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Koptur S, Primoli AS, Neto HFP, Whitfield J. Pierid Butterflies, Legume Hostplants, and Parasitoids in Urban Areas of Southern Florida. INSECTS 2024; 15:123. [PMID: 38392542 PMCID: PMC10888611 DOI: 10.3390/insects15020123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Are parasitoids less likely to find their Lepidoptera hosts on non-native hostplants than native hostplants? We predicted that with longer periods of coevolution between herbivores and the plants they consume, the parasitoids that provide top-down control would be more attuned to finding their hosts on native plants. To test this hypothesis, we collected immature stages of sulfur butterflies (the cloudless sulfur (Phoebis sennae) and the orange-barred sulfur (Phoebis agarithe) over a three-year period (2008-2011) from native and ornamental hostplants in the genus Senna in three different parts of the urban landscape of Miami, Florida, USA. We reared the immature specimens to pupation and either eclosion of adults or emergence of parasitoids and compared the levels of parasitization among the three areas, and among native vs. exotic hostplants. We found, contrary to our prediction, that caterpillars feeding on non-native leguminous hostplant species were more likely to be parasitized than those feeding on native hostplants. We discuss this surprising finding in the light of recent findings in other plant/herbivore/parasitoid systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne Koptur
- Department of Biological Sciences, International Center for Tropical Botany, Institute of the Environment, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA;
| | - Andrea Salas Primoli
- Department of Biological Sciences, International Center for Tropical Botany, Institute of the Environment, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA;
| | - Hipolito Ferreira Paulino Neto
- Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-090, SP, Brazil;
- Departamento de Biociências, Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais-UEMG/Unidade Passos, Passos 37900-004, MG, Brazil
| | - James Whitfield
- Department of Entomology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA;
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Mowery MA, Arabesky V, Rozenberg T, Lubin Y, Segoli M. Invasive brown widow spiders avoid parasitism despite high densities. Oecologia 2023; 202:143-150. [PMID: 37160461 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05378-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Invasive species are sometimes less susceptible to natural enemies compared to native species, but the mechanism is often unclear. Here we tested two potential mechanisms for lower parasitism of invasive species: density-dependent parasitism and preference for human-dominated habitats. We investigated how variation in host density and habitat type affect egg sac parasitism in two widow spider species (family Theridiidae). We compared parasitism on the egg sac of the brown widow, Latrodectus geometricus, an urban invasive species, and the white widow, Latrodectus pallidus, a species native to Israel. To investigate variation in host and parasitoid density, we measured nearest-neighbor distance between spider webs and parasitism rates in 16 sites, and in a single site monthly throughout a year. In L. pallidus, denser sites were more heavily parasitized (up to 55%) and parasitism rate increased with population density throughout the season. Extremely dense L. geometricus populations, however, had very low rates of parasitism (0-5%). We then conducted an egg sac transplant experiment in human-dominated and natural habitats. We found no parasitism of either species in the human-dominated habitat, compared to 30% parasitism of both species in the natural habitat. In addition, we found evidence for higher predation of L. pallidus than of L. geometricus egg sacs, particularly in the natural habitat. These combined results suggest that the human-dominated habitats inhabited by L. geometricus have a lower abundance of predators and parasites. We conclude that lower parasitism and predation in human-dominated habitats could contribute to the invasion success of L. geometricus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica A Mowery
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 8499000, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel.
