2 research outputs found
Evaluation of the effect of locally produced biological pesticide (AÒ›KÓ©belek â„¢) on biodiversity and abundance of beneficial insects in four forage crops in the Almaty region of Kazakhstan
Using a non-replicated plot design, we experimentally assessed the effects of a locally produced biological pesticide on the abundance, species richness and Shannon diversity of beneficial insects in four forage crops (alfalfa, soybeans, corn, and triticale) in southeastern Kazakhstan. 2-way ANOV tests detected no effect of the biological pesticide treatment on the abundance (N) of either predators or pollinators. However, there were significant differences in pollinator and predator abundances among crops. Pairwise t-tests between the experiment and control plots for each crop detected no significant differences in predator or pollinator Shannon diversity index values (H). Paired t-tests revealed significant differences in diversity index values for both predator and pollinator functional groups among crops within each treatment (experiment, control). Corn and triticale plots had notably similar predator abundance (N), species richness (S) and Shannon diversity index (H) values. Corn, alfalfa and soy-triticale differed in pollinator Shannon H, N and S values, suggesting each contained a distinct pollinator assemblage. A trial rapid assessment for differences using a point-based system for indicator species showed only small difference among crops and between treatment and control plots. This method may be more applicable in situations sampling disturbance needs to be minimized and a rapid but less thorough assessment is required
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Tree-ring Reconstruction of Bark Beetle Disturbances in the Picea schrenkiana Fisch. et Mey. Forests of Southeast Kazakhstan
Ips hauseri Reitter is the most important bark beetle on Picea schrenkiana in southeast Kazakhstan, but its biology, ecology, and outbreak dynamics are poorly known. We dendrochronologically reconstructed a 200-year history of disturbances in the Kazakh Tien Shan P. schrenkiana forests. Only localized, low-severity bark beetle events occurred during the reconstructed period, indicating that extensive high-severity bark beetle outbreaks have not occurred historically in the Tien Shan spruce forest, unlike bark beetle outbreaks in spruce forests in North America, Europe, and Russia. Disturbance frequency doubled after about 1965, probably due to warming climate. Results, combined with the failure of an outbreak to fully develop after blowdown events associated with hurricane-force windstorms in 2011, indicate that prolonged drought may be necessary to sustain I. hauseri outbreaks, or that year-to-year variation in the Tien Shan weather prevents outbreak development. I. hauseri is probably less aggressive than I. typographus, at least on their natural hosts within their natural ranges.FST Award of the Science Committee of Ministry of Education and Science, Republic of Kazakhstan [055, 309]; NSF BCS-Archaeology and Archaeometry [1122359]Open access journalThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]