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Parasitoid webs in organic and conventional farming systems: structure sustainability and exploitation

Reference	BBS/B/01782
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Jane Memmott
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Professor William Symondson
Institution	University of Bristol
Department	Biological Sciences
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	324,045
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	01/06/2004
End date	31/12/2007
Duration	43 months

Abstract

Agricultural intensification is often associated with a decrease in biodiversity and concomitant loss of natural enemies that control pests. We will compare biodiversity on organic and conventional farms at three trophic levels (plant, Lepidoptera and parasitoid) by constructing farm-scale quantitative parasitoid webs. The webs will measure the overlap in, and trophic links between, species on crop and non-crop land (ie do non crop habitats provide a reservoir of parasitoids?) and a field experiment will test whether pest control of parasitoids is more effective and sustainable on organic farms. A complex system approach will test the tolerance of the two types of network to species extinction. Finally, we will develop a new form of precision agriculture - semi natural habitats specifically modified to optimise natural regulation of pests and tailored for a given farm.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Agri-food (AF)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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