ASSESSING THE FUNCTIONAL SIMILARITY OF NATIVE AND INVASIVE \u3ci\u3eANOLIS\u3c/i\u3e LIZARDS IN THE FOOD WEBS OF STRUCTURALLY-SIMPLE HABITATS IN FLORIDA

Invasive species often displace ecologically-similar native species, but the extent to which invading and displaced species function similarly in the food web processes of invaded communities is largely unknown. I investigated whether populations and individuals of an invasive Anolis lizard (the brown anole, Anolis sagrei) and the native congener it displaces in Florida (the green anole, Anolis carolinensis) are functionally equivalent in the food webs of open and structurally-simple habitats. In a system of invaded and uninvaded dredge-spoils islands, I found that both arthropod communities and winter bird communities covaried with brown anole abundance (and therefore the identity of the dominant anole species operating in island food webs) in ways that were generally well explained as the direct and indirect food web effects of greater Anolis predation pressure on arthropods following brown anole invasion. Larger-bodied ground and foliage-dwelling arthropods tended to be negatively associated with brown anole abundance, as was total foliage arthropod abundance; by contrast, smaller-bodied arthropods, which are less likely to serve as brown anole prey, tended to be positively associated with brown anole abundance. The abundances of arthropod-consuming birds were also negatively associated with brown anole abundance, possibly reflecting exploitative competition for prey. Although many of the observed patterns were partly or entirely co-explained by environmental and spatial covariables, both statistical evidence and mechanistic considerations strongly suggested that at least some arthropod response groups were differentially affected by green anole and brown anole populations. To evaluate the potential contribution of anole perching and foraging behavior to differential population-level effects, I compared the per-capita effects of male green and brown anoles for several arthropod prey taxa that were stocked, over a series of experiments, into field enclosures erected over small cabbage palms (Sabal palmetto). Despite significant differences in every measured behavioral attribute, male green and brown anoles had statistically indistinguishable effects on six of seven prey taxa, suggesting that individuals of these two species have similar per-capita effects on prey assemblages when they forage in spatially-proximate locations. This dissertation represents one of the few existing comparisons of the relative food web effects of terrestrial vertebrate predators

Auchenorrhyncha monitoring and proposal of management measures for potential pests on peach orchards in Beira Interior region

