Organic farming enhances parasitoid diversity at the local and landscape scales

1. The magnitude of the benefits derived from organic farming within contrasting managed landscapes remains unclear and, in particular, the potential scale-dependent response of insect parasitoids is relatively unexplored. Identifying the scale at which parasitoids are affected by organic farming will be an important step to enhance their conservation. 2. We sampled tachinid parasitoids at the centre and margin of arable and grassland fields on paired organic and conventional farms located in landscapes with different proportions of organic land. A total of 192 fields were sampled in two biogeographical regions of the UK. 3. We found that the positive effect of organic farming on tachinid parasitoid diversity can be observed at multiple spatial scales. At the local scale, we found higher abundance and species richness of tachinid parasitoids on organic than on conventional farms and on field margins than on field centres. At the landscape scale, the diversity of tachinids was higher in landscapes with higher proportions of organic land. At both scales, the positive effect of organic farming was clear for arable fields, while it was almost neutral for grasslands. 4. Synthesis and applications. Any attempt to enhance parasitoid diversity in agricultural landscapes needs to consider the local management in relation to the habitat type, location within the field and agricultural management in the surrounding landscape. To restore parasitoid diversity, the promotion of organic agriculture should aim to increase both the total extent of organic farming and the connectivity of individual farms. As the benefits of organic farming to biodiversity clearly spread beyond individual farm boundaries, any assessment of organic farming should consider these positive externalities

Adults of Cabbage stem flea beetle (Psylliodes chrysocephala L.) in different types of yellow water traps in winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.)

Gelbschalen sind ein wichtiges Instrument zur Prognose der Abundanz des Rapserdflohs, Psylliodes chrysocephala, in Winterraps. Deutschlandweit gibt es zwei weit verbreitete Typen von Gelbschalen: eckiger (26 x 33 cm) und runder Typ (22,4 cm Durchmesser). Um Beifänge von Bienen und Hummeln zu vermeiden wird empfohlen, Gelbschalen nur mit Gitter aufzustellen. Für den Rapserdfloh hat sich in den meisten Gebieten Deutschlands ein einheitlicher Schwellenwert von 50 Käfern in drei Wochen etabliert. Ziel dieser Studie an 28 Standorten in Deutschland war es zu eruieren, inwieweit es Unterschiede in der Fängigkeit der beiden Gelbschalentypen (rund und eckig, mit und ohne Gitter) gibt und welchen Einfluss das Eingraben der Schale hat. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass sich die Fängigkeit der Gelbschalensysteme zum Teil signifikant voneinander unterscheidet, wobei aber die Fangzahlen quantitativ nicht so weit voneinander liegen, dass angesichts der hohen Variabilität der Aufstellung in der landwirtschaftlichen Praxis unter­schiedliche Schwellenwerte für jeden Fallentyp notwendig werden. DOI: 10.5073/JfK.2016.08.01, https://doi.org/10.5073/JfK.2016.08.01Yellow water traps are a decisive factor in the forecasting system for Psylliodes chrysocephala, the Cabbage stem flea beetle. In most parts of Germany a threshold of 50 imagines per yellow water trap within three weeks is established. In Germany two types of yellow water traps are widely used: an angular (26 x 33 cm) and a round type (22.4 cm diameter). The use of a grid at the top of the yellow water traps is recommended to prevent bees from drowning. The aim of this study carried out on 28 fields all over Germany was to inves­tigate the effects of different types of yellow water traps on Cabbage stem flea beetle catches. Traps were used with and without grid and placed on the soil surface or dug into the soil. Beetle numbers differed significantly between some of the types of yellow water traps, but the difference in densities was in an acceptable range given the overall high variability induced by farmers. DOI: 10.5073/JfK.2016.08.01, https://doi.org/10.5073/JfK.2016.08.0

