The effect of landscape complexity and microclimate on the thermal tolerance of a pest insect

Landscape changes are known to exacerbate the impacts of climate change. As such, understanding the combined effect of climate and landscape on agroecosystems is vital if we are to maintain the function of agroecosystems. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of agricultural landscape complexity on the microclimate and thermal tolerance of an aphid pest to better understand how landscape and climate may interact to affect the thermal tolerance of pest species within the context of global climate change. Meteorological data were measured at the landscape level, and cereal aphids (Sitobion avenae, Metopolophium dirhodum and Rhopalosiphum padi) sampled, from contrasting landscapes (simple and complex) in winter 2013/2014 and spring 2014 in cereal fields of Brittany, France. Aphids were returned to the laboratory and the effect of landscape of origin on aphid cold tolerance (as determined by CTmin ) was investigated. Results revealed that local landscape complexity significantly affected microclimate, with simple homogenous landscapes being on average warmer, but with greater temperature variation. Landscape complexity was shown to impact aphid cold tolerance, with aphids from complex landscapes being more cold tolerant than those from simple landscapes in both winter and spring, but with differences among species. This study highlights that future changes to land use could have implications for the thermal tolerance and adaptability of insects. Furthermore, not all insect species respond in a similar way to microhabitat and microclimate, which could disrupt important predator-prey relationships and the ecosystem service they provide

Was Dan Janzen (1977) right about aphid clones being a "super-organism", i.e. a single "evolutionary individual"? : new insights from the use of molecular marker systems

Dan Janzen proposed in a paper in 1977 (loc. cit.), that a clone of aphids and for that matter dandelions consists, respectively, of one large ‘super-organism’. In effect a single evolutionary individual able to exploit resources over an expanded geographical range, and sometimes with aphids also, a wider range of resources (different kinds of host plants), much more than if the organism concerned were a single individual. Such a view is of course based on the notion that an asexual lineage (clone) has strict genetic fidelity, that is to say, is genetically identical over its entire genome between clone mates. This seems a highly unlikely scenario and indeed, modern molecular markers have revealed a plethora of mutational events within such so-called clones. Here in this talk I provide evidence from aphids that they are not ‘perfect forms’ but rather show a range of variations, including evidence of hybridization events, and that they can and do adapt to environmental circumstances, sometimes swiftly. Hence that even as asexual lineages, aphids are able to exploit new ecological circumstances and flourish, e.g. host adapted forms, whilst some species, notably the highly polyphagous peach-potato aphid (Myzus persicae), have also evolved resistance to a range of pesticides, and by so doing, have managed to survive in the face of these poisons. However, there are fitness costs associated with such adaptation, more especially in the highly resistant aphids. Because of the variation and adaptation shown by particular aphid species and asexual lineages, they cannot be described as a single evolutionary unit in a ‘Janzenian’ sense. What they show is ecological plasticity and an ability to adapt quickly, in large part enhanced by their incredible rate of reproduction and population expansion. Some migrating winged aphids are constrained in their exploitation of new habitats by environmental factors – geographical, climatic and ecological, especially lack of suitable hosts. In contrast, some other aphid species have seemingly colonized large areas of the world (probably aided by human agency) so that deciding what a population is exactly is a difficult task. It may even be that certain ‘super clones’ detected using molecular markers have indeed spread far and wide, clones which appear to fit the description of being ‘general purpose genotypes’ in that they can feed on a range of plant hosts under a range of different geographical-climatic conditions. As such, they are nearest to Dan Janzen’s views, although here again, strict genetic fidelity is not necessarily proven, only accepted from the application of a limited number of markers, e.g. multilocus genotypes in the case of microsatellite markers