Tese de mestrado, Biologia Humana e Ambiente, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, 2020The Auchenorrhyncha suborder comprises several species considered to be pests of economically important crops whether as a result of the direct damage caused by their feeding process or through some species ability to act as vectors for plant pathogens such as viruses and phytoplasmas. Knowing this, the main goal of this study was the monitoring of the Auchenorrhyncha suborder for potential pests on peach orchards of the Beira Interior region, with a particular focus on the green leafhopper species Asymmetrasca decedens (Paoli), as well as potential vectors of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa Wells et al. The green leafhopper Asymmetrasca decedens was recorded in mainland Portugal in 2013, on the Beira Interior Region. As a highly polyphagous species, this leafhopper is associated with many infestations resulting in considerable damage in crops such as peach, plum, almond, cotton, among others. This species is capable of acting as a vector for ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma Phoenicium’, a pathogenic plant bacterium responsible for almond witches-broom disease that affects almond, peach, and other crops. A. decedens is also considered to be a potential vector for the phytoplasma that causes European Stone Fruit Yellow’s disease which affects stone fruit trees. This leafhopper has a great potential as an emergent pest in this country, especially due to its significant resistance to conventional pesticides, and its wide range of hosts, that include economically important crops of the Beira Interior Region such as stone fruit, therefore posing as a threat to agriculture in Portugal. Xylella fastidiosa is a xylem-limited vector-borne bacterium transmitted by some species of the Auchenorrhyncha suborder and is the causal agent of diseases that affect grapevine, olive, stone fruit, citrus and others. In 2013 this bacterium was detected in Italy associated with a disease known as Olive Quick Decline Syndrome, which had devastating effects in olive orchards in the region. Since then, X. fastidiosa has been found in other countries in Europe, including in Portugal, where it was reported for the first time in 2019. Due to the recent detection of X. fastidiosa in Portugal, the widespread presence of confirmed vectors, and the considerable variety of susceptible economically important crops, monitorization is imperative in order to avoid, contain and reduce the potential damage caused by the bacterium. The captured individuals of the Auchenorrhyncha community were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level, population dynamics were analyzed and environmental factors such as climatic variables were also studied to determine its influence on species variation. In total, 8140 individuals were captured on Póvoa de Atalaia and Louriçal do Campo orchards and 39 species of the Auchenorrhyncha community were detected. Two confirmed vectors species of X. fastidiosa, Philaenus spumarius (Linnaeus) and Neophilaenus campestris (Fallén), were found on both orchards in 2019. This detection highlights the need to continuously monitor these species considering the threat these could become if the current area affected by X. fastidiosa expanded. The dominant species on the orchards were Empoasca solani which presented a shorter and earlier distribution as the peak was registered on April 18th and A. decedens which gradually replaced the first and reached its abundance peak on September 20th. The data obtained regarding A. decedens abundance and distribution allowed the establishment of appropriate periods for the control of this species.Há muito tempo que as pragas constituem um desafio para a população humana quer por competirem pelos mesmos recursos quer pelo efeito prejudicial que podem representar para a saúde. Um dos mais importantes grupos de pragas são os insetos por serem responsáveis por consideráveis estragos na agricultura, a qual é essencial à alimentação humana, e o considerável impacto económico resultante. Vários fatores antropogénicos tais como o aumento de ambientes manipulados pelo Homem, como o caso de monoculturas, o aumento de transportes e mobilidade resultante da crescente globalização e outros fatores como alterações climáticas, têm contribuido para a presença e maior frequência de determinadas pragas. Ao longo dos anos a humanidade tem vindo a desenvolver métodos e estratégias de controlo para estas pragas de forma a conter ou limitar os estragos causados, incluindo programas de monitorização de forma a prever possíveis surtos e determinar a distribuição geográfica de determinadas espécies problemáticas. A subordem Auchenorrhyncha inclui mais de 42000 espécies, sendo várias consideradas pragas agrícolas quer pelos danos causados diretamente pelo seu processo de alimentação quer por serem vetores de patogéneos de plantas como bactérias e vírus. Tendo isto em conta, o principal objetivo deste estudo foi a monitorização da comunidade Auchenorrhyncha em pomares de pêssegos na região da Beira Interior, com um particular destaque para a cigarrinha verde Asymmetrasca decedens (Paoli) e potenciais vetores da bactéria Xyllela fastidiosa Wells et al. Asymmetrasca decedens encontra-se amplamente distribuída na região do Mediterrâneo e oeste asiático. Esta espécie foi detetada em Portugal na ilha da Madeira em 2004 e na região da Beira Interior em 2013. Trata-se de uma espécie altamente polífaga, com a capacidade de se alimentar de plantas herbáceas, arbustos e árvores, incluíndo várias espécies economicamente importantes como pêssego, ameixa, amêndoa, algodão, entre outros. Através do seu processo de alimentação esta cigarrinha provoca uma descoloração das folhas, conferindo-lhes uma aparência amarelada, podendo também causar deformações como o enrolamento das folhas especialmente nas regiões mais periféricas e necrose dos tecidos, conferindo-lhes um aspeto queimado, geralmente designado como “hopperburn”. A. decedens demonstra uma especial apetência por plantas mais jovens