Commercial trials evaluating the novel use of ethyl formate for in-transit fumigation of shipping containers

Sediment samples from 25 sites in 17 rivers of the Pantanal (Brazil) were analyzed with the objective of evaluating pesticide contamination in sediments. Samples were extracted with an acetone, ethylacetate, and water mixture 2:2:1 (v/v/v). The extract was purified by flash chromatography with aluminum oxide and florisil. A multiresidue gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method was applied to monitor 23 pesticides of different chemical classes (organochlorine, organophosphorus, triazines, anilides and pyrethroids) with some of their degradation products. Compounds identified in sediment samples included λ -cyhalothrin (1.0 to 5.0 μ g kg^{? 1}), p,p′-DDT (3.6 μ g kg^{? 1}), deltamethrin (20.0 μ g kg^{? 1}) and permethrin (1.0 to 7.0 μ g kg^{? 1}).     

四川盆地农业生态系统害鼠种群测报数学模型的研究

根据四川盆地农业生态系统害鼠种群数量连续3年的统计结果：方差分析证明种群数量在年周期间变化不显著,（F＜F0．05）而年内存在着显著的统计学差异（F＞F0．05）种群数量季节消长呈明显的双峰型模式,年周期内出现6月和11月两个数量高峰,两峰之间无显著性差异（t＜t0．01）．依据农田灭鼠的实际情况,用3月份的数量来预测6月份的种群数量,是理想的预测方案故本文依据该3年的数据,采用数学拟合方法,组建预测6月份数量高峰的短期预测模型．统计检验表明具有准确、可靠和实用的特点．     

Effects of introducing threatened falcons into vineyards on abundance of passeriformes and bird damage to grapes

Agricultural landscapes are becoming an important focus of animal conservation, although initiatives to conserve predators to date have rarely provided economic benefits to agricultural producers. We examined whether introduction to vineyards of the New Zealand Falcon (Falco novaeseelandiae), a species listed as threatened by the New Zealand Department of Conservation, affected the abundance of 4 species of Passeriformes that are considered vineyard pests or affected the amount of economic loss due to grape (Vitis vinifera) damage. Three of the species were introduced and remove whole grapes from bunches (Blackbird [Turdus merula], Song Thrush [Turdus philomelos], and Starling [Sturnus vulgaris]), whereas the one native species (Silvereye [Zosterops lateralis]) pecks holes in grapes. The introduction of falcons to vineyards was associated with a significant decrease in the abundance of introduced passerines and with a 95% reduction in the number of grapes removed relative to vineyards without falcons. Falcon presence was not associated with a change in the number of Silvereyes, but there was a 55% reduction in the number of grapes pecked in vineyards with falcons. Our results indicate that, relative to damage in vineyards without falcons, the presence of a falcon could potentially result in savings of US$234/ha for the Sauvignon Blanc variety of grapes and $326/ha for Pinot Noir variety of grapes.     

Hierarchical Bayesian Modelling of plant colonisation by winged aphids: Inferring dispersal processes by linking aerial and field count data

Understanding and modelling insect pest dispersal is an important prerequisite for designing integrated pest management programs. Nevertheless, studies investigating the dispersal of small insects in natural conditions remain scarce mainly because of the difficulty of tracking the movements of these organisms. Here we propose to use Hierarchical Bayesian Modelling (HBM) framework to gain knowledge on hidden processes that cannot be observed directly in natura, such as insect landing and insect mortality, through the definition of latent variables. An HBM describing crop colonization by winged aphids was fitted to a large dataset of field observations issued from a long term survey at a wide scale of both aerial and field densities of the bird cherry-oat aphid Rhopalosiphum padi. This study provides the first evidence that suction trap data are reliable proxies of aphid colonizing rates in cereal fields in autumn and can be a nice alternative to the very time-consuming crop sampling. The proportion of winged aphids landing in cereal fields is shown to vary between regions according to the degree of investment of local R. padi population in sexual reproduction. Results also indicate that under autumnal field conditions, less than 5% of winged aphids survive more than 10 days after landing. This HBM provides the basis of a predictive model for aphid crop colonization that fully accounts for all sources of uncertainty. It should be of great value to improve the trust of users in any decision making systems.     

Intensive olive orchards on sloping land: good water and pest management are essential

There is intensive cultivation of olives on sloping land in Jaen-Granada (Spain), Basilicata (Italy) and Western Crete (Greece). The intensive olive groves here are characterised by a tree density of about 250treesha(-1), yearly fertilisation and pruning, several chemical sprays for pest control, soil tillage once to thrice per year and irrigation up to 2700m(3)ha(-1)yr(-1). Intensive management results in high yields of 3600-6500kgha(-1) but also higher labour costs of 1154-1590euroha(-1)yr(-1), varying per area. The major environmental concerns in this system are related to chemical residues in the fruit, the extinction of useful insects, the depletion of groundwater resources, the pollution of soil and water and the erosion of soil. This paper describes the impact of intensive orchard management on natural resources and gives recommendations for soil and water conservation, reduction of chemicals use and biodiversity enhancement. The specific recommendations for the relevant stakeholders-farmers, technicians, agricultural services and policy makers-are based on the experimental evaluation of different agricultural practices and a socio-economic analysis of local and global production and markets.     