| | - Valeria Arabesky
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 8499000, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
| | - Tamir Rozenberg
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 8499000, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
| | - Yael Lubin
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 8499000, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
| | - Michal Segoli
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 8499000, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
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3
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Sexton AN, Garces KR, Huber MR, Emery SM. Urban grassland restorations have reduced plant fitness but not pollinator limitation. ACTA OECOLOGICA 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.actao.2023.103898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
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4
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Jha S, Egerer M, Bichier P, Cohen H, Liere H, Lin B, Lucatero A, Philpott SM. Multiple ecosystem service synergies and landscape mediation of biodiversity within urban agroecosystems. Ecol Lett 2023; 26:369-383. [PMID: 36691722 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Ecosystem services (ESs) are essential for human well-being, especially in urban areas where 60% of the global population will live by 2030. While urban habitats have the potential to support biodiversity and ES, few studies have quantified the impact of local and landscape management across a diverse suite of services. We leverage 5 years of data (>5000 observations) across a network of urban community gardens to determine the drivers of biodiversity and ES trade-offs and synergies. We found multiple synergies and few trade-offs, contrasting previous assumptions that food production is at odds with biodiversity. Furthermore, we show that natural landscape cover interacts with local management to mediate services provided by mobile animals, specifically pest control and pollination. By quantifying the factors that support a diverse suite of ES, we highlight the critical role of garden management and urban planning for optimizing biodiversity and human benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shalene Jha
- Integrative Biology Department, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA.,Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Monika Egerer
- Environmental Studies Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, California, USA.,Department of Life Science Systems, School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Peter Bichier
- Environmental Studies Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, California, USA
| | - Hamutahl Cohen
- Environmental Studies Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, California, USA
| | - Heidi Liere
- Environmental Studies Program, Seattle University, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Brenda Lin
- CSIRO Land and Water, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Azucena Lucatero
- Environmental Studies Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, California, USA
| | - Stacy M Philpott
- Environmental Studies Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, California, USA
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Diethelm AC, Masta SE. Urban green roofs can support a diversity of parasitoid wasps. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.983401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Green roofs are often installed atop buildings to provide ecological services such as mitigating storm water runoff and cooling air within urban heat islands. We found that green roofs in Portland, Oregon, also can support biodiversity, including a diverse assemblage of parasitoid wasps, with 20 morphospecies from 10 families present on the four roofs we surveyed. The roofs with greater plant diversity and structural complexity harbored comparatively more parasitoid morphospecies than the structurally simpler Sedum-dominated roofs. The oldest green roof supported much greater diversity than the younger roofs, including a comparably planted roof three times its size. Parasitoid wasps from the Hymenopteran families we found are high-trophic-level organisms known to feed on a variety of arthropods, including many insects commonly considered to be pests in urban areas. We suggest that green roofs have the potential to provide an often-overlooked ecological service by supporting parasitoid wasps that can act as natural biological control agents.
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Ong TW, Lin BB, Lucatero A, Cohen H, Bichier P, Egerer MH, Danieu A, Jha S, Philpott SM, Liere H. Rarity begets rarity: Social and environmental drivers of rare organisms in cities. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 32:e2708. [PMID: 35810452 PMCID: PMC10078586 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Cities are sometimes characterized as homogenous with species assemblages composed of abundant, generalist species having similar ecological functions. Under this assumption, rare species, or species observed infrequently, would have especially high conservation value in cities for their potential to increase functional diversity. Management to increase the number of rare species in cities could be an important conservation strategy in a rapidly urbanizing world. However, most studies of species rarity define rarity in relatively pristine environments where human management and disturbance is minimized. We know little about what species are rare, how many species are rare, and what management practices promote rare species in urban environments. Here, we identified which plants and species of birds and bees that control pests and pollinate crops are rare in urban gardens and assessed how social, biophysical factors, and cross-taxonomic comparisons influence rare species richness. We found overwhelming numbers of rare species, with more than 50% of plants observed classified as rare. Our results highlight the importance of women, older individuals, and gardeners who live closer to garden sites in increasing the number of rare plants within urban areas. Fewer rare plants were found in older gardens and gardens with more bare soil. There were more rare bird species in larger gardens and more rare bee species for which canopy cover was higher. We also found that in some cases, rarity begets rarity, with positive correlations found between the number of rare plants and bee species and between bee and bird species. Overall, our results suggest that urban gardens include a high number of species existing at low frequency and that social and biophysical factors promoting rare, planned biodiversity can cascade down to promote rare, associated biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa W. Ong
