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Effects of biodiversity on the dynamics of predation in low-input arable systems: molecular approaches

Reference	D14569
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor William Symondson
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Professor Michael Bruford, Professor David Glen
Institution	Cardiff University
Department	School of Biosciences
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	347,524
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	01/05/2001
End date	21/05/2004
Duration	37 months

Abstract

Biodiversity within arable ecosystems may provide the key to natural regulation of pests, helping to promote high predator densities. Novel molecular techniques will be developed to detect prey DNA in the guts of predators and to track and quantify predator-prey interactions in the field. Rapid systems will be developed that can simultaneously detect predation on a range of key non-pest prey using 'molecular beacons', as well as on a 'diversity' of prey using DGGE. These system will be used to study the effects of biodiversity upon predation by ground beetles on slugs, a major group of soil pests. In particular, the value of both a diversity and abundance of non-pest prey to the maintenance of predator populations will be evaluated.

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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