Parasitoids' Ecology and Evolution Editorial - Population and Evolutionary Dynamics

Authors: WANJIRU CLARKE, CATHERINE - Agriculture Victoria; CALATAYUD, PAUL ANDRÉ - Institute For Research And Development In Agri-Environment(IRDA); SFORZA, RENÉ - European Biological Control Laboratory (EBCL); NGEH NDEMAH, ROSE - International Institute For Tropical Agriculture; NYAMUKONDIWA, CASPER - University Of Botswana

Submitted to: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/28/2019
Publication Date: 12/10/2019
Citation: Wanjiru Clarke, C., Calatayud, P., Sforza, R.F., Ngeh Ndemah, R., Nyamukondiwa, C. 2019. Parasitoids' Ecology and Evolution Editorial - Population and Evolutionary Dynamics. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 7:485. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2019.00485.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2019.00485

Interpretive Summary: Biological control, using parasitoids in particular, has received increased attention because this control method is cost effective and offers a management strategy that safeguards human health and the environment. In addition, insect parasitoids are, in many cases, a significant component of integrated pest management systems. Although often overlooked in research and development, ecological and evolutionary considerations are significant to natural control of pests by parasitoids in agricultural systems. The current editorial about parasitoids' ecology and evolution presents articles in this research topic that address fundamental topics in ecology and evolution of parasitoids and their hosts in a context of global changes (i.e. both climate and landscape changes). As in all science disciplines, the purpose of this research topic is to showcase current research and unravel new opportunities for future investigations with respect to management of pests using parasitoids.

Technical Abstract: The research topic, here published, explores the evolutionary aspects of biological control and opens new areas for future research. For classical biological control that involves importation and introduction of agents from their native range, the choice of biocontrol agents could be based on established relationships with the host in the native range or interactive models that predict the effectiveness of the agents in ‘new associations’ accounting for multiple hosts and scenarios of hosts unavailability. With this research topic, we aimed to provide a platform for scientists who liked to share their understanding of mechanisms that drives the ecological and evolutionary interactions between parasitoids and their hosts. The excellent contributions (=articles published) are a demonstration of an active research community in this subject that provided a detailed understanding of the intrinsic capacity of parasitoids to adapt in rapidly changing agricultural landscapes.