TY - JOUR
T1 - Conservation biological control using Australian native plants in a brassica crop system
T2 - Seeking complementary ecosystem services
AU - Pandey, Sunita
AU - Gurr, Geoff M.
PY - 2019/8/1
Y1 - 2019/8/1
N2 - Habitat management can enhance the
strength of ecosystem services but carries also the risk of leading to
ecosystem disservices unless trophic links and ecosystem functions are
well understood. In this study, intercropping with Australian native
flowering plants was compared with the use of an exotic plant, buckwheat
(Fagopyrum esculentum) and naturally occurring weedy grass
vegetation for the provision of multiple ecosystem services in a cabbage
agroecosystem. Among the native plants studied, Mentha satureioides had the most comprehensive positive effects on pest management. Compared with the grassy control, M. satureiodides significantly enhanced parasitism of the pest, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) larvae and reduced pest Brevicoryne brassicae densities and was comparable to F. esculentum. Flowers of M. satureiodides appeared attractive to adult Pieris rapae
and the adjacent cabbage foliage held high densities of this pest’s
eggs but, reflecting high densities of parasitoids and predators
(especially spiders), larval densities were not elevated compared to
other treatments. Lotus australis also enhanced natural
enemies, especially coccinellids and spiders, but this did not translate
into the ecosystem service of pest suppression. Swainsona galegifolia
harboured elevated numbers of spiders but the adjacent crop did not
benefit from enhanced enemy densities or suppressed pests. For
complementary ecosystem services, pollinator abundance was enhanced by
the exotic plant F. esculentum and two natives (L. australis and M. satureioides). Honey bees (Apis mellifera) were highly attracted to F. esculentum,
while native bees were attracted to the native plants. Native
butterflies were monitored as a proxy for benefit to native invertebrate
biodiversity and two native plants (L. australis and M. satureioides) were found to be attractive. Soil biological activity, a proxy for soil-associated ecosystem services, was lower in the F. esculentum
treatment compared to all other treatments. These results show scope
for farmers to take advantage of particular, and potentially multiple,
ecosystem services by incorporating native flowering plants into farming
systems but highlights the importance of plant selection and the risk
of trade-offs among services.
AB - Habitat management can enhance the
strength of ecosystem services but carries also the risk of leading to
ecosystem disservices unless trophic links and ecosystem functions are
well understood. In this study, intercropping with Australian native
flowering plants was compared with the use of an exotic plant, buckwheat
(Fagopyrum esculentum) and naturally occurring weedy grass
vegetation for the provision of multiple ecosystem services in a cabbage
agroecosystem. Among the native plants studied, Mentha satureioides had the most comprehensive positive effects on pest management. Compared with the grassy control, M. satureiodides significantly enhanced parasitism of the pest, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) larvae and reduced pest Brevicoryne brassicae densities and was comparable to F. esculentum. Flowers of M. satureiodides appeared attractive to adult Pieris rapae
and the adjacent cabbage foliage held high densities of this pest’s
eggs but, reflecting high densities of parasitoids and predators
(especially spiders), larval densities were not elevated compared to
other treatments. Lotus australis also enhanced natural
enemies, especially coccinellids and spiders, but this did not translate
into the ecosystem service of pest suppression. Swainsona galegifolia
harboured elevated numbers of spiders but the adjacent crop did not
benefit from enhanced enemy densities or suppressed pests. For
complementary ecosystem services, pollinator abundance was enhanced by
the exotic plant F. esculentum and two natives (L. australis and M. satureioides). Honey bees (Apis mellifera) were highly attracted to F. esculentum,
while native bees were attracted to the native plants. Native
butterflies were monitored as a proxy for benefit to native invertebrate
biodiversity and two native plants (L. australis and M. satureioides) were found to be attractive. Soil biological activity, a proxy for soil-associated ecosystem services, was lower in the F. esculentum
treatment compared to all other treatments. These results show scope
for farmers to take advantage of particular, and potentially multiple,
ecosystem services by incorporating native flowering plants into farming
systems but highlights the importance of plant selection and the risk
of trade-offs among services.
KW - Biological pest control
KW - Habitat management
KW - Native butterfly
KW - Natural enemy
KW - Pollinator
KW - Soil biological activity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85064920010&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85064920010&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.agee.2019.04.018
DO - 10.1016/j.agee.2019.04.018
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85064920010
SN - 0167-8809
VL - 280
SP - 77
EP - 84
JO - Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment
JF - Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment
ER -