School of BioSciences - Research Publications
Permanent URI for this collection
Search Results
1 - 7 of 7
-
ItemClimate contributes to the evolution of pesticide resistance(WILEY, 2018-02)Abstract Aim The evolution of pesticide resistance through space and time is of great economic significance to modern agricultural production systems, and consequently, is often well documented. It can thus be used to dissect the evolutionary and ecological processes that underpin large‐scale evolutionary responses. There are now nearly 600 documented cases of pesticide resistance in arthropod pests. Although the evolution of resistance is often attributed to the persistent use of chemicals for pest suppression, the rate of development of resistance should also depend on other factors, including climatic conditions that influence population size and generation time. Here, we test whether climatic variables are linked to evolution of resistance by examining the spatial pattern of pyrethroid resistance in an important agricultural pest. Location Southern, agricultural regions of Australia. Time period 2007–2015. Major taxa studied The redlegged earth mite, Halotydeus destructor. Methods We quantified patterns of chemical usage based on paddock histories and collated long‐term climatic data. These data were then compared against presence–absence data on resistance using a boosted regression‐tree approach, applied here for the first time to the spatial categorization of pesticide resistance. Results Although chemical usage was a key driver of resistance, our analysis revealed climate‐based signals in the spatial distribution of resistance, linked to regional variation in aridity, temperature seasonality and precipitation patterns. Climatic regions supporting increased voltinism were positively correlated with resistance, in line with expectations that increased voltinism should accelerate evolutionary responses to selection pressures. Main conclusions Our findings suggest that the prediction of rapid evolutionary processes at continental scales, such as pesticide resistance, will be improved through methods that incorporate climate and ecology, in addition to more immediate selection pressures, such as chemical usage. Boosted regression trees present a powerful tool in the management of resistance issues that has hitherto not been used.
-
ItemIdentifying critical research gaps that limit control options for invertebrate pests in Australian grain production systems(WILEY, 2019-02)Abstract Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is often described as a knowledge‐intensive approach to invertebrate pest management, requiring information on the biology, ecology and phenology of a pest combined with an understanding of the interactions between crop growth and pests and between pests and their natural enemies. We conducted a systematic quantitative literature review to summarise what is known about pest and natural enemy species common to Australian grain production systems, based on 1513 published and unpublished research studies. Drawing on this information, we address three issues: what are the knowledge gaps in relation to grain pests and their natural enemies, do these knowledge gaps limit the development of an IPM package for grain growers in Australia and what further ecological or biological information might growers require to enhance the use of IPM approaches for managing pests? The main gaps identified include a lack of understanding around specific factors that lead to pest outbreaks or factors that could be useful for predicting when and where pest outbreaks will occur in the future. Monitoring techniques for many pests are not well developed, and therefore, it is difficult to link the density recorded in a field with crop damage and yield loss and to develop economic thresholds that can be linked with intervention decisions. For most natural enemies, the impact in terms of reduction in pest numbers has not been quantified, with very few studies including both pests and natural enemies together. There is large variability in the level of control provided by natural enemies between years and regions, and the factors leading to this variability are not well understood. Finally, the lack of taxonomic resolution for individual species within groups is identified as a critical knowledge gap. We suggest that a more comprehensive fundamental knowledge base is required across the invertebrate community in grain systems aimed at reducing insect pest outbreaks, combined with a greater depth of understanding in monitoring strategies for pests that contribute to pesticide‐use decisions.
-
ItemEscalating insecticide resistance in Australian grain pests: contributing factors, industry trends and management opportunities(JOHN WILEY & SONS LTD, 2019-06)
-
ItemClimate, human influence and the distribution limits of the invasive European earwig, Forficula auricularia, in Australia(JOHN WILEY & SONS LTD, 2019-01)
-
Item
-
ItemMorphological and Molecular Analysis of Australian Earwigs (Dermaptera) Points to Unique Species and Regional Endemism in the Anisolabididae Family(MDPI, 2019-03-14)Dermaptera (earwigs) from the Anisolabididae family may be important for pest control but their taxonomy and status in Australia is poorly studied. Here we used taxonomic information to assess the diversity of southern Australian Anisolabididae and then applied cox1 barcodes as well as additional gene fragments (mitochondrial and nuclear) to corroborate classification and assess the monophyly of the putative genera. Anisolabididae morphospecies fell into two genera, Anisolabis Fieber and Gonolabis Burr, based on paramere morphology. Combinations of paramere and forceps morphology distinguished seven morphospecies, which were further supported by morphometric analyses. The morphospecies were corroborated by barcode data; all showed within-species genetic distance < 4% and between-species genetic distance > 10%. Molecular phylogenies did not support monophyly of putative genera nor clades based on paramere shape, instead pointing to regional clades distinguishable by forceps morphology. This apparent endemism needs to be further tested by sampling of earwig diversity outside of agricultural production regions but points to a unique regional insect fauna potentially important in pest control.
-
ItemA Framework for Identifying Selective Chemical Applications for IPM in Dryland Agriculture(MDPI, 2015-12)Shifts to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in agriculture are assisted by the identification of chemical applications that provide effective control of pests relative to broad-spectrum pesticides but have fewer negative effects on natural enemy (beneficial) groups that assist in pest control. Here, we outline a framework for identifying such applications and apply this framework to field trials involving the crop establishment phase of Australian dryland cropping systems. Several chemicals, which are not presently available to farmers in Australia, were identified as providing moderate levels of pest control and seedling protection, with the potential to be less harmful to beneficial groups including predatory mites, predatory beetles and ants. This framework highlights the challenges involved in chemically controlling pests while maintaining non-target populations when pest species are present at damaging levels.