1
|
Hicks H, Lambert J, Pywell R, Hulmes L, Hulmes S, Walker K, Childs DZ, Freckleton RP. Characterizing the environmental drivers of the abundance and distribution of Alopecurus myosuroides on a national scale. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2021; 77:2726-2736. [PMID: 33496990 DOI: 10.1002/ps.6301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Arable weeds threaten farming and food production, impacting on productivity. Large-scale data on weed populations are typically lacking, and changes are frequently undocumented until they reach problem levels. Managing the future spread of weeds requires that we understand the factors that influence current densities and distributions. In doing so, one of the challenges is to measure populations at a large enough scale to be able to accurately measure changes in densities and distributions. Here we analyse the density and distribution of a major weed (Alopecurus myosuroides) on a large scale. Our objectives were to (i) develop a methodology for rapid measurement of occurrence and abundance, (ii) test hypotheses about the roles of soils and climate variation in determining densities, and (iii) use this information to identify areas in which occurrence could increase in the future. RESULTS Populations were mapped through England over 4 years in 4631 locations. We also analysed UK atlas data published over the past 50 years. Densities of populations show significant interannual variability, but historical data show that the species has spread. We find significant impacts of soil and rainfall on densities, which increase with the proportion of heavy soils, but decrease with increasing rainfall. Compared with independent atlas data we found that our statistical models provide good predictions of large-scale occupancy and we provide maps of current and potential densities. CONCLUSION Models of spread highlight the localised nature of colonisation, and this emphasises the need for management to limit dispersal. Comparisons of current, historical and potential distributions suggest sizeable habitable areas in which increases in abundance are still possible. © 2021 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Helen Hicks
- School of Animal Rural & Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
| | - James Lambert
- Department of Animal & Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford, UK
| | - Richard Pywell
- Department of Animal & Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford, UK
| | - Lucy Hulmes
- Department of Animal & Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford, UK
| | - Sarah Hulmes
- Department of Animal & Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford, UK
| | - Kevin Walker
- Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland, Harrogate, UK
| | - Dylan Z Childs
- Department of Animal & Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford, UK
| | - Robert P Freckleton
- Department of Animal & Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford, UK
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Goodsell RM, Childs DZ, Spencer M, Coutts S, Vergnon R, Swinfield T, Queenborough SA, Freckleton RP. Developing hierarchical density‐structured models to study the national‐scale dynamics of an arable weed. ECOL MONOGR 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecm.1449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Robert M. Goodsell
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences University of Sheffield Sheffield S10 2TN United Kingdom
| | - Dylan Z. Childs
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences University of Sheffield Sheffield S10 2TN United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Spencer
- School of Environmental Sciences University of Liverpool Liverpool L69 3GP United Kingdom
| | - Shaun Coutts
- Lincoln Institute for Agri‐food Technology University of Lincoln Lincoln LN2 2LG United Kingdom
| | - Remi Vergnon
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences University of Sheffield Sheffield S10 2TN United Kingdom
| | - Tom Swinfield
- RSPB Potton road Sandy Bedfordshire SH19 2DL United Kingdom
| | - Simon A. Queenborough
- Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies Yale University New Haven Connecticut 06511 USA
| | - Robert P. Freckleton
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences University of Sheffield Sheffield S10 2TN United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Matsuhashi S, Asai M, Fukasawa K. Estimations and projections of Avena fatua dynamics under multiple management scenarios in crop fields using simplified longitudinal monitoring. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0245217. [PMID: 33449954 PMCID: PMC7810275 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0245217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Integrated weed management (IWM) is currently the most appropriate and effective method of agricultural weed control. To determine the most effective strategy, it is necessary to compare the effects of different control options and their rotation. Avena fatua (common wild oat) is one of the most common and economically threatening grass weed species of cereal crops worldwide. To examine the effects of non-chemical weed management options (farmland use, delayed sowing, and summer irrigation) on control of A. fatua, we recorded coverage levels and field conditions in 41 sites during the spring growing season of winter wheat for about 10 years. A transition matrix model was then constructed to project coverage levels of A. fatua under each management option using ordinal logistic regression. The results showed that farmland use had a remarkable effect on coverage; notably, planting of paddy rice and vegetables, which respectively eliminated the effect of coverage in the previous year and facilitated rapid convergence of coverage to 0%. Thus, although 90% of fields under continuous wheat cultivation were found to be at risk of A. fatua colonization, the risk was reduced to almost 0% with rotation of effective farmland use. As summer irrigation was also effective, more than 50% of wheat fields with the option continuously converged to no risk for A. fatua colonization. When the different management cycles were repeated, the effects were observed within 3 years, with a steady state reached in less than 10 years. Overall, these results suggest that simplified monitoring data could help decision-making on IWM, thereby helping to improve the efficiency of agricultural production.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saeko Matsuhashi
