Efficacy of entomopathogenic fungi against large pine weevil, Hylobius abietis, and their additive effects when combined with entomopathogenic nematodes

The large pine weevil Hylobius abietis is an important pest of reforestation in northern Europe. In field trials, we assessed the efficacy of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) alone and in combination with entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) against immature stages. We used commercial strains of Metarhizium brunneum and Beauveria bassiana and a strain of Beauveria caledonica isolated from the pest’s habitat. The EPN used were Steinernema carpocapsae and Heterorhabditis downesi. Efficacy was assessed by weevil infection in stumps and by numbers of adult weevils emerging in traps above the stumps. EPF infected up to 23% of pine weevils, at depths up to 25 cm below ground. Three EPF application methods were compared, but application method did not affect infection rates. When applied at half doses, EPF and EPN had additive effects: M. brunneum and S. carpocapsae caused a reduction in emergence of 58% relative to control, M. brunneum and H. downesi 93%, B. caledonica and H. downesi 86%. EPN alone offered good suppression of H. abietis populations and suppression by the mixture did not surpass suppression afforded by EPN alone. Our trials show B. caledonica is a promising species, rivalling the success of the other two species. Applied EPF, especially M. brunneum, can persist for at least 2 years in the forest setting. Additionally, different fungi can have differential action against weevils above versus below ground; therefore, EPF combinations may be beneficial. Based on our trials, further development of strains and application methods are required before EPF can be recommended for suppression of pine weevil. © 2018 Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Natur

Efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes for control of large pine weevil, Hylobius abietis: effects of soil type, pest density and spatial distribution

The large pine weevil Hylobius abietis (L.), LPW, is a major pest of trees in replanted coniferous forests in northern Europe. The use of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) applied against developing stages for population suppression is increasingly recognized as an effective alternative to plant protection using chemical pesticides. Here, we report results from a series of trials we conducted over 2 years using two species of EPN, Steinernema carpocapsae (Weiser) and Heterorhabitis downesi (Stock, Griffin, and Burnell) with different foraging strategies. Trials were conducted at lodgepole pine sites in Ireland on both mineral and peat soil type. EPN suspension was applied to the stumps of felled pine trees, and EPN efficacy was determined afterwards by directly assessing parasitism rates after debarking one quarter of the stumps and by collecting emerging adult weevils from traps erected over other treated and control stumps. Our results suggest that both species of EPN are equally effective in suppressing LPW populations to below the current, informal thresholds of economic damage. EPN were equally efficient in controlling LPW in peat and in mineral (lithosols/regosols and acid brown earth/brown podzolics) soils. Weevil density and distribution within pine stumps in peat versus mineral sites can explain patterns of LPW parasitism and suppression. Our results also suggest that infestation level (number of weevils per stump) can be an important factor in forecasting EPN application success as there is evidence of negative density-dependent parasitism when weevil densities were high. © 2016 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelber

Meeting Report: GBIF hackathon-workshop on Darwin Core and sample data (22-24 May 2013)

The workshop-hackathon was convened by the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) at its secretariat in Copenhagen over 22-24 May 2013 with additional support from several projects (RCN4GSC, EAGER, VertNet, BiSciCol, GGBN, and Micro B3). It assembled a team of experts to address the challenge of adapting the Darwin Core standard for a wide variety of sample data. Topics addressed in the workshop included 1) a review of outstanding issues in the Darwin Core standard, 2) issues relating to publishing of biodiversity data through Darwin Core Archives, 3) use of Darwin Core Archives for publishing sample and monitoring data, 4) the case for modifying the Darwin Core Text Guide specification to support many-to-many relations, and 5) the generalization of the Darwin Core Archive to a "Biodiversity Data Archive". A wide variety of use cases were assembled and discussed in order to inform further developments

Meeting Report: GBIF hackathon-workshop on Darwin Core and sample data (22-24 May 2013)

The workshop-hackathon was convened by the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) at its secretariat in Copenhagen over 22-24 May 2013 with additional support from several projects (RCN4GSC, EAGER, VertNet, BiSciCol, GGBN, and Micro B3). It assembled a team of experts to address the challenge of adapting the Darwin Core standard for a wide variety of sample data. Topics addressed in the workshop included 1) a review of outstanding issues in the Darwin Core standard, 2) issues relating to publishing of biodiversity data through Darwin Core Archives, 3) use of Darwin Core Archives for publishing sample and monitoring data, 4) the case for modifying the Darwin Core Text Guide specification to support many-to-many relations, and 5) the generalization of the Darwin Core Archive to a "Biodiversity Data Archive". A wide variety of use cases were assembled and discussed in order to inform further developments

A decadal view of biodiversity informatics: challenges and priorities

Biodiversity informatics plays a central enabling role in the research community's efforts to address scientific conservation and sustainability issues. Great strides have been made in the past decade establishing a framework for sharing data, where taxonomy and systematics has been perceived as the most prominent discipline involved. To some extent this is inevitable, given the use of species names as the pivot around which information is organised. To address the urgent questions around conservation, land-use, environmental change, sustainability, food security and ecosystem services that are facing Governments worldwide, we need to understand how the ecosystem works. So, we need a systems approach to understanding biodiversity that moves significantly beyond taxonomy and species observations. Such an approach needs to look at the whole system to address species interactions, both with their environment and with other species. It is clear that some barriers to progress are sociological, basically persuading people to use the technological solutions that are already available. This is best addressed by developing more effective systems that deliver immediate benefit to the user, hiding the majority of the technology behind simple user interfaces. An infrastructure should be a space in which activities take place and, as such, should be effectively invisible. This community consultation paper positions the role of biodiversity informatics, for the next decade, presenting the actions needed to link the various biodiversity infrastructures invisibly and to facilitate understanding that can support both business and policy-makers. The community considers the goal in biodiversity informatics to be full integration of the biodiversity research community, including citizens’ science, through a commonly-shared, sustainable e-infrastructure across all sub-disciplines that reliably serves science and society alike

Meeting Report: GBIF hackathon-workshop on Darwin Core and sample data (22-24 May 2013)

The workshop-hackathon was convened by the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) at its secretariat in Copenhagen over 22-24 May 2013 with additional support from several projects (RCN4GSC, EAGER, VertNet, BiSciCol, GGBN, and Micro B3). It assembled a team of experts to address the challenge of adapting the Darwin Core standard for a wide variety of sample data. Topics addressed in the workshop included 1) a review of outstanding issues in the Darwin Core standard, 2) issues relating to publishing of biodiversity data through Darwin Core Archives, 3) use of Darwin Core Archives for publishing sample and monitoring data, 4) the case for modifying the Darwin Core Text Guide specification to support many-to-many relations, and 5) the generalization of the Darwin Core Archive to a "Biodiversity Data Archive". A wide variety of use cases were assembled and discussed in order to inform further developments