Soil fertility regulates invasive herbivore performance and top-down control in tropical agroecosystems of Southeast Asia

In terrestrial ecosystems, changes in soil nutrient availability, plant growth or natural enemies can generate important shifts in abundance of organisms at various trophic levels. In agroecosystems the performance of (invasive) herbivores and their impacts on crops is of particular concern. Scienti...

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Main Authors: Wyckhuys, Kris A.G., Burra, Dharani Dhar, Tran, D.H., Graziosi, Ignazio, Walter, Abigail Jan, Nguyen, T.G., Trong, H.N., Le, B.V., Le, T.T.N., Fonte, Steven J.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Elsevier 2017
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/83184
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author Wyckhuys, Kris A.G.
Burra, Dharani Dhar
Tran, D.H.
Graziosi, Ignazio
Walter, Abigail Jan
Nguyen, T.G.
Trong, H.N.
Le, B.V.
Le, T.T.N.
Fonte, Steven J.
author_browse Burra, Dharani Dhar
Fonte, Steven J.
Graziosi, Ignazio
Le, B.V.
Le, T.T.N.
Nguyen, T.G.
Tran, D.H.
Trong, H.N.
Walter, Abigail Jan
Wyckhuys, Kris A.G.
author_facet Wyckhuys, Kris A.G.
Burra, Dharani Dhar
Tran, D.H.
Graziosi, Ignazio
Walter, Abigail Jan
Nguyen, T.G.
Trong, H.N.
Le, B.V.
Le, T.T.N.
Fonte, Steven J.
author_sort Wyckhuys, Kris A.G.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description In terrestrial ecosystems, changes in soil nutrient availability, plant growth or natural enemies can generate important shifts in abundance of organisms at various trophic levels. In agroecosystems the performance of (invasive) herbivores and their impacts on crops is of particular concern. Scientists are presently challenged with making reliable inferences on invader success, natural enemy performance and efficacy of biological control, particularly in tropical agroecosystems. In this study, we assess how trophic regulatory forces (bottom-up vs. top down) influence the success of three globally important pests of cassava. We examine the mealybug species (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) of differing host breadth and invasion history: Phenacoccus manihoti, Paracoccus marginatus, and Pseudococcus jackbeardsleyi. Potted plant fertilizer trials were combined with a regional survey in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia of 65 cassava fields of similar size and age, but with varying soil fertility. Relative abundance of each mealybug invader was mapped along a soil fertility gradient, and contrasted with site-specific measures of parasitism. Potted plant trials revealed strong bottom-up effects for P. manihoti, such that impacts of nitrogen and potassium additions were propagated through to higher trophic levels and substantially boost development and fitness of its specialist parasitoid, Anagyrus lopezi (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Field surveys indicate that mealybug performance is highly species-specific and context-dependent. For example, field-level abundance of P. jackbeardsleyi and P. marginatus, was related to measures of soil fertility parameters, soil texture and plant disease incidence. Furthermore, for P. manihoti, in-field abundance is equally associated with soil texture (i.e., silt content). Principal component analysis (PCA) and regression suggested that P. manihoti and P. marginatus are disproportionately favored in low-fertility conditions, while P. jackbeardsleyi prospers in settings with high organic carbon and phosphorus. Parasitism of P. manihoti by A. lopezi varied greatly with field and soil fertility conditions, and was highest in soils with intermediate fertility levels and where management practices include the addition of fertilizer supplements. Our characterization of the relative performance of invasive mealybugs and strength of parasitism across variable soil fertility conditions will help guide parasitoid release programs and soil management practices that enhance mealybug biological control.