- Department of Environmental Studies, Ecology, Evolution, Environment & Society Graduate ProgramDartmouth CollegeHanoverNew HampshireUSA
| | - Brenda B. Lin
- CSIRO Land and Water FlagshipBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | - Azucena Lucatero
- Environmental Studies DepartmentUniversity of CaliforniaSanta CruzCaliforniaUSA
| | - Hamutahl Cohen
- Institute for Food and Agricultural SciencesUniversity of Florida, Collier Extension ServiceNaplesFloridaUSA
| | - Peter Bichier
- Environmental Studies DepartmentUniversity of CaliforniaSanta CruzCaliforniaUSA
| | - Monika H. Egerer
- Department of Life Science SystemsSchool of Life Sciences, Technische Universität MünchenFreisingGermany
| | - Alana Danieu
- Department of Environmental Studies, Ecology, Evolution, Environment & Society Graduate ProgramDartmouth CollegeHanoverNew HampshireUSA
| | - Shalene Jha
- Integrative Biology DepartmentUniversity of Texas at AustinAustinTexasUSA
| | - Stacy M. Philpott
- Environmental Studies DepartmentUniversity of CaliforniaSanta CruzCaliforniaUSA
| | - Heidi Liere
- Environmental Studies DepartmentSeattle UniversitySeattleWashingtonUSA
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Gajdoš P, Majzlan O, David S, Purgat P, Litavský J. Assemblages of ground-living spiders (Araneae) and harvestmen (Opiliones) of the recultivated old chemical waste dump in Vrakuňa (Bratislava, Slovakia). Biologia (Bratisl) 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11756-022-01247-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Egerer M, Philpott SM. ‘Tidy’ and ‘messy’ management alters natural enemy communities and pest control in urban agroecosystems. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0274122. [PMID: 36137105 PMCID: PMC9499222 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Agroecosystem management influences ecological interactions that underpin ecosystem services. In human-centered systems, people’s values and preferences influence management decisions. For example, aesthetic preferences for ‘tidy’ agroecosystems may remove vegetation complexity with potential negative impacts on beneficial associated biodiversity and ecosystem function. This may produce trade-offs in aesthetic- versus production-based management for ecosystem service provision. Yet, it is unclear how such preferences influence the ecology of small-scale urban agroecosystems, where aesthetic preferences for ‘tidiness’ are prominent among some gardener demographics. We used urban community gardens as a model system to experimentally test how aesthetic preferences for a ‘tidy garden’ versus a ‘messy garden’ influence insect pests, natural enemies, and pest control services. We manipulated gardens by mimicking a popular ‘tidy’ management practice–woodchip mulching–on the one hand, and simulating ‘messy’ gardens by adding ‘weedy’ plants to pathways on the other hand. Then, we measured for differences in natural enemy biodiversity (abundance, richness, community composition), and sentinel pest removal as a result of the tidy/messy manipulation. In addition, we measured vegetation and ground cover features of the garden system as measures of practices already in place. The tidy/messy manipulation did not significantly alter natural enemy or herbivore abundance within garden plots. The manipulation did, however, produce different compositions of natural enemy communities before and after the manipulation. Furthermore, the manipulation did affect short term gains and losses in predation services: the messy manipulation immediately lowered aphid pest removal compared to the tidy manipulation, while mulch already present in the system lowered Lepidoptera egg removal. Aesthetic preferences for ‘tidy’ green spaces often dominate urban landscapes. Yet, in urban food production systems, such aesthetic values and management preferences may create a fundamental tension in the provision of ecosystem services that support sustainable urban agriculture. Though human preferences may be hard to change, we suggest that gardeners allow some ‘messiness’ in their garden plots as a “lazy gardener” approach may promote particular natural enemy assemblages and may have no downsides to natural predation services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Egerer
- Environmental Studies Department, University of California—Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States of America
- Department of Life Science Systems, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Stacy M. Philpott
- Environmental Studies Department, University of California—Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States of America
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Korányi D, Egerer M, Rusch A, Szabó B, Batáry P. Urbanization hampers biological control of insect pests: A global meta-analysis. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 834:155396. [PMID: 35460770 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Biological control is a major ecosystem service provided by pest natural enemies, even in densely populated areas where the use of pesticides poses severe risks to human and environmental health. However, the impact of urbanization on this service and the abundance patterns of relevant functional groups of arthropods (herbivores, predators, and parasitoids) remain contested. Here, we synthesize current evidence through three hierarchical meta-analyses and show that advancing urbanization leads to outbreaks of sap-feeding insects, declining numbers of predators with low dispersal abilities, and weakened overall biological pest control delivered by arthropods. Our results suggest that sedentary predators may have the potential to effectively regulate sap-feeders, that are one of the most important pests in urban environments. A well-connected network of structurally diverse and rich green spaces with less intensive management practices is needed to promote natural plant protection in urban landscapes and sustainable cities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dávid Korányi
- Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Ecology and Botany, "Lendület" Landscape and Conservation Ecology, Alkotmány u. 2-4, 2163 Vácrátót, Hungary.