The dilemma of pest suppression in the conservation of endangered species

In the conservation of endangered species, suppression of a population of one native species to benefit another poses challenges. Examples include predator control and nest parasite reduction. Less obvious is the control of blood-feeding arthropods. We conducted a case study of the effect of native black flies (Simulium spp.) on reintroduced Whooping Cranes (Grus americana). Our intent was to provide a science-driven approach for determining the effects of blood-feeding arthropods on endangered vertebrates and identifying optimal management actions for managers faced with competing objectives. A multiyear experiment demonstrated that black flies reduce nest success in cranes by driving incubating birds off their nests. We used a decision-analytic approach to develop creative management alternatives and evaluate trade-offs among competing objectives. We identified 4 management objectives: establish a self-sustaining crane population, improve crane well-being, maintain native black flies as functional components of the ecosystem, and minimize costs. We next identified potential management alternatives: do nothing, suppress black flies, force crane renesting to occur after the activity period of black flies, relocate releases of cranes, suppress black flies and relocate releases, or force crane renesting and relocate releases. We then developed predictions on constructed scales of 0 (worst-performing alternative) to 1 (best-performing alternative) to indicate how alternative actions performed in terms of management objectives. The optimal action depended on the relative importance of each objective to a decision maker. Only relocating releases was a dominated alternative, indicating that it was not optimal regardless of the relative importance of objectives. A rational decision maker could choose any other management alternative we considered. Recognizing that decisions involve trade-offs that must be weighed by decision makers is crucial to identifying alternatives that best balance multiple management objectives. Given uncertainty about the population dynamics of blood-feeding arthropods, an adaptive management approach could offer substantial benefits.     

International consensus principles for ethical wildlife control

Human–wildlife conflicts are commonly addressed by excluding, relocating, or lethally controlling animals with the goal of preserving public health and safety, protecting property, or conserving other valued wildlife. However, declining wildlife populations, a lack of efficacy of control methods in achieving desired outcomes, and changes in how people value animals have triggered widespread acknowledgment of the need for ethical and evidence‐based approaches to managing such conflicts. We explored international perspectives on and experiences with human–wildlife conflicts to develop principles for ethical wildlife control. A diverse panel of 20 experts convened at a 2‐day workshop and developed the principles through a facilitated engagement process and discussion. They determined that efforts to control wildlife should begin wherever possible by altering the human practices that cause human–wildlife conflict and by developing a culture of coexistence; be justified by evidence that significant harms are being caused to people, property, livelihoods, ecosystems, and/or other animals; have measurable outcome‐based objectives that are clear, achievable, monitored, and adaptive; predictably minimize animal welfare harms to the fewest number of animals; be informed by community values as well as scientific, technical, and practical information; be integrated into plans for systematic long‐term management; and be based on the specifics of the situation rather than negative labels (pest, overabundant) applied to the target species. We recommend that these principles guide development of international, national, and local standards and control decisions and implementation.     

Matching innovations with potential users, a case study of potato IPM practices

Through interviews and mail surveys, Ohio potato (Solanum tuberosum) growers were surveyed concerning their willingness to adopt three cultural controls being developed for management of the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), which had become increasingly difficult to control. The principal objective of the research was to obtain a deeper understanding of how farmers make decisions to adopt or not adopt new techniques and how these decisions are related to farmers' educational backgrounds and the way they currently manage their farms. The three cultural management options emphasized ecological approaches to habitat management rather than ecologically disruptive chemical control: (1) using host plants in overwintering sites to slow the spring movement of the beetles to potato fields, (2) using larger potato plants at field borders than in the center of the field as a spring trap crop, and (3) concentrating beetles in relatively small undefoliated areas to be killed with heat in late summer. Most respondents would not adopt these alternative pest management strategies, mainly because they perceived an unsatisfactory trade-off between logistic difficulties and expenses and population suppression they would achieve compared with traditional chemical control measures. Education correlated positively and experience in farming negatively with the willingness to try new pest management techniques. Additionally, growers responding more negatively to questions regarding integrated pest management strategies were more willing to experiment with the alternative techniques, a result attributed to either the survey design or an indication of experience with the more intensive management effort required for integrated pest management. This profile of potential innovators should be used by researchers to establish partnerships with farmers that could assist with both the research and development of new farming techniques and the adoption of successful systems by other farmers.     

国外有机农业的病虫草害防治

介绍了国外有机农业的病虫草害防治原理和技术，这些措施包括选用优良品种，多样化种植，合理轮作。使用微生物制剂及某些无机杀菌剂，物理和生物防治等，为我国有机农业和有机食品的生产提供参考。     

昆明(巫家坝)国际机场鸟害防治研究

防治机场鸟撞，应遵从一般生态学原理，一方面尽可能改变机场内各种动物的有利栖息环境，另一方面从生态系统的食物链结构中，减少或切断食物链的连接关系，从而减少鸟类数量，减少鸟类对飞机飞行安全的威胁。