Award details

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

Reference	D11468
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor William Symondson
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Cardiff University
Department	School of Biosciences
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	73,336
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	01/09/1999
End date	01/09/2002
Duration	36 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 D11467).

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

Associated awards:

D11467 Is prey biodiversity a prerequisite for effective population regulation of polyphagous predators?

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