| | - Monika Egerer
- Technische Universität München, Department of Life Science Systems, School of Life Sciences, Hans Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Adrien Rusch
- INRAE, UMR 1065 Santé et Agroécologie du Vignoble, ISVV, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux Sciences Agro, Villenave d'Ornon, France
| | - Borbála Szabó
- Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Ecology and Botany, "Lendület" Landscape and Conservation Ecology, Alkotmány u. 2-4, 2163 Vácrátót, Hungary
| | - Péter Batáry
- Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Ecology and Botany, "Lendület" Landscape and Conservation Ecology, Alkotmány u. 2-4, 2163 Vácrátót, Hungary
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Theodorou P. The effects of urbanisation on ecological interactions. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 52:100922. [PMID: 35490874 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2022.100922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Cities are expanding worldwide and urbanisation is considered a global threat to biodiversity. Urban ecology has provided important insights on how urban environmental changes might affect individuals, populations, and species; however, we know little about how the ecological impacts of urbanisation alter species interactions. Species interactions are the backbone of ecological communities and play a crucial role in population and community dynamics and in the generation, maintenance and structure of biodiversity. Here, I review urban ecological studies to identify key mechanistic pathways through which urban environmental processes could alter antagonistic and mutualistic interactions among species. More specifically, I focus on insect predation, parasitoidism and herbivory, competition, insect host-pathogen interactions, and pollination. I furthermore identify important knowledge gaps that require additional research attention and I suggest future research directions that may help to shed light on the mechanisms that affect species interactions and structure insect communities and will thus aid conservation management in cities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis Theodorou
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstraße 4, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
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Arnold JE. Biological Control Services from Parasitic Hymenoptera in Urban Agriculture. INSECTS 2022; 13:insects13050467. [PMID: 35621801 PMCID: PMC9143015 DOI: 10.3390/insects13050467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Our findings support the enemies hypothesis in urban agroecosystems. Local factors, including increased mulch coverage, crop richness, and percent of non-crop areas, are predictors of increased PH abundance and aphid parasitism rates. Our findings support and strengthen previous findings in UA research. Urban farmers should be encouraged to diversify urban agroecosystem spatial composition and implement APM practices to reduce pest impacts. Abstract Urban agriculture is practiced in spatially fragmented landscapes with unique characteristics that can impact species occurrence in time and space. As a result, biological control services, an ecosystem service from naturally occurring arthropod natural enemies, can be negatively impacted. Many urban farms forgo pesticides and utilize agroecological pest-management strategies that rely on natural enemies to help regulate pest populations. Understanding how these enemies are affected by landscape composition and on-farm management practices is critical to understanding agroecological pest management in UA and furthering our understanding of landscape-mediated population dynamics. Over two growing seasons, we sampled brassica crops in urban agriculture sites occurring on a spectrum of surrounding landscape imperviousness, spatial composition, size, and management practices to better understand parasitic Hymenoptera abundance, richness, and parasitism rates on the common cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae). We found that on-farm agroecological pest-management practices such as mulch coverage, floral richness, and overall crop-plant richness impacted parasitic Hymenoptera abundance. Larger proportions of on-farm noncrop area increased parasitoid abundance on urban farms. Aphid parasitism increased in relation to on-farm management practices, including increased crop-plant richness. These findings add to a growing understanding of urban agroecosystem function and support the enemies hypothesis in urban agroecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Earl Arnold