- CARC, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, Japan
- * E-mail:
| | - Motoaki Asai
- TARC, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Keita Fukasawa
- National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Freckleton RP, Hicks HL, Comont D, Crook L, Hull R, Neve P, Childs DZ. Measuring the effectiveness of management interventions at regional scales by integrating ecological monitoring and modelling. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2018; 74:2287-2295. [PMID: 29024368 PMCID: PMC6175144 DOI: 10.1002/ps.4759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2017] [Revised: 10/04/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Because of site-specific effects and outcomes, it is often difficult to know whether a management strategy for the control of pests has worked or not. Population dynamics of pests are typically spatially and temporally variable. Moreover, interventions at the scale of individual fields or farms are essentially unreplicated experiments; a decrease in a target population following management cannot safely be interpreted as success because, for example, it might simply be a poor year for that species. Here, we argue that if large-scale data are available, population models can be used to measure outcomes against the prevailing mean and variance. We apply this approach to the problem of rotational management of the weed Alopecurus myosuroides. RESULTS We derived density-structured population models for a set of fields that were not subject to rotational management (continuous winter wheat) and another group that were (rotated into spring barley to control A. myosuroides). We used these models to construct means and variances of the outcomes of management for given starting conditions, and to conduct transient growth analysis. We show that, overall, this management strategy is successful in reducing densities of weeds, albeit with considerable variance. However, we also show that one variant (rotation to spring barley along with variable sowing) shows little evidence for additional control. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that rotational strategies can be effective in the control of this weed, but also that strategies require careful evaluation against a background of spatiotemporal variation. © 2017 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Helen L Hicks
- Department of Animal & Plant SciencesUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - David Comont
- Department of Biointeractions and Crop ProtectionRothamsted ResearchHarpendenUK
| | - Laura Crook
- Department of Biointeractions and Crop ProtectionRothamsted ResearchHarpendenUK
| | - Richard Hull
- Department of Biointeractions and Crop ProtectionRothamsted ResearchHarpendenUK
| | - Paul Neve
- Department of Biointeractions and Crop ProtectionRothamsted ResearchHarpendenUK
| | - Dylan Z Childs
- Department of Animal & Plant SciencesUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Lambert JPT, Hicks HL, Childs DZ, Freckleton RP, Gonzalez‐Andujar J. Evaluating the potential of Unmanned Aerial Systems for mapping weeds at field scales: a case study with Alopecurus myosuroides. WEED RESEARCH 2018; 58:35-45. [PMID: 29527066 PMCID: PMC5832304 DOI: 10.1111/wre.12275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2017] [Accepted: 08/25/2017] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Mapping weed densities within crops has conventionally been achieved either by detailed ecological monitoring or by field walking, both of which are time-consuming and expensive. Recent advances have resulted in increased interest in using Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) to map fields, aiming to reduce labour costs and increase the spatial extent of coverage. However, adoption of this technology ideally requires that mapping can be undertaken automatically and without the need for extensive ground-truthing. This approach has not been validated at large scale using UAS-derived imagery in combination with extensive ground-truth data. We tested the capability of UAS for mapping a grass weed, Alopecurus myosuroides, in wheat crops. We addressed two questions: (i) can imagery accurately measure densities of weeds within fields and (ii) can aerial imagery of a field be used to estimate the densities of weeds based on statistical models developed in other locations? We recorded aerial imagery from 26 fields using a UAS. Images were generated using both RGB and Rmod (Rmod 670-750 nm) spectral bands. Ground-truth data on weed densities were collected simultaneously with the aerial imagery. We combined these data to produce statistical models that (i) correlated ground-truth weed densities with image intensity and (ii) forecast weed densities in other fields. We show that weed densities correlated with image intensity, particularly Rmod image data. However, results were mixed in terms of out of sample prediction from field-to-field. We highlight the difficulties with transferring models and we discuss the challenges for automated weed mapping using UAS technology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J P T Lambert
