Development of a Research-Based, User-Friendly, Rapid Scouting Procedure for the Invasive Sugarcane Aphid (Melanaphis sacchari), in Grain Sorghum

Sugarcane aphid (SCA), Melanaphis sacchari Zehntner, is a significant economic pest in grain sorghum in the Southeastern US and Southern Great Plains. A collaborative project led by Oklahoma State University was tasked with developing an effective scouting plan for SCA. A stratified sampling protocol was used to collect SCA data from 299 fields from six states (OK, KS, TX, AR, LA, MS), over two years (2016-2017). Using a nested analysis of variance (NANOVA) and Taylor's (1961) power law the within field sampling variance and dispersion pattern was defined. Results from these analyses revealed two significantly different geographical regions: a southern and a northern. Results show that in either sampling region three consecutive plant samples should be taken per stop within 30m of one another. Additionally, whole plant enumerative sampling was used to define where within the plant canopy sugarcane aphids were distributed. Results from that study showed the middle of the canopy may be the best area to extract the two-leaf sample unit. Three enumerative sampling plans for estimating population density and classification of a threshold were developed. Due to large sample sizes, these sampling protocols gave evidence that a binomial sequential sampling plan would be the best option for a rapid scouting tool. To develop the binomial sequential sampling tool tally threshold regressions were analyzed to define the relationship between the mean SCA per leaf and proportion of plants infested. After the fitness and practicality of the model was considered, tally thresholds of 50 and 100 aphids per plant were selected. Wald's sequential probability ratio test (SPRT) was used to determine stop lines for both sampling plans, which ranged from 10-24 plant samples per sampling event, with an average of 11 plant samples per sampling event, depending on state, action threshold, and error level. The binomial sampling plans were validated using 48 externally sampled fields analyzed with resampling for validation of sampling plans (RVSP) software. An in-field sampling tool was developed using the tally threshold of 50 SCA. This sequential binomial sampling plan for SCA will enable time-efficient scouting, expeditiously determine if, and when an action threshold is reached, and prevent unnecessary insecticide applications

Community-associated Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Minnesota, 2000–2003

Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) invasive disease resembled healthcare-associated MRSA disease

The heterogeneity of wooded-agricultural landscape mosaics influences woodland bird community assemblages

Context Landscape heterogeneity (the composition and configuration of different landcover types) plays a key role in shaping woodland bird assemblages in wooded-agricultural mosaics. Understanding how species respond to landscape factors could contribute to preventing further decline of woodland bird populations. Objective To investigate how woodland birds with different species traits respond to landscape heterogeneity, and to identify whether specific landcover types are important for maintaining diverse populations in wooded-agricultural environments. Methods Birds were sampled from woodlands in 58 2 x 2 km tetrads across southern Britain. Landscape heterogeneity was quantified for each tetrad. Bird assemblage response was determined using redundancy analysis combined with variation partitioning and response trait analyses. Results For woodland bird assemblages, the independent explanatory importance of landscape composition and landscape configuration variables were closely interrelated. When considered simultaneously during variation partitioning, the community response was better represented by compositional variables. Different species responded to different landscape features and this could be explained by traits relating to woodland association, foraging strata and nest location. Ubiquitous, generalist species, many of which were hole-nesters or ground foragers, correlated positively with urban landcover while specialists of broadleaved woodland avoided landscapes containing urban areas. Species typical of coniferous woodland correlated with large conifer plantations. Conclusions At the 2 x 2 km scale, there was evidence that the availability of resources provided by proximate landcover types was highly important for shaping woodland bird assemblages. Further research to disentangle the effects of composition and configuration at different spatial scales is advocated

Pest e-alerts, vol. 17, no. 11: Managing sugarcane aphid report, 2018

This publication, formally known as the Plant Disease and Insect Advisory newsletter by the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, underwent a title transition. It is now recognized by the title Pest e-Alerts.Entomology and Plant Patholog