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management (ESPM), University of California—Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA;
- Department of Environmental Studies, Warren Wilson College, Asheville, NC 28815, USA
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12
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Partridge DR, Clark JA. Small Urban Green Roof Plots Near Larger Green Spaces May Not Provide Additional Habitat for Birds. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.779005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Global wildlife populations are in decline, in part, due to urbanization. However, in urban landscapes, green infrastructure such as green roofs are being created to provide habitat for wildlife. Green roof isolation, planting heterogeneity, and size can all influence wildlife biodiversity, as may the age of a green roof. When new habitat is created, wildlife use of these new habitats is expected to increase over time. To test this expectation for birds, we monitored bird activity prior to and after installation of small green roof plots on six buildings located within New York City parks. Contrary to expectations, bird activity and bird species richness did not increase after green roof plot installation, nor did they increase over a period of 4 years following installation. These unexpected results may reflect the relatively small size of the plots or the fact that the plots were on buildings located within urban parks. Bird activity and bird species richness varied widely between roofs, and the composition of rooftop bird species may have been more influenced by the characteristics of the surrounding landscapes than the presence of the green roof plots. These findings suggest that small urban green roofs within a larger and, potentially, higher quality habitat may not provide additional habitat for foraging birds. Urban green roofs have numerous ecological and environmental benefits, but the size and characteristics of landscapes surrounding a green roof need to be considered when installing green roofs as wildlife habitat.
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On-Farm Spatial Composition, Management Practices and Estimated Productivity of Urban Farms in the San Francisco Bay Area. Processes (Basel) 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/pr10030558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Urban areas are the fastest growing land type worldwide. By 2060, it is expected that approximately 70% of the human population will live in cities. With increased urban population growth, food sovereignty and security issues have gained more attention, resulting in a drastic increase in urban food production activities including, urban farming and gardening. The extent to which urban farms function, their social, ecological and economic composition, and their overall impact on local food security has become an often overlooked, but important topic. From 2014 to 2017, we partnered with 29 urban farms in the San Francisco Bay Area for a broad-scale survey of urban farm characteristics. Findings reported in this research focused on local (on-farm) characteristics, including management practices, on-farm spatial composition, and estimated productivity. We implemented open-ended surveys for farm managers to better understand management practices, measured on-farm elements, including yields, crop biodiversity, weed composition and abundance, and measured spatial characteristics such as area of production, non-crop area, and proportion of infrastructure to better understand how urban farms were spatially configured. We found trends regarding spatial composition, including a large proportion of farm area dedicated to infrastructure and underutilized potential production space. All farms surveyed had adopted a breadth of agroecological management practices, including cover cropping, crop rotations, intercropping, and a range of soil conservation practices. Measured farms are incredibly productive, with estimated seasonal yields of 7.14 kg/square meter. Estimated yields were comparable with actual yields as measured at two participating farms.
