Seasonal,spatial and diel partitioning of Acyrthosiphon pisum (Hemiptera: Aphididae) predators and predation in alfalfa fields |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Ecology, 310 Lewis Hall, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA;2. Zambian Carnivore Programme, P.O. Box 90, Mfuwe, Eastern Province, Zambia;3. Intitutionen for Vilt, Fisk och Miljö, Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet, Skogsmarksgrand, Umeå 90183, Sweden;4. Wildlife Conservation and Research Unit, Department of Zoology, Oxford University, Oxfordshire OX13 5QL, England, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland;5. School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona,1064 East Lowell Street, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA;6. Alaska Center for Conservation Science, University of Alaska Anchorage, Beatrice McDonald Hall, 3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA |
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| Abstract: | Predators are important natural enemies, often responsible for preventing pest population outbreaks of in many crops. Complementarity in resource use involves spatial or temporal segregation of predators, which can result in better biological control when several species of natural enemies share a prey. In this study, we investigated the seasonal, spatial and diel segregation of Acyrthosiphon pisum predators and its predation in alfalfa fields, by setting out cards with sentinel aphids, and making observations every 3 h for a 24 h period. A temporal and spatial segregation of predators was observed. Coccinellids were the most abundant predators, representing 51% of the total observations, followed by syrphid larvae. Coccinellids were also responsible for high levels of predation throughout the year, although the species responsible varied from spring to summer and autumn. On the other hand, syrphids were only found in spring and summer, while spiders only in autumn. Predator species also differed on their preferred sites for predation, with Heteropterans and syrphids found on the foliage, the spider Neomaso articeps only on the ground, and coccinellid and Anyphaenidae species on both sites. The two main predator groups also showed distinct diel patterns, with coccinellids observed only during day and syrphids only during night. This predatory activity corresponded with aphid predation, observing more predation in spring, on the foliage and during the day time. The proportion of predators observed preying on cards in the different seasons did not corresponded tightly with their field abundance, particularly in the case of coccinellids, which maintained high levels of predation in spite of great variations in its field abundance. Our results support the hypothesis of a spatio-temporal segregation of the predators associated with A. pisum in alfalfa, which might be beneficial for the outcome of biological control of this pest. |
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| Keywords: | Aphid predators Niche partitioning Species coexistence |
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