Birds and arthropods play an important role as regulators of insect pests in agricultural areas. In the Brazilian state of São Paulo, several spittlebug species of the suborder Homoptera (Cercopidae) are among the principal insect pests of economic interest. Known locally as are known as 'pasture sharpshooters' (cigarrinhas-das-pastagens), these insects routinely cause devastating loss in the palatability of forage grass in cattle pastures. Estimating the potential of natural enemies in the biological control of spittlebug would provide valuable information about the underlying ecological processes involved in this control, and allow better planning of landscapes to enhance the provision of a specific ecosystem service of agricultural importance.
The central objective of this sub-project is to evaluate the relationship between landscape structure, bird community structure, and the rates of pest control services. Specifically we will:
1) Investigate how bird communities are structured in different contexts of landscape-level forest cover and matrix types (pasture and coffee) in the Atlantic Forest.
2) Understand how pest control rates vary with respect to forest cover and distance from forest fragments.
3) Identify the feeding preference of predatory birds in relation to the major species of spittlebug pests in the State of São Paulo.
We expect that in landscapes with non-forest matrix dominated by coffee plantations and those with greater forest cover will demonstrate more intact biological communities, due to enhanced dispersal through the relatively permeable coffee matrix. Further, avian and arthropod-mediated pest control should be more intense in landscapes with more forest cover, and in areas of pasture located closer to forest edges.
* Pictures have links to detailed descriptions of sub-projects.
The central objective of this sub-project is to evaluate the relationship between landscape structure, bird community structure, and the rates of pest control services. Specifically we will:
1) Investigate how bird communities are structured in different contexts of landscape-level forest cover and matrix types (pasture and coffee) in the Atlantic Forest.
2) Understand how pest control rates vary with respect to forest cover and distance from forest fragments.
3) Identify the feeding preference of predatory birds in relation to the major species of spittlebug pests in the State of São Paulo.
We expect that in landscapes with non-forest matrix dominated by coffee plantations and those with greater forest cover will demonstrate more intact biological communities, due to enhanced dispersal through the relatively permeable coffee matrix. Further, avian and arthropod-mediated pest control should be more intense in landscapes with more forest cover, and in areas of pasture located closer to forest edges.
* Pictures have links to detailed descriptions of sub-projects.
Camila Hohlenwerger
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Larissa Boesing
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Liz Nichols
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Jean Paul Metzger
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