provocando-lhes estragos mais significativos. Para além dos estragos diretos causados, esta espécie também pode atuar como vetor de fitoplasmas, bacterias patogénicas associadas a doenças que afetam culturas economicamente importantes. Esta cigarrinha verde foi confirmada como vetor de “Candidatus Phytoplasma Phoenicium”, o fitoplasma responsável pela doença “Almond witches’ broom” que afeta amêndoa, pêssego, nectarina, entre outros. Este fitoplasma levou à morte de mais de 150000 amendoeiras no Líbano nos anos 90, tendo-se verificado os efeitos durante mais de duas décadas. A. decedens é também considerada um potencial vetor do fitoplasma responsável por “European Stone Fruit Yellow’s” que afeta várias espécies de prunóideas. Esta espécie tem o potencial de se tornar uma praga emergente em Portugal, quer pela resistência demonstrada a pesticidas convencionais o que dificulta o seu controlo, quer pela grande variedade de plantas hospedeiras que incluem prunóideas representando portanto uma ameaça à agricultura em Portugal, em particular na região da Beira Interior pois esta região é responsável por 45% da produção nacional de pêssego. Xylella fastidiosa trata-se de uma bactéria limitada ao xilema das plantas e transmitida por espécies de insetos vetores da comunidade Auchenorrhyncha. Esta bactéria é responsável por várias doenças, podendo afetar vinha, oliveira, citrinos, prunóideas, entre outros. Apesar desta bactéria ter sido detetada no continente americano há mais de um século, X. fastidiosa foi detetada na Europa, em Itália, apenas em 2013, quando foi associada a uma doença conhecida como “Olive Quick Decline Syndrom”, a qual desencadeou efeitos devastadores em pomares de oliveiras da região. Desde a deteção, várias prospecções têm sido realizadas na Europa, tendo esta bactéria sido detetada em Portugal, pela primeira vez, em 2019. Devido à recente presença, à existência de espécies vetoras confirmadas, e à considerável variedade de espécies economicamente importantes suscetíveis no país, a monitorização é fundamental para evitar, conter e reduzir os potenciais estragos provocados pela bactéria. Uma das doenças causadas por X. fastidiosa, “Peach Phony disease” provoca consideráveis estragos e reduções na produção de pêssego, tratando-se portanto de uma potencial ameaça à produção na região da Beira Interior se a atual área afetada por esta bactéria aumentar e se as potenciais espécies vetoras não forem devidamente monitorizadas. Embora as espécies vetoras sejam o principal fator envolvido na dispersão desta bactéria, o transporte de longa distância também pode contribuir para o aumento da área afetada através da movimentação de plantas afetadas. Por não existir nenhum método para o controlo desta bactéria, a principal forma de limitar a sua distribuição passa pelo controlo de espécies vetoras, podendo também ser removidas e destruídas plantas afetadas, ou selecionados cultivares que demonstrem uma maior tolerância a esta bactéria desenvolvendo menos sintomas. Para a monitorização das espécies da comunidade Auchenorrhyncha na região da Beira Interior, foram feitas amostragens em 2019 ao longo de 30 semanas com recurso a armadilhas de cola amarelas em dois pomares desta região, Póvoa de Atalaia e Louriçal do Campo. Os indivíduos da comunidade Auchenorrhyncha detetados foram identificados até ao nível taxonómico mais baixo possível e quando não foi possível foram consideradas morfoespécies. No total, 8140 indivíduos foram capturados e 39 espécies de quatro famílias diferentes foram identificadas. Duas espécies de vetores de Xylella fastidiosa foram capturadas em ambos os pomares, Philaenus spumarius (Linnaeus) e Neophilaenus campestris (Fallén), embora poucos indíviduos de cada espécie tenham sido coletados. No entanto, confirma o risco de disseminação de X. fastidiosa nos pomares caso a área afetada por esta bactéria se expanda á região da Beira Interior. Outros vetores de fitoplasmas também foram detetados nos pomares, Anaceratagallia laevis (Ribaut), Aphrodes makarovi Zachvatkin, Austroagallia sinuata (Mulsant & Rey), Dictyophara europaea (Linnaeus), Empoasca decipiens Paoli, Euscelidius variegatus (Kirschbaum), Laodelphax striatella (Fallén), Megophthalmus scrabipennis Edwards, Neoaliturus fenestratus (Herrich-Shaffer), Philaenus spumarius e Zyginidia scutellaris (Herrich-Schaffer). A família Cicadellidae foi a mais comum representando 99.77% dos indivíduos capturados e a subfamília Typhlocybinae correspondendo a 95.84%. Foram detetadas duas espécies dominantes em ambos os pomares, Asymmetrasca decedens e Empoasca solani (Curtis), sendo que a primeira se destaca representanto 79.64% dos indivíduos capturados. Estas espécies demonstraram distribuições temporais quase opostas, o que pode ser justificado pelas variáveis climáticas estudadas que demonstraram correlações significativas opostas para as duas espécies. A temperatura mínima, média e máxima demonstrou uma forte correlação positiva com a abundância de A. decedens enquanto que para E.solani foi observada uma correlação negativa. Esta espécie também demonstrou uma forte correlação positiva com o número de horas de frio (<7ºC) e com a humidade relativa. E. solani revelou uma distribuição mais curta, apresentando o pico da sua abundância a 19 de abril, sendo depois gradualmente substituída por A. decedens cujo pico foi atingido a 20 de setembro. Vários inseticidas foram aplicados nos pomares, no entanto nenhum demonstrou um efeito considerável ou consistente na redução da densidade populacional da praga. Tal facto pode dever-se à resistência conhecida ou às datas de aplicação, mas merecia um estudo mais detalhado com maior número de armadilhas e monitorização de ninfas de A. decedens. Este estudo permitiu uma melhor compreensão da comunidade Auchenorrhyncha presente nos pomares de pessegueiros, detetar vetores de X. fastidiosa na região da Beira Interior salientando a importância da continuada monitorização dos mesmos, e obter informação relativa ao ciclo de vida e à variação da abundância de A. decedens permitindo estabelecer períodos adequados para o controlo desta espécie