Grain yield reductions in spring barley due to barley yellow dwarf virus and aphid feeding

peer-reviewedThe occurrence and control of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) in spring barley was investigated, at Oak Park, in the periods 1990 to 1993 and 1996 to 2001. Barley was sown in March and April and treated with either organophosphorous or pyrethroid aphicide at various plant growth stages. The most common aphid encountered was Sitobion avenae and MAV the most common strain of BYDV. In untreated plots of March- and April-sown barley, 0.85% and 5.9%, respectively, of tillers had virus symptoms. Best control of symptoms, from a single aphicide in March- and April-sown crops, was a treatment at growth stage (g.s.) 14. This treatment contributed 77% of the reduction in symptoms recorded for multiple treatments in April-sown plots. The reduction in grain yield due to high, moderate and low BYDV infection in April-sown barley was 1.1 t/ha (20%), 0.65 t/ha (10%) and 0.36 t/ha (7%), respectively. In Marchsown barley, pyrethroid aphicide applied at g.s. 14 significantly improved grain yield by 0.26 t/ha (4%). In the season having the most severe BYDV outbreak, a pyrethroid aphicide at g.s. 14 was best in controlling yield loss. Pyrethroid aphicide gave better control of symptoms and better yields than organophosphorous aphicide. The estimated yield reductions in untreated April-sown barley due to feeding damage by Sitobion avenae was 0.71 t/ha and 0.83 t/ha (10.6% and 11.3%) in the two seasons in which this aphid was plentiful. In the three seasons in which Metopolophium dirhodum was recorded the estimated yield reductions were 0.32 t/ha, 0.48 t/ha and 0.43 t/ha (5.2%, 5.6% and 5.7%)

Why is there no impact of the host species on the cold tolerance of a generalist parasitoid?

For generalist parasitoids such as those belonging to the Genus Aphidius, the choice of host species can have profound implications for the emerging parasitoid. Host species is known to affect a variety of life history traits. However, the impact of the host on thermal tolerance has never been studied. Physiological thermal tolerance, enabling survival at unfavourable temperatures, is not a fixed trait and may be influenced by a number of external factors including characteristics of the stress, of the individual exposed to the stress, and of the biological and physical environment. As such, the choice of host species is likely to also have implications for the thermal tolerance of the emerging parasitoid. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of cereal aphid host species (Sitobion avenae, Rhopalosiphum padi and Metopolophium dirhodum) on adult thermal tolerance, in addition to sex and size, of the aphid parasitoids Aphidius avenae, Aphidius matricariae and Aphidius rhopalosiphi. Results revealed no effect of host species on the cold tolerance of the emerging parasitoid, as determined by CTmin and Chill Coma, for all parasitoid species. Host species significantly affected the size of the emerging parasitoid for A. rhopalosiphi only, with individuals emerging from R. padi being significantly larger than those emerging from S. avenae, although this did not correspond to a difference in thermal tolerance. Furthermore, a significant difference in the size of male and female parasitoids was observed for A. avenae and A. matricariae, although, once again this did not correspond to a difference in cold tolerance. It is suggested that potential behavioural thermoregulation via host manipulation may act to influence the thermal environment experienced by the wasp and thus wasp thermal tolerance and, in doing so, may negate physiological thermal tolerance or any impact of the aphid host

Was Dan Janzen (1977) right about aphid clones being a "super-organism", i.e. a single "evolutionary individual"? : new insights from the use of molecular marker systems

Dan Janzen proposed in a paper in 1977 (loc. cit.), that a clone of aphids and for that matter dandelions consists, respectively, of one large ‘super-organism’. In effect a single evolutionary individual able to exploit resources over an expanded geographical range, and sometimes with aphids also, a wider range of resources (different kinds of host plants), much more than if the organism concerned were a single individual. Such a view is of course based on the notion that an asexual lineage (clone) has strict genetic fidelity, that is to say, is genetically identical over its entire genome between clone mates. This seems a highly unlikely scenario and indeed, modern molecular markers have revealed a plethora of mutational events within such so-called clones. Here in this talk I provide evidence from aphids that they are not ‘perfect forms’ but rather show a range of variations, including evidence of hybridization events, and that they can and do adapt to environmental circumstances, sometimes swiftly. Hence that even as asexual lineages, aphids are able to exploit new ecological circumstances and flourish, e.g. host adapted forms, whilst some species, notably the highly polyphagous peach-potato aphid (Myzus persicae), have also evolved resistance to a range of pesticides, and by so doing, have managed to survive in the face of these poisons. However, there are fitness costs associated with such adaptation, more especially in the highly resistant aphids. Because of the variation and adaptation shown by particular aphid species and asexual lineages, they cannot be described as a single evolutionary unit in a ‘Janzenian’ sense. What they show is ecological plasticity and an ability to adapt quickly, in large part enhanced by their incredible rate of reproduction and population expansion. Some migrating winged aphids are constrained in their exploitation of new habitats by environmental factors – geographical, climatic and ecological, especially lack of suitable hosts. In contrast, some other aphid species have seemingly colonized large areas of the world (probably aided by human agency) so that deciding what a population is exactly is a difficult task. It may even be that certain ‘super clones’ detected using molecular markers have indeed spread far and wide, clones which appear to fit the description of being ‘general purpose genotypes’ in that they can feed on a range of plant hosts under a range of different geographical-climatic conditions. As such, they are nearest to Dan Janzen’s views, although here again, strict genetic fidelity is not necessarily proven, only accepted from the application of a limited number of markers, e.g. multilocus genotypes in the case of microsatellite markers