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14
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15
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Reproductive patterns of solitary cavity-nesting bees responsive to both local and landscape factors. Urban Ecosyst 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-021-01116-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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16
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Gardiner MM, Delgado de la Flor YA, Parker DM, Harwood JD. Rich and abundant spider communities result from enhanced web capture breadth and reduced overlap in urban greenspaces. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 31:e02282. [PMID: 33354841 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 07/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Urbanization is a key contributor to biodiversity loss, but evidence is mounting that cities can support rich arthropod communities, including rare and threatened species. Furthermore, greenspace is growing within hundreds of "shrinking cities" that have lost population resulting in a need to demolish an overabundance of infrastructure creating vacant land. Efforts are underway to transform vacant lots, often viewed as blighted areas, into habitats that promote biodiversity and generate ecosystem services, such as urban agroecosystems. To understand how reconfiguring these greenspaces might influence species conservation, elucidation of the factors that drive the distribution of an urban species pool is needed. In particular, the importance of species interactions in structuring urban communities is poorly understood. We tested hypotheses that (1) greater breadth of prey captured by web-building spiders and reduced overlap of prey capture among individuals facilitates the conservation of genera richness and abundance and (2) heterogeneity within a greenspace patch facilitates enhanced dietary niche breadth and greater resource partitioning. In 2013 and 2014, the abundance, breadth and degree of overlap in prey capture of sheet web spiders (Linyphiidae) was measured using web mimic traps at 160 microsites (0.25 m2 ) situated in four urban vacant lots and four urban farms in the city of Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Within a subset of 40 microsites, we used vacuum sampling and hand collection to measure the abundance and genera richness of Linyphiidae. Spider richness and abundance were significantly reduced within urban farms relative to vacant lots. The distribution of spiders and prey was explained by habitat structure, with microsites dominated by tall grasses and flowering plants, with a high bloom abundance and richness, supporting greater prey capture and a higher genera richness and abundance of spiders. In 2014, web capture overlap was significantly greater within microsites dominated by bare ground. These findings illustrate that urban greenspace conservation efforts that focus on reducing bare ground and incorporating a diversity of grasses and flowering plant species can promote linyphiid spiders, potentially by relaxing exploitative competition for shared prey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary M Gardiner
- Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University, 2021 Coffey Road, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, USA
| | | | - Denisha M Parker
- Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University, 2021 Coffey Road, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, USA
| | - James D Harwood
- Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, S123 Ag Science, North Lexington, Kentucky, 40546, USA
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Nason LD, Eason PK, Carreiro MM, Cherry A, Lawson J. Caterpillar survival in the city: attack rates on model lepidopteran larvae along an urban-rural gradient show no increase in predation with increasing urban intensity. Urban Ecosyst 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-020-01091-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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18
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Baardsen LF, De Bruyn L, Adriaensen F, Elst J, Strubbe D, Heylen D, Matthysen E. No overall effect of urbanization on nest-dwelling arthropods of great tits (Parus major). Urban Ecosyst 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-020-01082-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Philpott SM, Lucatero A, Bichier P, Egerer MH, Jha S, Lin B, Liere H. Natural enemy-herbivore networks along local management and landscape gradients in urban agroecosystems. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2020; 30:e02201. [PMID: 32578260 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2019] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Ecological networks can provide insight into how biodiversity loss and changes in species interactions impact the delivery of ecosystem services. In agroecosystems that vary in management practices, quantifying changes in ecological network structure across gradients of local and landscape composition can inform both the ecology and function of productive agroecosystems. In this study, we examined natural-enemy-herbivore co-occurrence networks associated with Brassica oleracea (cole crops), a common crop in urban agricultural systems. Specifically, we investigated how local management characteristics of urban community gardens and the landscape composition around them affect (1) the abundance of B. oleracea herbivores and their natural enemies, (2) the natural-enemy : herbivore ratio, and (3) natural-enemy-herbivore co-occurrence network metrics. We sampled