Dissertation Research: Control of Insect Populations by Generalist Predators: Impact of Intraguild Predation

9701180 Wise拟议的研究将调查捕食的多面手地面捕食者-狼蛛（狼蛛科）和地面甲虫（步甲科）-蔬菜害虫的动态。步甲和石松类，消耗了广泛的草食动物物种，也捕食对方-行为被定义为内行会捕食（IGP）。四个具体的问题将被解决：（1）捕食石松和步甲抑制草食性昆虫的密度？(2)石松和步甲对其他捕食者的数量有负面影响吗？(3)IGP是否限制步甲和石松种群？(4)地面捕食者集团的大小结构是否影响其对食草动物种群的影响？通过控制石松和步甲进入围栏菜园的移民，并观察对害虫密度、其他捕食者密度和植物生产力的影响，将通过操纵性田间实验来解决上述问题。田间试验将辅之以实验室饲养试验。这项研究将阐明IGP在多大程度上限制了通才捕食者对食草动物密度的影响。由于这项研究将在农业系统中进行，研究结果将有助于更好地了解土著通才捕食者作为生物防治剂的局限性和优势，这将有助于更有效地利用它们进行虫害综合管理。

9701180 Wise The proposed research will investigate the dynamics of predation by generalist ground predators - wolf spiders (Lycosidae) and ground beetles (Carabidae) - on insect pests of vegetables. Carabids and lycosids, which consume a wide spectrum of herbivore species, also prey on each other - behavior defined as intraguild predation (IGP). Four specific questions will be addressed: (1) Does predation by lycosids and carabids suppress densities of herbivorous insects? (2) Do lycosids and carabids negatively impact populations of other predators? (3) Does IGP limit carabid and lycosid populations? (4) Does the size structure of the ground-predator guild influence its impact on herbivore populations? Manipulative field experiments will address the above questions by controlling immigration of lycosids and carabids into fenced vegetable gardens, and observing effects on pest densities, densities of other predators, and plant productivity. The field experiments will be complemented with laboratory feeding trials. The research will elucidate the extent to which IGP limits the impact of generalist predators on herbivore densities. Since the study will be conducted in an agricultural system, results will improve understanding of the limitations and strengths of indigenous generalist predators as biological control agents, which will contribute to their more effective use in integrated pest management.