- Department of Animal & Plant ScienceUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - H L Hicks
- Department of Animal & Plant ScienceUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - D Z Childs
- Department of Animal & Plant ScienceUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - R P Freckleton
- Department of Animal & Plant ScienceUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Tredennick AT, Hooten MB, Adler PB. Do we need demographic data to forecast plant population dynamics? Methods Ecol Evol 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.12686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew T. Tredennick
- Department of Wildland Resources and the Ecology Center Utah State University 5230 Old Main Hill Logan UT 84322 USA
| | - Mevin B. Hooten
- U.S. Geological Survey Colorado Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Fort Collins CO 80523 USA
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology Colorado State University Fort Collins CO 80523 USA
- Department of Statistics Colorado State University Fort Collins CO 80523 USA
| | - Peter B. Adler
- Department of Wildland Resources and the Ecology Center Utah State University 5230 Old Main Hill Logan UT 84322 USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Tredennick AT, Hooten MB, Aldridge CL, Homer CG, Kleinhesselink AR, Adler PB. Forecasting climate change impacts on plant populations over large spatial extents. Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew T. Tredennick
- Department of Wildland Resources and the Ecology Center Utah State University 5230 Old Main Hill Logan Utah 84322 USA
| | - Mevin B. Hooten
- U.S. Geological Survey Colorado Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Colorado State University Fort Collins Colorado 80523 USA
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology Colorado State University Fort Collins Colorado 80523 USA
- Department of Statistics Colorado State University Fort Collins Colorado 80523 USA
| | - Cameron L. Aldridge
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory Colorado State University Fort Collins Colorado 80523 USA
- U.S. Geological Survey Fort Collins Science Center Fort Collins Colorado 80526 USA
| | - Collin G. Homer
- U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center Sioux Falls South Dakota 57198 USA
| | - Andrew R. Kleinhesselink
- Department of Wildland Resources and the Ecology Center Utah State University 5230 Old Main Hill Logan Utah 84322 USA
| | - Peter B. Adler
- Department of Wildland Resources and the Ecology Center Utah State University 5230 Old Main Hill Logan Utah 84322 USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Liebman M, Baraibar B, Buckley Y, Childs D, Christensen S, Cousens R, Eizenberg H, Heijting S, Loddo D, Merotto A, Renton M, Riemens M. Ecologically sustainable weed management: How do we get from proof-of-concept to adoption? ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2016; 26:1352-1369. [PMID: 27755749 DOI: 10.1002/15-0995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2015] [Revised: 11/09/2015] [Accepted: 11/23/2015] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Weed management is a critically important activity on both agricultural and non-agricultural lands, but it is faced with a daunting set of challenges: environmental damage caused by control practices, weed resistance to herbicides, accelerated rates of weed dispersal through global trade, and greater weed impacts due to changes in climate and land use. Broad-scale use of new approaches is needed if weed management is to be successful in the coming era. We examine three approaches likely to prove useful for addressing current and future challenges from weeds: diversifying weed management strategies with multiple complementary tactics, developing crop genotypes for enhanced weed suppression, and tailoring management strategies to better accommodate variability in weed spatial distributions. In all three cases, proof-of-concept has long been demonstrated and considerable scientific innovations have been made, but uptake by farmers and land managers has been extremely limited. Impediments to employing these and other ecologically based approaches include inadequate or inappropriate government policy instruments, a lack of market mechanisms, and a paucity of social infrastructure with which to influence learning, decision-making, and actions by farmers and land managers. We offer examples of how these impediments are being addressed in different parts of the world, but note that there is no clear formula for determining which sets of policies, market mechanisms, and educational activities will be effective in various locations. Implementing new approaches for weed management will require multidisciplinary teams comprised of scientists, engineers, economists, sociologists, educators, farmers, land managers, industry personnel, policy makers, and others willing to focus on weeds within whole farming systems and land management units.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matt Liebman
- Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 50011, USA
| | - Bàrbara Baraibar
- Department of Horticulture, Botany and Landscaping, University of Lleida, Lleida, 25003, Spain
| | - Yvonne Buckley
- School of Natural Sciences, Zoology, Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Dylan Childs
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Svend Christensen
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, 1165, Denmark
| | - Roger Cousens
- School of Biosciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Hanan Eizenberg
- Department of Plant Pathology and Weed Research, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization, Ramat Yishay, 30095, Israel