Area-wide Integrated Pest Management

Extensive reliance on insecticides reduces biodiversity, contributes to pollinator decline, destroys habitat and threatens endangered species. This book offers a more effective application of the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach, on an area-wide (AW) or population-wide (AW-IPM) basis. It addresses the importance of problem-solving research, planning and baseline data collection, integrating tools for appropriate control strategies, and pilot trials. The 48 chapters authored by 184 experts cover advances in genetics, molecular biology, biological control, resistance management, modelling, automated surveillance and unmanned aerial release systems

Area-wide Integrated Pest Management

Over 98% of sprayed insecticides and 95% of herbicides reach a destination other than their target species, including non-target species, air, water and soil. The extensive reliance on insecticide use reduces biodiversity, contributes to pollinator decline, destroys habitat, and threatens endangered species. This book offers a more effective application of the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach, on an area-wide (AW) or population-wide (AW-IPM) basis, which aims at the management of the total population of a pest, involving a coordinated effort over often larger areas. For major livestock pests, vectors of human diseases and pests of high-value crops with low pest tolerance, there are compelling economic reasons for participating in AW-IPM. This new textbook attempts to address various fundamental components of AW-IPM, e.g. the importance of relevant problem-solving research, the need for planning and essential baseline data collection, the significance of integrating adequate tools for appropriate control strategies, and the value of pilot trials, etc. With chapters authored by 184 experts from more than 31 countries, the book includes many technical advances in the areas of genetics, molecular biology, microbiology, resistance management, and social sciences that facilitate the planning and implementing of area-wide strategies. The book is essential reading for the academic and applied research community as well as national and regional government plant and human/animal health authorities with responsibility for protecting plant and human/animal health

Pest and disease incursions: risks, threats and management in Papua New Guinea; Papers presented at the 2nd Papua New Guinea Plant Protection Conference, Kokopo, East New Britain Province, 8–10 November 2004

