressure in non-crop habitats adjacent to cotton fields was up to 12x higher than in the fields. Marks left on the artificial caterpillars revealed that arthropods and birds were largely accountable for predation in cotton fields, whereas arthropods and small mammals were dominant in non-cultivated habitats.

Details

Title: Predation pressure in Ugandan cotton fields measured by a sentinel prey method
Authors: Andy G. Howe (Corresponding Author) - University of Copenhagen
Gosta Nachman (Author) - University of Copenhagen
Gabor L. Lovei (Author) - Aarhus University
Publication details: Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, Vol.154(2), pp.161-170
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
DOI: 10.1111/eea.12267
ISSN: 1570-7458
Grant note: Danish Development Research Network; BiosafeTrain ENRECA project
Organisation Unit: Forest Research Institute; Forest Industries Research Centre
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99980396602621
Output Type: Journal article