Biological control of an agricultural pest protects tropical forests

Though often perceived as an environmentally-risky practice, biological control of invasive species can restore crop yields, ease land pressure and thus contribute to forest conservation. Here, we show how biological control against the mealybug Phenacoccus manihoti (Hemiptera) slows deforestation a...

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Autores principales: Wyckhuys, Kris A.G., Hughes, A.C., Buamas, C., Johnson, Anne, Vasseur, Liette, Reymondin, Louis, Deguine, J.P., Sheil, D.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Springer 2019
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/103610
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author Wyckhuys, Kris A.G.
Hughes, A.C.
Buamas, C.
Johnson, Anne
Vasseur, Liette
Reymondin, Louis
Deguine, J.P.
Sheil, D.
author_browse Buamas, C.
Deguine, J.P.
Hughes, A.C.
Johnson, Anne
Reymondin, Louis
Sheil, D.
Vasseur, Liette
Wyckhuys, Kris A.G.
author_facet Wyckhuys, Kris A.G.
Hughes, A.C.
Buamas, C.
Johnson, Anne
Vasseur, Liette
Reymondin, Louis
Deguine, J.P.
Sheil, D.
author_sort Wyckhuys, Kris A.G.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Though often perceived as an environmentally-risky practice, biological control of invasive species can restore crop yields, ease land pressure and thus contribute to forest conservation. Here, we show how biological control against the mealybug Phenacoccus manihoti (Hemiptera) slows deforestation across Southeast Asia. In Thailand, this newly-arrived mealybug caused an 18% decline in cassava yields over 2009–2010 and an escalation in prices of cassava products. This spurred an expansion of cassava cropping in neighboring countries from 713,000 ha in 2009 to > 1 million ha by 2011: satellite imagery reveals 388%, 330%, 185% and 608% increases in peak deforestation rates in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam focused in cassava crop expansion areas. Following release of the host-specific parasitoid Anagyrus lopezi (Hymenoptera) in 2010, mealybug outbreaks were reduced, cropping area contracted and deforestation slowed by 31–95% in individual countries. Hence, when judiciously implemented, insect biological control can deliver substantial environmental benefits.
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spelling CGSpace1036102025-03-13T09:43:57Z Biological control of an agricultural pest protects tropical forests Wyckhuys, Kris A.G. Hughes, A.C. Buamas, C. Johnson, Anne Vasseur, Liette Reymondin, Louis Deguine, J.P. Sheil, D. biological control forests conservation cassava manihot esculenta agroecology invasive species Though often perceived as an environmentally-risky practice, biological control of invasive species can restore crop yields, ease land pressure and thus contribute to forest conservation. Here, we show how biological control against the mealybug Phenacoccus manihoti (Hemiptera) slows deforestation across Southeast Asia. In Thailand, this newly-arrived mealybug caused an 18% decline in cassava yields over 2009–2010 and an escalation in prices of cassava products. This spurred an expansion of cassava cropping in neighboring countries from 713,000 ha in 2009 to > 1 million ha by 2011: satellite imagery reveals 388%, 330%, 185% and 608% increases in peak deforestation rates in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam focused in cassava crop expansion areas. Following release of the host-specific parasitoid Anagyrus lopezi (Hymenoptera) in 2010, mealybug outbreaks were reduced, cropping area contracted and deforestation slowed by 31–95% in individual countries. Hence, when judiciously implemented, insect biological control can deliver substantial environmental benefits. 2019-01-07 2019-09-10T19:11:48Z 2019-09-10T19:11:48Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/103610 en Open Access Springer Wyckhuys, Kris; Hughes, A. C.; Buamas, C.; Johnson, Anne; Vasseur, Liette; Reymondin, Louis; Deguine, J. -P. & Sheil, D. (2019). Biological control of an agricultural pest protects tropical forests. Communications Biology. 2:10
spellingShingle biological control
forests
conservation
cassava
manihot esculenta
agroecology
invasive species
Wyckhuys, Kris A.G.
Hughes, A.C.
Buamas, C.
Johnson, Anne
Vasseur, Liette
Reymondin, Louis
Deguine, J.P.
Sheil, D.
Biological control of an agricultural pest protects tropical forests
title Biological control of an agricultural pest protects tropical forests
title_full Biological control of an agricultural pest protects tropical forests
title_fullStr Biological control of an agricultural pest protects tropical forests
title_full_unstemmed Biological control of an agricultural pest protects tropical forests
title_short Biological control of an agricultural pest protects tropical forests
title_sort biological control of an agricultural pest protects tropical forests
topic biological control
forests
conservation
cassava
manihot esculenta
agroecology
invasive species
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/103610
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