Crop Production/Industries, Farm Management,

Improving the Value of the Coconut with Biotechnology

The fruit of the coconut tree is perhaps the most useful plant resource in the tropics. All parts of the coconut fruit have traditional uses that have been developed commercially in recent times (Foale 2003, Dayrit and Dayrit 2013). Due to its widespread household use, trade and industry statistics on coconut products reflect only part of the actual importance of the coconut. Today, coconut-based products have gone beyond the tropics and are consumed in many temperate countries and global regions such as Australia, China, Europe, North America, and the Middle East (Costello 2018). Coconut milk is the basic ingredient of traditional cuisines and desserts worldwide in the Asian tropics, while coconut flour is used in confectionery and bakery products. Coconut oil is widely used as cooking oil, hair and cosmetic oil, and domestic remedies for burns and skin ailments and in soap-making and preparation of traditional medicine. Coconut water can be either consumed fresh or converted into vinegar and nata de coco. The residues of these processes are used for animal feed and soil enhancer. The young inflorescences can be tapped directly to obtain coconut sap. This natural honey-like product can then be evaporated to prepare coco sugar or fermented to produce coconut sap wine and vinegar. These products are markedly distinct from those produced from coconut water. However, if the sap is collected, the harvest of nuts is lost. Nondairy products from the coconut, such as margarines, yoghurts, and cheese, have become more and more popular in the global market. This chapter will deal mainly with the products that can be obtained from the fruit

Between heavy rain and sea level rise

This manual is a product of the Climate Resilient Agriculture Investigation and Innovation project (CRAIIP). It presents the Climate Field Lab approach and provides tools for climate change adaptation by smallholder farmers in two rural regions in Indonesia. The Climate Field Lab adheres to transdisciplinary adaptation co-research through a science-practice partnership on agroecological farming. Co-research implies that farmers are local experts in cooperating actively with nature and its weather variability. Alas, the impacts of climate change aggravate farming through the increased frequency and magnitude of climate-related extremes. As a consequence, farmers are faced with the continuous need to build their adaptive capacities through co-creation of knowledge in a dialogue with their communities, with scientists and with climate change experts. Between 2016 and 2019, the Indonesian-German CRAIIP team consisting of co-research farmers, two farmers’ organisations/NGOs, as well as scientists of three universities, applied various cocreation tools for building the adaptive capacity in Climate Field Labs in two regions. An estimated 100 smallholder farmers, women and men, from West and Central Java and South Sulawesi took part in the solution-oriented research. This manual is directed towards scholars, students, trainers and development experts. It offers a set of instruments that aim at broadening their spectrum for approaches, methods and tools of participatory adaptation co-research, directed towards their own research and development work. All tools presented in this handbook were tested in farmerled research processes, which included demonstrations on stress-resilient rice varieties, improved agro-ecological soil fertility strategies in rice, and the organic cultivation of local chilli pepper varieties. The manual starts with the climate change situation in Indonesia (part 2). The concept for cocreation of knowledge in the Climate Field Lab is explained in part 3. Part 4 presents the 18 tools used in the Climate Field Lab illustrated by examples, useful materials and numerous practical tips applicable for own adaptation co-research. Part 5 includes the annexes, provides an overview of all information and training materials, as well as including scientific articles produced throughout the course of the project CRAIIP. The CRAIIP partners wish to get in touch with other science-practice networks to help to build climate resilience of smallholder farmers through co-creation of knowledge, agro-ecological approaches and to advocate and spread the use of adaptation co-research as a research method

Workshop on research p riorities for migrant pests of agriculture in Southern Africa, Plant Protection Research Institute, Pretoria, South Africa, 24–26 March 1999

The Workshop was held at the Agricultural Research Council – Plant Protection Research Institute, Pretoria, from 24 to 26 March 1999 and was attended by 66 delegates from Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, United Kingdom, Zimbabwe, the International Red Locust Control Organisation for Central and Southern Africa (IRLCO-CSA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (see pages xiii–xvi for list of delegates). The first day focused on presenting a synopsis of current research on the three main migrant pests in southern Africa – armyworm, locusts and quelea – and described the national, regional (IRLCO-CSA, Southern African Development Community, SADC) and international (FAO) infrastructures for dealing with them. On the second and third days, after consideration of the issues to be addressed to ensure uptake of research findings by resource-poor farmers, the Workshop divided into three groups according to pest species. Each group adopted a generalised Logical Framework approach to identifying research priorities, constraints, risks and linkages. Four Logical Frameworks, covering armyworm, locust, quelea and cross-cutting research priorities were developed and an informal ad hoc steering committee (names annotated in list, pages xiii–xvi) undertook to bring together the Workshop’s findings in a Summary Report and to make recommendations on further actions