Crop pests and predators exhibit inconsistent responses to surrounding landscape composition

Authors: KARP, DANIEL - Stanford University; CHAPLIN-KRAMER, REBECCA - Stanford University; MEEHAN, TIMOTHY - University Of Wisconsin; MARTIN, EMILY - University Of Wuerzburg; DECLERCK, FABRICE - Biodiversity Institute; GRAB, HEATHER - Cornell University; GRATTON, CLAUDIO - University Of Wisconsin; HUNT, LAUREN - University Of Maryland; LARSEN, ASHLEY - University Of California; Rand, Tatyana

Submitted to: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/13/2018
Publication Date: 8/2/2018
Citation: Karp, D.S., Chaplin-Kramer, R., Meehan, T.D., Martin, E.A., Declerck, F., Grab, H., Gratton, C., Hunt, L., Larsen, A.E., Rand, T.A., Et al 2018. Crop pests and predators exhibit inconsistent responses to surrounding landscape composition. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. p. 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1800042115.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1800042115

Interpretive Summary: • A novel framework for predicting pest abundance and biological control services across agricultural landscapes • Ecosystem-service models are increasingly used in decision-making, from land-use planning to corporate risk management. Though biological control of crop pests is a highly valued service (~$4.5 billion/y in the USA), suitable models for pest-control do not currently exist. • ARS Researchers at Sidney, Montana, collected and contributed data to a comprehensive pest-control database comprised of 132 studies across 6,789 sites in 31 countries. These data were used to introduce a new tool for pest-control modeling from landscape to regional scales. • A systematic analysis of data from all studies indicated that crop pests and natural enemies (biocontrol service providers) exhibited context-dependent responses, sometimes increasing and sometimes decreasing in landscapes with more natural vegetation (and lower crop cover). Nevertheless, the developed models explained variation in biological control services across independent datasets when models and data shared similar crop types and landscape features. • The study provides a novel approach for incorporating pest control services into land-use planning and environmental decision-making.

Technical Abstract: Ecosystem-service models are increasingly implemented in diverse decision-making contexts, from land-use planning to corporate risk management. Though widely valued, biological control of crop pests is rarely considered in such decisions in part because suitable pest-control models do not exist. Here, we introduce a new tool and database for pest-control modeling from landscape to regional scales. We compiled a comprehensive pest-control database from 132 studies across 6,789 sites in 31 countries. We then modeled natural enemy and pest abundances, predation rates, and crop damage as a function of landscape composition information. Though landscape metrics explained variation in pest-control data, pests and enemies exhibited context-dependent responses, sometimes increasing and sometimes decreasing in landscapes with natural vegetation. Nevertheless, models explained variation in response variables across independent datasets when models and data shared similar crop and landscape features. Our approach offers a new path for integrating pest control into land-use planning and environmental decision-making.