Pest e-alerts, vol. 16, no. 27: First Oklahoma sugarcane aphid report, 2017

This publication, formally known as the Plant Disease and Insect Advisory newsletter by the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, underwent a title transition. It is now recognized by the title Pest e-Alerts.Entomology and Plant Patholog

How to ensure threatened species monitoring leads to threatened species conservation

Monitoring is essential for effective conservation and management of threatened species and ecological communities. However, more often than not, threatened species monitoring is poorly implemented, meaning that conservation decisions are not informed by the best available knowledge. We outline challenges and provide best-practice guidelines for threatened species monitoring, informed by the diverse perspectives of 26 conservation managers and scientists from a range of organisations with expertise across Australian species and ecosystems. Our collective expertise synthesised five key principles that aim to enhance the design, implementation and outcomes of threatened species monitoring. These principles are: 1) Integrate monitoring with management; 2) Design fit-for-purpose monitoring programs; 3) Engage a diverse range of stakeholders; 4) Ensure good data management; and 5) Communicate the value of monitoring. We describe how to incorporate these principles into existing frameworks to improve current and future monitoring programs. Effective monitoring is essential to inform appropriate management and enable better conservation outcomes for our most vulnerable species and ecological communities.National Environmental Science Programme through the 382 Threatened Species Recovery Hu

Essential principles to guide monitoring of threatened biodiversity

Monitoring of threatened species and ecological communities is currently inadequate in Australia. Monitoring biodiversity generally presents many challenges, but there are additional challenges associated with monitoring of threatened biodiversity that stem from the difficulties of reliably monitoring rare or rapidly declining species, or heavily fragmented and attenuated ecological communities. For threatened biota, the integration of monitoring into legal, management and policy settings is particularly crucial, as is good engagement with (and support from) the broader community. Clear guidance for both managers and monitoring practitioners is needed if we are to overcome these challenges and avoid the catastrophic consequences of absent or ineffective monitoring (e.g. species declines or extinction unnoticed because of inadequate data, and/or ineffectual links between monitoring and management action). This chapter presents the collective wisdom and experience from 26 threatened species monitoring practitioners and propose five principles that should be considered when designing monitoring programs for threatened species and ecological communities. These are: (1) engage people; (2) integrate monitoring with management; (3) plan, design and implement a fit-for-purpose monitoring program; (4) ensure good data management; and (5) communicate the value of monitoring. Our principles provide a clear framework in which to implement robust monitoring of threatened species and ecological communities in a way that guides management and enhances threatened biodiversity conservation outcomes, including avoiding extinctions

Organisational perspectives on threatened species monitoring

Greater understanding of the issues, constraints and effective components of threatened species monitoring can be realised by sharing and consolidating the knowledge of managers and scientists engaged in such monitoring. This chapter collates the perspectives on monitoring of practitioners from government agencies, non-government organisations and universities involved with diverse monitoring programs of threatened species. Within and across organisational affiliations, it synthesises views on purpose, processes underpinning decisions and outcomes, and the strengths and constraints particular to threatened species monitoring programs. A commonly held view among all practitioners was that those directly involved with monitoring recognise its purpose, benefits and constraints, but others frequently do not understand or endorse these reasons. A synthesis of perspectives revealed that: (1) processes and decisions such as the selection of species to monitor are often influenced by external factors (e.g. funding, political priorities) as well as internal priorities; (2) a similar set of key components for good monitoring are recognised by all practitioners, but there are obstacles that prevent these components from being put into place; and (3) the strengths and constraints of monitoring programs specified by different practitioners are related to their organisational perspective. Overall, the essential ingredients for effective monitoring were identified as good design and methods, adequate resources,capable data management systems, integration with management, organisational support, effective communication and engagement with people. These components aligned with principles identified in Chapters 2 and 35. Understanding the issues, strengths and constraints faced by monitoring practitioners provides context for improving threatened species monitoring programs