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spelling CGSpace831842025-11-12T05:57:03Z Soil fertility regulates invasive herbivore performance and top-down control in tropical agroecosystems of Southeast Asia Wyckhuys, Kris A.G. Burra, Dharani Dhar Tran, D.H. Graziosi, Ignazio Walter, Abigail Jan Nguyen, T.G. Trong, H.N. Le, B.V. Le, T.T.N. Fonte, Steven J. biological control control biológico soil fertility fertilidad del suelo invasive species especie invasiva agroecosystems agroecosistemas In terrestrial ecosystems, changes in soil nutrient availability, plant growth or natural enemies can generate important shifts in abundance of organisms at various trophic levels. In agroecosystems the performance of (invasive) herbivores and their impacts on crops is of particular concern. Scientists are presently challenged with making reliable inferences on invader success, natural enemy performance and efficacy of biological control, particularly in tropical agroecosystems. In this study, we assess how trophic regulatory forces (bottom-up vs. top down) influence the success of three globally important pests of cassava. We examine the mealybug species (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) of differing host breadth and invasion history: Phenacoccus manihoti, Paracoccus marginatus, and Pseudococcus jackbeardsleyi. Potted plant fertilizer trials were combined with a regional survey in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia of 65 cassava fields of similar size and age, but with varying soil fertility. Relative abundance of each mealybug invader was mapped along a soil fertility gradient, and contrasted with site-specific measures of parasitism. Potted plant trials revealed strong bottom-up effects for P. manihoti, such that impacts of nitrogen and potassium additions were propagated through to higher trophic levels and substantially boost development and fitness of its specialist parasitoid, Anagyrus lopezi (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Field surveys indicate that mealybug performance is highly species-specific and context-dependent. For example, field-level abundance of P. jackbeardsleyi and P. marginatus, was related to measures of soil fertility parameters, soil texture and plant disease incidence. Furthermore, for P. manihoti, in-field abundance is equally associated with soil texture (i.e., silt content). Principal component analysis (PCA) and regression suggested that P. manihoti and P. marginatus are disproportionately favored in low-fertility conditions, while P. jackbeardsleyi prospers in settings with high organic carbon and phosphorus. Parasitism of P. manihoti by A. lopezi varied greatly with field and soil fertility conditions, and was highest in soils with intermediate fertility levels and where management practices include the addition of fertilizer supplements. Our characterization of the relative performance of invasive mealybugs and strength of parasitism across variable soil fertility conditions will help guide parasitoid release programs and soil management practices that enhance mealybug biological control. 2017-11 2017-08-22T18:56:33Z 2017-08-22T18:56:33Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/83184 en Open Access application/pdf Elsevier Wyckhuys, Kris A. G.; Burra, Dharani Dhar; Tran, D.H.; Graziosi, Ignazio; Walter, Abigail Jan; Nguyen, T.G.; Trong, H.N.; Le, B.V.; Le, T.T.N.; Fonte, S.J.. 2017. Soil fertility regulates invasive herbivore performance and top-down control in tropical agroecosystems of Southeast Asia . Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 249(1): 38-49.
spellingShingle biological control
control biológico
soil fertility
fertilidad del suelo
invasive species
especie invasiva
agroecosystems
agroecosistemas
Wyckhuys, Kris A.G.
Burra, Dharani Dhar
Tran, D.H.
Graziosi, Ignazio
Walter, Abigail Jan
Nguyen, T.G.
Trong, H.N.
Le, B.V.
Le, T.T.N.
Fonte, Steven J.
Soil fertility regulates invasive herbivore performance and top-down control in tropical agroecosystems of Southeast Asia
title Soil fertility regulates invasive herbivore performance and top-down control in tropical agroecosystems of Southeast Asia
title_full Soil fertility regulates invasive herbivore performance and top-down control in tropical agroecosystems of Southeast Asia
title_fullStr Soil fertility regulates invasive herbivore performance and top-down control in tropical agroecosystems of Southeast Asia
title_full_unstemmed Soil fertility regulates invasive herbivore performance and top-down control in tropical agroecosystems of Southeast Asia
title_short Soil fertility regulates invasive herbivore performance and top-down control in tropical agroecosystems of Southeast Asia
title_sort soil fertility regulates invasive herbivore performance and top down control in tropical agroecosystems of southeast asia
topic biological control
control biológico
soil fertility
fertilidad del suelo
invasive species
especie invasiva
agroecosystems
agroecosistemas
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/83184
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