Dissertation Research: Ecological linkages between multiple habitats in an agroecosystem

论文研究：农业生态系统中多个栖息地之间的生态联系

• 批准号: 0709743
• 负责人: Claudio Gratton
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Wisconsin-Madison
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2007-06-01 至 2009-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0709743&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Dissertation; Research; Ecological; linkages; between

Ecological theory predicts that predation in a given location will be stronger than expected when predator populations are supported by resources outside that location (e.g., alternative species of prey). This is because external resources may allow predator populations to build even though local resources are scarce. This situation can occur when mobile predators frequently move between different habitats. Movement between multiple habitats allows predators to use resources both within and outside of a prey's habitat, allowing their populations to build (even if local conditions are bad) and strongly suppress prey.Despite its theoretical importance, there has been little research in terrestrial habitats investigating the influence of predator movement on the intensity of predation in local habitat patches. This research will examine the question experimentally by decreasing and increasing movement of predators between crop habitats and native prairie grass; the investigators will then observe the resulting impact on predation within crops. The goal is to determine if natural areas outside of crops provide resources that enhance predation on insect pests within a crop habitat. If this is the case, restoring natural areas in agricultural landscapes could reduce the need to use insecticides to control pests.

生态学理论预测，当捕食者种群得到该位置以外的资源的支持时，给定位置的捕食将比预期的更强（例如，猎物的替代物种）。 这是因为即使当地资源稀缺，外部资源也可能使捕食者种群得以建立。 当移动的捕食者经常在不同的栖息地之间移动时，就会出现这种情况。 多个栖息地之间的运动使捕食者能够利用猎物栖息地内外的资源，使它们的种群能够建立（即使当地条件恶劣）并强烈抑制猎物。尽管其理论上的重要性，但在陆地栖息地调查捕食者运动对当地栖息地斑块捕食强度的影响的研究很少。 这项研究将通过减少和增加捕食者在作物栖息地和原生草原草之间的运动来实验性地研究这个问题;然后，研究人员将观察对作物内捕食的影响。 其目标是确定作物以外的自然区域是否提供了增强对作物栖息地内害虫捕食的资源。 如果是这样的话，恢复农业景观中的自然区域可以减少使用杀虫剂控制害虫的需要。