Award details

Is prey biodiversity a prerequisite for effective population regulation of polyphagous predators?

ReferenceD11467
Principal Investigator / Supervisor Dr Keith Sunderland
Co-Investigators /
Co-Supervisors
Institution University of Warwick
DepartmentWarwick HRI
Funding typeResearch
Value (£) 68,624
StatusCompleted
TypeResearch Grant
Start date 01/08/1999
End date 01/08/2002
Duration36 months

Abstract

We will use spiders and cereal aphids as a model to test the hypothesis that prey biodiversity is a prerequisite for effective population regulation of agricultural pests by polyphagous predators. Monoclonal antibodies against aphids, flies and springtails will be used to determine which of these prey groups is the major food of spiders in cereal fields. Guided by the field results as to the optimal prey organisms to use, we will measure the effect of prey biodiversity on spider population growth rate in the laboratory. These experiments will indicate the mean density that spiders would achieve in early summer in the field for a range of prey biodiversity scenarios. These densities will guide experiments to measure the effects of prey biodiversity on the efficiency of aphid biocontrol by spiders. (Joint with grant D11468).

Summary

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