An overview of the functioning of Sitobion avenea populations at three spatial scales in France

In this paper we give 3 snapshots of our recent work on S. avenae at field, landscape and country scales. From April to June wheat fields are continuously colonized by winged S. avenae and previously established colonies experience high extinction rates. This leads to changes in spatial distribution of aggregates of aphids and to a progressive spatial homogenisation of the populations in fields, and highlights the role of spring immigrants in the field dynamics of S. avenae. In the surrounding landscape, the S. avenae populations on cultivated cereals (wheat, maize, barley) do not differ genetically. Conversely, aphids from weed margins and pastures (mostly on Poeae) clearly differ from those on cereals, indicating a low level of gene flow between the ‘uncultivated’ (mostly perennial) and cultivated system (annual). Consequently weeds and pasture grasses are probably poor sources of S. avenae for further infestation of cereal fields. The role of surrounding crops and weeds as a source of aphids infesting wheat was assessed by stable isotopic ratios and population genetic tools. In autumn, up to the beginning of October, most S. avenae landing on wheat originated from maize and after this from cereal volunteers. In spring the influx from surrounding cereal volunteers varied between years, but uncultivated Poeae played a minor role. At country scale on cereals, clonal reproduction and parthenogenetic overwintering prevails everywhere in France, but there is a trend toward increasing sexuality northward. The weak genetic differentiation of the regional populations on cereals and the presence of many identical genotypes in most of the regions sampled confirm the high dispersal ability of S. avenae. The high occurrence of widespread genotypes in multiple copies, belonging to the same genetic pool, which persist over several years in France and other countries in Europe, indicates a homogenising effect of selection by millions of hectares of cereal

Analyses of factors influencing the population dynamics of cereal aphids and their relevance to model extensions

Aphids annually infest winter wheat, Triticum aestivum L., in late spring and early summer in Central Europe, but densities leading to strong yield losses are reached only occasionally (Basedow et al., 1994). Three aphid species, Sitobion avenae Fabr., Metopolophium dirhodum Walk. and R. padi L., usually occur in cereal crops with increasing densities from late spring onwards (Basedow et al., 1994). Modelling population levels of cereal aphids is a key tool in integrated pest management for winter wheat. Over the last 30 years, considerable efforts have been made to investigate the population dynamics of aphids (DeWit and Rabbinge, 1979; Entwistle and Dixon, 1987). In Central Europe to date, two models have attained greater importance in late spring: LAUS (Friesland, 1986) and GETLAUS01 (Gosselke et al., 2001). The first one estimates the population level of S. avenae in spring in winter wheat fields and has obtained regional significance in practical plant protection. In contrast, the model GETLAUS01 is a scientific model, not designed for practical plant protection. It describes in great detail the population dynamics of S. avenae, R. padi and M. dirhodum. Both models have been improved over time and extended with several factors, e.g. by including the effects of antagonists, fertilisation, crop density, plant protection agents and meteorological parameters on population development. The objective of this study was to analyse the following three factors in terms of their impact on population and migration characteristics: cultivar, proximity between winter and summer hosts and migration (according to meteorological parameters).Getreideblattläuse (Hemiptera: Aphididae) sind die bedeutendsten Schädlinge von Winterweizen im Frühjahr und Sommer. Sie führen jedoch nur zu signifikanten Ertragsausfällen, wenn biotische und abiotische Faktoren ein optimales Populationswachstum erlauben. Einige dieser Faktoren sind bereits in Simulationsmodellen berücksichtigt. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden Sorteneinflüsse, die Nähe von Winter- zu Sommerwirten und meteorologische Parameter bezüglich der Migrations- und Populationsentwicklung als weitere mögliche Faktoren im Hinblick auf Modellerweiterungen untersucht. 8 Winterweizensorten zeigten weder bezüglich der Entwicklung von Nachkommen (in Klippkäfigen, BBCH-Stadium 32 und 69), noch während der Erstbesiedelungsphase von geflügelten Getreideblattläusen (Ende Mai, Anfang Juni) bedeutende Unterschiede. Die Nähe von Winter- zu Sommerwirten beeinflusste in unterschiedlicher Weise den Populationsaufbau der wirtswechselnden Arten im Winterweizen. In Jahren mit hoher Populationsentwicklung auf den Winterwirten konnte nur für Rhopalosiphum padi L. signifikant erhöhte Populationsdichten im Winterweizen in nächster Nähe zu Prunus padus L. festgestellt werden. Die frühe Migration wurde anhand von Saugfallendaten verschiedener Standorte der letzten Jahre untersucht. Das Erstauftreten von R. padi (1. Fänge in Saugfallen) zeigte sich dabei recht konstant am 13. Mai eines Jahres. Die Beziehungen zwischen den weiteren Migrationsereignissen und meteorologischen Parametern waren jedoch eher schwach ausgeprägt (R²<0,21, p=0,01); wobei hier Globalstrahlung (R²=0,21), Temperatur (R²=0,18) und Windgeschwindigkeit (R²=0,14) die deutlichsten Beziehungen zeigten