herbivores and natural enemies in B. oleracea plants in 24 vegetable gardens in the California, USA central coast region. We also collected information on garden characteristics and land-use cover of the surrounding landscape (2 km radius). We found that increased floral richness and B. oleracea abundance were associated with increased parasitoid abundance, non-aphid herbivore abundance, and increased network vulnerability; increased vegetation complexity suppressed parasitoid abundance, but still boosted network vulnerability. High agricultural land-use cover in the landscape surrounding urban gardens was associated with lower predator, parasitoid, and non-aphid herbivore abundance, lower natural-enemy : herbivore ratios, lower interaction richness, and higher trophic complementarity. While we did not directly measure pest control, higher interaction richness, higher vulnerability, and lower trophic complementarity are associated with higher pest control services in other agroecosystems. Thus, if gardens function similarly to other agroecosystems, our results indicate that increasing vegetation complexity, including trees, shrubs, and plant richness, especially within gardens located in intensively farmed landscapes, could potentially enhance the biodiversity and abundance of natural enemies, supporting ecological networks associated with higher pest control services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacy M Philpott
- Environmental Studies Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, California, 95064, USA
| | - Azucena Lucatero
- Environmental Studies Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, California, 95064, USA
| | - Peter Bichier
- Environmental Studies Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, California, 95064, USA
| | - Monika H Egerer
- Environmental Studies Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, California, 95064, USA
| | - Shalene Jha
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, 205 W. 24th Street, 401 Biological Laboratories, Austin, Texas, 78712, USA
| | - Brenda Lin
- CSIRO Land and Water Flagship, EcoSciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park, Queensland, 4102, Australia
| | - Heidi Liere
- Department of Environmental Studies, Seattle University, 901 12th Avenue, Casey 210, Washington, 98122, USA
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Armstrong JH, Kulikowski AJ, Philpott SM. Urban renewable energy and ecosystems: integrating vegetation with ground-mounted solar arrays increases arthropod abundance of key functional groups. Urban Ecosyst 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-020-01063-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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21
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Peng MH, Hung YC, Liu KL, Neoh KB. Landscape configuration and habitat complexity shape arthropod assemblage in urban parks. Sci Rep 2020; 10:16043. [PMID: 32994537 PMCID: PMC7525568 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-73121-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The urbanization process systematically leads to the loss of biodiversity. Only certain arthropods are resilient to the urbanization process and can thrive in the novel conditions of urbanized landscapes. However, the degree to which arthropod communities survive in urban habitats depends on landscape and local effects and biological interactions (e.g., trophic interactions). In the present study, we examined the relative importance of various factors at landscape (isolation, edge density and area of surrounding greenery) and local (size of park, canopy cover, understory vegetation cover, defoliation depth, weight of dried leaves, soil temperature, soil moisture, and soil pH) spatial scales on the diversity of ants, beetles and spiders in urban parks. Our results indicated that park edge density was negatively correlated with diversity metrics in ants, beetles, and spiders in urban parks relative to the degree of proximity with the peri-urban forest. In other words, parks that located adjacent to the peri-urban forest may not necessarily have high biodiversity. The results suggested that man-made structures have been effective dispersal barriers that limit the spillover effects of ants and spiders but not the spillover of comparatively strong fliers, such as beetles. However, the area of surrounding greenery may have facilitated the colonization of forest-dependent taxa in distant parks. Large parks with reduced edge density supported a higher arthropod diversity because of the minimal edge effect and increased habitat heterogeneity. Vegetation structure consistently explained the variability of ants, beetles, and spiders, indicating that understory plant litter is crucial for providing shelters and hibernation, oviposition, and foraging sites for the major taxa in urban parks. Therefore, efforts should focus on the local management of ground features to maximize the conservation of biological control in urban landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Hsiao Peng
- Department of Entomology, National Chung Hsing University, 145, Xingda Rd. South District, Taichung, 402, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yuan-Chen Hung
- Department of Entomology, National Chung Hsing University, 145, Xingda Rd. South District, Taichung, 402, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Kuan-Ling Liu
- Department of Entomology, National Chung Hsing University, 145, Xingda Rd. South District, Taichung, 402, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Kok-Boon Neoh
- Department of Entomology, National Chung Hsing University, 145, Xingda Rd. South District, Taichung, 402, Taiwan, ROC.