Yield-biodiversity trade-off in patchy fields of Miscanthus × giganteus

Increasing crop productivity to meet rising demands for food and energy, but doing so in an environmentally sustainable manner, is one of the greatest challenges for agriculture to date. In Ireland, Miscanthus 9 giganteus has the potential to become a major feedstock for bioenergy production, but the economic feasibility of its cultivation depends on high yields. Miscanthus fields can have a large number of gaps in crop cover, adversely impacting yield and hence economic viability. Predominantly positive effects of Miscanthus on biodiversity reported from previous research might be attributable to high crop patchiness, particularly during the establishment phase. The aim of this research was to assess crop patchiness on a field scale and to analyse the relationship between Miscanthus yield and species richness and abundance of selected taxa of farmland wildlife. For 14 Miscanthus fields at the end of their establishment phase (4–5 years after planting), which had been planted either on improved grassland (MG) or tilled arable land (MT), we determined patchiness of the crop cover, percentage light penetration (LP) to the lower canopy, Miscanthus shoot density and height, vascular plants and epigeic arthropods. Plant species richness and noncrop vegetation cover in Miscanthus fields increased with increasing patchiness, due to higher levels of LP to the lower canopy. The species richness of ground beetles and the activity density of spiders followed the increase in vegetation cover. Plant species richness and activity density of spiders on both MT and MG fields, as well as vegetation cover and activity density of ground beetles on MG fields, were negatively associated with Miscanthus yield. In conclusion, positive effects of Miscanthus on biodiversity can diminish with increasing productivity. This matter needs to be considered when assessing the relative ecological impacts of developing biomass crops in comparison with other land use. Keywords: Araneae, Carabidae, crop cover, light penetration, Miscanthus establishment, patchiness, vascular plants, vegetation coverYield-biodiversity trade-off in patchy fields of Miscanthus × giganteuspublishedVersio

A case for taking the dual role of counsellor-researcher in qualitative research

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Qualitative Research in Psychology on 3rd August 2016, available online: https://doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2016.1205694There is ongoing debate about whether the challenges of practice-based research in counselling, with clients’ discourses providing the raw data, can be overcome. This article begins by considering the argument of whether taking a dual role of counsellor-researcher within case study research is a legitimate qualitative approach. A case example using sand-tray in short-term therapy with adults from a pluralistic perspective is provided to demonstrate how the challenges of the dual role can be managed to produce effective research findings. It is suggested that this approach closes the gap between research and practice to produce findings that are highly relevant to the counselling context. The ethical considerations of taking a dual role of counsellor-researcher are considered, and opportunities and challenges when adopting this approach are identified

MLH1-methylated endometrial cancer under 60 years of age as the “sentinel” cancer in female carriers of high-risk constitutional MLH1 epimutation

Objective. Universal screening of endometrial carcinoma (EC) for mismatch repair deficiency (MMRd) and Lynch syndrome uses presence of MLH1 methylation to omit common sporadic cases from follow-up germline testing. However, this overlooks rare cases with high-risk constitutional MLH1 methylation (epimutation), a poorly-recognized mechanism that predisposes to Lynch-type cancers with MLH1 methylation. We aimed to de-termine the role and frequency of constitutional MLH1 methylation among EC cases with MMRd, MLH1- methylated tumors.Methods. We screened blood for constitutional MLH1 methylation using pyrosequencing and real-time methylation-specific PCR in patients with MMRd, MLH1-methylated EC ascertained from (i) cancer clinics (n = 4, <60 years), and (ii) two population-based cohorts; Columbus-area (n = 68, all ages) and Ohio Colo-rectal Cancer Prevention Initiative (OCCPI) (n = 24, <60 years).Results. Constitutional MLH1 methylation was identified in three out of four patients diagnosed between 36 and 59 years from cancer clinics. Two had mono-/hemiallelic epimutation (similar to 50% alleles methylated). One with multiple primaries had low-level mosaicism in normal tissues and somatic second-hits affecting the unmethylated allele in all tumors, demonstrating causation. In the population-based cohorts, all 68 cases from the Columbus-area cohort were negative and low-level mosaic constitutional MLH1 methylation was identified in one patient aged 36 years out of 24 from the OCCPI cohort, representing one of six (similar to 17%) patients <50 years and one of 45 patients (similar to 2%) <60 years in the combined cohorts. EC was the first/dual-first cancer in three pa-tients with underlying constitutional MLH1 methylation.Conclusions. A correct diagnosis at first presentation of cancer is important as it will significantly alter clinical management. Screening for constitutional MLH1 methylation is warranted in patients with early-onset EC or syn-chronous/metachronous tumors (any age) displaying MLH1 methylation.(c) 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Impact of plant protection strategy and soil tillage on the carbon footprint of wheat