| | - Sanne Heijting
- Agrosystems Research, Wageningen UR, Wageningen, 6708 PB, The Netherlands
| | - Donato Loddo
- Institute of Agro-environmental and Forest Biology, National Research Council, Legnaro, 35020, Italy
| | - Aldo Merotto
- Graduate Group in Plant Science, School of Agriculture, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 91501-970, Brazil
| | - Michael Renton
- School of Plant Biology, Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative and Institute of Agriculture, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Marleen Riemens
- Agrosystems Research, Wageningen UR, Wageningen, 6708 PB, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Mieszkowska N, Milligan G, Burrows MT, Freckleton R, Spencer M. Dynamic species distribution models from categorical survey data. J Anim Ecol 2013; 82:1215-26. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2013] [Accepted: 05/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nova Mieszkowska
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom; The Laboratory; Citadel Hill Plymouth Devon PL1 2PB UK
| | - Gregg Milligan
- School of Environmental Sciences; University of Liverpool; Liverpool L69 3GP UK
| | - Michael T. Burrows
- Scottish Association for Marine Science; Scottish Marine Institute; Oban Argyll PA37 1QA UK
| | - Rob Freckleton
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences; University of Sheffield; Sheffield S10 2TN UK
| | - Matthew Spencer
- School of Environmental Sciences; University of Liverpool; Liverpool L69 3GP UK
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Sutherland WJ, Freckleton RP. Making predictive ecology more relevant to policy makers and practitioners. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2012; 367:322-30. [PMID: 22144394 PMCID: PMC3223805 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2011.0181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the aims of ecology is to aid policy makers and practitioners through the development of testable predictions of relevance to society. Here, we argue that this capacity can be improved in three ways. Firstly, by thinking more clearly about the priority issues using a range of methods including horizon scanning, identifying policy gaps, identifying priority questions and using evidence-based conservation to identify knowledge gaps. Secondly, by linking ecological models with models of other systems, such as economic and social models. Thirdly, by considering alternative approaches to generate and model data that use, for example, discrete or categorical states to model ecological systems. We particularly highlight that models are essential for making predictions. However, a key to the limitation in their use is the degree to which ecologists are able to communicate results to policy makers in a clear, useful and timely fashion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William J Sutherland
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK.
| | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Lowe PK, Bruno JF, Selig ER, Spencer M. Empirical models of transitions between coral reef states: effects of region, protection, and environmental change. PLoS One 2011; 6:e26339. [PMID: 22073157 PMCID: PMC3206808 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0026339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2011] [Accepted: 09/25/2011] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
There has been substantial recent change in coral reef communities. To date, most analyses have focussed on static patterns or changes in single variables such as coral cover. However, little is known about how community-level changes occur at large spatial scales. Here, we develop Markov models of annual changes in coral and macroalgal cover in the Caribbean and Great Barrier Reef (GBR) regions. We analyzed reef surveys from the Caribbean and GBR (1996–2006). We defined a set of reef states distinguished by coral and macroalgal cover, and obtained Bayesian estimates of the annual probabilities of transitions between these states. The Caribbean and GBR had different transition probabilities, and therefore different rates of change in reef condition. This could be due to differences in species composition, management or the nature and extent of disturbances between these regions. We then estimated equilibrium probability distributions for reef states, and coral and macroalgal cover under constant environmental conditions. In both regions, the current distributions are close to equilibrium. In the Caribbean, coral cover is much lower and macroalgal cover is higher at equilibrium than in the GBR. We found no evidence for differences in transition probabilities between the first and second halves of our survey period, or between Caribbean reefs inside and outside marine protected areas. However, our power to detect such differences may have been low. We also examined the effects of altering transition probabilities on the community state equilibrium, along a continuum from unfavourable (e.g., increased sea surface temperature) to favourable (e.g., improved management) conditions. Both regions showed similar qualitative responses, but different patterns of uncertainty. In the Caribbean, uncertainty was greatest about effects of favourable changes, while in the GBR, we are most uncertain about effects of unfavourable changes. Our approach could be extended to provide risk analysis for management decisions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Phillip K Lowe
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Queenborough SA, Burnet KM, Sutherland WJ, Watkinson AR, Freckleton RP. From meso- to macroscale population dynamics: a new density-structured approach. Methods Ecol Evol 2010. [DOI: 10.1111/j.2041-210x.2010.00075.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|