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Egerer M, Liere H, Lucatero A, Philpott SM. Plant damage in urban agroecosystems varies with local and landscape factors. Ecosphere 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Monika Egerer
- Department of Environmental Studies University of California Santa Cruz California 95060 USA
| | - Heidi Liere
- Department of Environmental Studies Seattle University Seattle Washington 98122 USA
| | - Azucena Lucatero
- Department of Environmental Studies University of California Santa Cruz California 95060 USA
| | - Stacy M. Philpott
- Department of Environmental Studies University of California Santa Cruz California 95060 USA
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23
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Wild Bee Conservation within Urban Gardens and Nurseries: Effects of Local and Landscape Management. SUSTAINABILITY 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/su12010293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Across urban environments, vegetated habitats provide refuge for biodiversity. Gardens (designed for food crop production) and nurseries (designed for ornamental plant production) are both urban agricultural habitats characterized by high plant species richness but may vary in their ability to support wild pollinators, particularly bees. In gardens, pollinators are valued for crop production. In nurseries, ornamental plants rarely require pollination; thus, the potential of nurseries to support pollinators has not been examined. We asked how these habitats vary in their ability to support wild bees, and what habitat features relate to this variability. In 19 gardens and 11 nurseries in California, USA, we compared how local habitat and landscape features affected wild bee species abundance and richness. To assess local features, we estimated floral richness and measured ground cover as proxies for food and nesting resources, respectively. To assess landscape features, we measured impervious land cover surrounding each site. Our analyses showed that differences in floral richness, local habitat size, and the amount of urban land cover impacted garden wild bee species richness. In nurseries, floral richness and the proportion of native plant species impacted wild bee abundance and richness. We suggest management guidelines for supporting wild pollinators in both habitats.
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Local and Landscape Effects to Biological Controls in Urban Agriculture-A Review. INSECTS 2019; 10:insects10070215. [PMID: 31336586 PMCID: PMC6681219 DOI: 10.3390/insects10070215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Revised: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Urban agriculture is widely practiced throughout the world. Urban agriculture practitioners have diverse motivations and circumstances, but one problem is ubiquitous across all regions: insect pests. Many urban farmers and gardeners either choose to, or are required to forego, the use of chemical controls for pest outbreaks because of costs, overspray in populated areas, public health, and environmental concerns. An alternative form of pest control is conservation biological control (CBC)—a form of ecological pest management—that can reduce the severity of pest outbreaks and crop damage. Urban farmers relying on CBC often assume that diversification practices similar to those used in rural farms may reduce insect pest populations and increase populations of beneficial insects, yet these management practices may be inappropriate for applications in fragmented urban environments. In this review, we assess urban CBC research and provide a synthesis for urban agriculture practitioners. Our findings indicate that local and landscape factors differentially affect insect pests and beneficial arthropods across the reviewed studies, and we identify several on-farm practices that can be implemented to increase biological control in urban agriculture.
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Anderson EC, Egerer MH, Fouch N, Clarke M, Davidson MJ. Comparing community garden typologies of Baltimore, Chicago, and New York City (USA) to understand potential implications for socio-ecological services. Urban Ecosyst 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-019-00855-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Dale AG, Frank SD. Urban plants and climate drive unique arthropod interactions with unpredictable consequences. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2018; 29:27-33. [PMID: 30551822 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2018.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Revised: 05/30/2018] [Accepted: 06/02/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Urban areas, a rapidly expanding land cover type, are composed of a mix of impervious surfaces, ornamental plants, and remnant habitat, which alters abiotic conditions and affects arthropod community assemblages and trophic interactions. Importantly, these effects often reduce arthropod diversity and may increase, reduce, or not change individual species or trophic interactions, which affects human and environmental health. Despite the pace of urbanization, drivers and consequences of change in urban arthropod communities remains poorly understood. Here, we review recent findings that shed light on the effects of urbanization on plants and abiotic conditions that drive arthropod community composition and trophic interactions, with discussion of how these effects conflict with human values and can be mitigated for future urbanization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam G Dale
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States.
| | - Steven D Frank
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, United States
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Agroecological Pest Management in the City: Experiences from California and Chiapas. SUSTAINABILITY 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/su10062068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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28
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Context Matters: Contrasting Ladybird Beetle Responses to Urban Environments across Two US Regions. SUSTAINABILITY 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/su10061829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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Clucas B, Parker ID, Feldpausch-Parker AM. A systematic review of the relationship between urban agriculture and biodiversity. Urban Ecosyst 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-018-0748-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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Lowenstein DM, Minor ES. Herbivores and natural enemies of brassica crops in urban agriculture. Urban Ecosyst 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-018-0738-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Does urbanization explain differences in interactions between an insect herbivore and its natural enemies and mutualists? Urban Ecosyst 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-017-0727-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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