Der Klimaschutz liegt aufgrund der zunehmenden negativen Auswirkungen des Klimawandels auf die pflanz­liche Produktion im Eigeninteresse der Landwirtschaft. Welche Auswirkungen unterschiedliche Pflanzenschutzstrategien, der Verzicht auf Fungizide sowie eine reduzierte Bodenbearbeitung auf die Klimawirkung der Weizenproduktion haben wurde aufbauend auf einem Dauerfeldversuch in Dahnsdorf in 2008–2019 untersucht. Die Bewertung wurden mittels partieller Lebenszyklus (LCA) durchgeführt. Im Durchschnitt über sämtliche Versuchsvarianten und Jahre lagen die Treibhausgasemissionen (THG-Emissionen) bei 3002 kg CO2eq ha‑1 und der CO2-Fußabdruck (CFP) bei 0,53 kg CO2eq kg‑1. Obwohl die Varianten mit wendender Bodenbearbeitung signifikant höhere THG-Emissionen je ha aufwiesen, waren Ihre CFPs nicht signifikant höher als die der nicht-wendenden Varianten. Die ertragssichernde Wirkung der Fungizide führte zu verringerten CFPs. Signifikante Jahresunterschiede zeigten sich bei allen drei untersuchten Parametern. Dies unterstreicht die Notwendigkeit einer Bewertung über längere Zeitreihen und den besonderen Wert von Langzeitversuchen.Climate protection is in the self-interest of agriculture due to the increasing negative effects of climate change on crop production. The effects of different crop protection strategies, the non-usage of fungicides, and reduced tillage were assessed regarding climate impact of wheat production based on a long-term field trial in Dahnsdorf in 2008–2019. The assessment was carried out using a partial life cycle assessment (LCA). On average across all treatments and years, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were 3002 kg CO2eq ha-1 and carbon footprint (CFP) was 0.53 kg CO2eq kg-1. Although the treatments with plow caused significantly higher GHG emissions per hectare, their CFPs were not significantly higher than those of the non-plowed treatments. The yield-securing effects of fungicides led to reduced CFPs. Significant differences between years were evident for all three parameters examined. This underlines the need for an evaluation over longer time series and the special value of long-term field trials

One, two, three: portable sample size in agricultural research

Determination of sample size (the number of replications) is a key step in the design of an observational study or randomized experiment. Statistical procedures for this purpose are readily available. Their treatment in textbooks is often somewhat marginal, however, and frequently the focus is on just one particular method of inference (significance test, confidence interval). Here, we provide a unified review of approaches and explain their close interrelationships, emphasizing that all approaches rely on the standard error of the quantity of interest, most often a pairwise difference of two means. The focus is on methods that are easy to compute, even without a computer. Our main recommendation based on standard errors is summarized as what we call the 1-2-3 rule for a difference of two treatment means

A Deletion in the N-Myc Downstream Regulated Gene 1 (NDRG1) Gene in Greyhounds with Polyneuropathy

The polyneuropathy of juvenile Greyhound show dogs shows clinical similarities to the genetically heterogeneous Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease in humans. The pedigrees containing affected dogs suggest monogenic autosomal recessive inheritance and all affected dogs trace back to a single male. Here, we studied the neuropathology of this disease and identified a candidate causative mutation. Peripheral nerve biopsies from affected dogs were examined using semi-thin histology, nerve fibre teasing and electron microscopy. A severe chronic progressive mixed polyneuropathy was observed. Seven affected and 17 related control dogs were genotyped on the 50k canine SNP chip. This allowed us to localize the causative mutation to a 19.5 Mb interval on chromosome 13 by homozygosity mapping. The NDRG1 gene is located within this interval and NDRG1 mutations have been shown to cause hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy-Lom in humans (CMT4D). Therefore, we considered NDRG1 a positional and functional candidate gene and performed mutation analysis in affected and control Greyhounds. A 10 bp deletion in canine NDRG1 exon 15 (c.1080_1089delTCGCCTGGAC) was perfectly associated with the polyneuropathy phenotype of Greyhound show dogs. The deletion causes a frame shift (p.Arg361SerfsX60) which alters several amino acids before a stop codon is encountered. A reduced level of NDRG1 transcript could be detected by RT-PCR. Western blot analysis demonstrated an absence of NDRG1 protein in peripheral nerve biopsy of an affected Greyhound. We thus have identified a candidate causative mutation for polyneuropathy in Greyhounds and identified the first genetically characterized canine CMT model which offers an opportunity to gain further insights into the pathobiology and therapy of human NDRG1 associated CMT disease. Selection against this mutation can now be used to eliminate polyneuropathy from Greyhound show dogs