NEW APPROACH FOR SELECTING BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENTS
Heikki Hokkanen, David Pimentel
Abstract
Heikki Hokkanen, David Pimentel
Abstract
Abstract The success of introducing natural enemies for biological control was found to be about 75% higher employing new parasite–host (predator–prey) associations than those based on long-evolved associations between parasites and hosts. The lack of evolved interspecific balance in new species associations appears to explain the higher success rate. New exploiter–victim associations expand opportunities for the biological control of both introduced and native pests and should be used as the preferred method in selecting biological control agents.
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Abstract The success of introducing natural enemies for biological control was found to be about 75% higher employing new parasite–host (predator–prey) associations than those based on long-evolved associations between parasites and hosts. The lack of evolved interspecific balance in new species associations appears to explain the higher success rate. New exploiter–victim associations expand opportunities for the biological control of both introduced and native pests and should be used as the preferred method in selecting biological control agents.
Key concepts: Biological pest control, Interspecific competition, Biology, Predation, Natural enemies, Predator, Host (biology), Ecology