Identifying aphid resistance in the ancestral wheat Triticum monococcum under field conditions.

Wheat is an economically, socially, and nutritionally important crop, however, aphid infestation can often reduce wheat yield through feeding and virus transmission. Through field phenotyping, we investigated aphid resistance in ancestral wheat Triticum monococcum (L.). Aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi (L.), Sitobion avenae (F.) and Metopolophium dirhodum (Wlk.)) populations and natural enemy presence (parasitised mummified aphids, ladybird adults and larvae and lacewing eggs and larvae) on two naturally susceptible wheat varieties, Triticum aestivum (L.) var. Solstice and T. monococcum MDR037, and three potentially resistant genotypes T. monococcum MDR657, MDR045 and MDR049 were monitored across three years of field trials. Triticum monococcum MDR045 and MDR049 had smaller aphid populations, whereas MDR657 showed no resistance. Overall, natural enemy presence was positively correlated with aphid populations; however, MDR049 had similar natural enemy presence to MDR037 which is susceptible to aphid infestation. It is hypothesised that alongside reducing aphid population growth, MDR049 also confers indirect resistance by attracting natural enemies. The observed resistance to aphids in MDR045 and MDR049 has strong potential for introgression into commercial wheat varieties, which could have an important role in Integrated Pest Management strategies to reduce aphid populations and virus transmission

Aphids (Homoptera: Aphididae) on Winter Wheat: Predicting Maximum Abundance of Metopolophium dirhodum

In Central Europe, the most abundant aphid infesting the leaves of small grain cereals is Metopolophium dirhodum (Walker) (Homoptera: Aphididae). Annual variation in its seasonal dynamics was evaluated using a 25-yr series of standardized weekly censuses of winter wheat plots. M. dirhodum made up >50 % of the aphids on the foliage. Date of immigration (8 May–3 July), length of period of population increase (0–9 wk), and date of attaining maximum abundance (28 May–22 July) varied greatly. For the prediction, we regressed maximum numbers/tiller on numbers recorded in the first week after heading. The regression of maximum abundance on nonzero aphid counts revealed a critical number of ≥1.50 aphids/tiller, which if exceeded resulted in a harmful maximum abundance of ≥10 aphids/tiller at the peak. Zero aphid counts resulted in 10% of cases with a harmful maximum abundance. Using this regression for prediction will result in 18% of the recorded cases being false negatives and 9% false positives. Parallel annual variation in the average maximum numbers of M. dirhodum, Sitobion avenae (Fabricius) (Homoptera: Aphididae), and Rhopalosiphum padi (Linné) (Homoptera: Aphididae) indicated the following factors that affected their abundance: temperature in winter and host plant quality. The predictions apply only in areas where M. dirhodum is holocyclic and aphids do not overwinter in wheat stands