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© 2024. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

Conservation biological control efforts depend on accurately estimating predator roles in crop fields, and knowledge of plant resources generalist predators utilize in agricultural landscapes. Generalist predators move among habitats to feed on insect prey and some predators feed on plants for non-prey nutrients. Studying predation with molecular gut content analysis (MGCA), provides estimates of within field frequencies of predation on target pests and alternative prey. However, prey DNA takes time to move through the predator digestive system, so a portion of the observed predation likely occurs in adjacent crops or semi-natural habitats. Therefore, we tested a strategy to estimate recent secondary feeding to help trace predation back to the source habitat. We selected the diamondback moth and three common predators with different mouthparts: Coccinella septempunctata, Geocoris punctipes, and Pardosa spiders, as model organisms for these proof-of-concept experiments. We estimated post-feeding primary and secondary plant DNA detection time and compared it between these three predators using previously designed Lepidoptera primers and newly designed Brassica-specific primers. Our results indicate secondary plant feeding detection largely depends on predator mouthparts. While secondary collard DNA detectability half-life was 5.5 h and remained detectable for up to 30 h for the chewing predator, C. septempunctata, only 4% and 8.3% of G. punctipes and Pardosa spp. individuals, respectively, tested positive for collard DNA. However, more studies are required to confirm this mouthpart-specific post-feeding plant DNA detection time. Our feeding trials confirmed the possibility of primary and secondary plant feeding detection for chewing predators. Hence, when crops are not flowering (or anthesis), secondary plant feeding detection can be used to trace chewing predators to source habitats where they consumed sessile prey (e.g., nymphs and sessile adults). Such multitrophic linkage knowledge could unravel the landscape-wise contribution of predators to pest control services.

Details

Title
Rethinking trophic interactions in agricultural landscapes through tracking secondary feeding
Author
Kheirodin, Arash 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Sayari, Mohammad 2 ; Schmidt, Jason M 3 

 Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Tifton, Georgia, USA; Department of Entomology, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Dallas, Texas, USA 
 Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada 
 Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Tifton, Georgia, USA 
Section
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Publication year
2024
Publication date
Jan 2024
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
e-ISSN
26374943
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2932579178
Copyright
© 2024. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.