University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) - Research portal
Gewählte Master / Diploma Thesis:
Jasmin Deimel
(2020):
Alien predator meets a native prey: is adaption to the opponent by experience possible?.
Master / Diploma Thesis - Institut für Pflanzenschutz,
BOKU-Universität für Bodenkultur,
pp 37.
UB BOKU
obvsg
FullText
- Abstract:
- The alien predatory mite Amblydromaus limonicus is used as biocontrol agent against greenhouse thrips species in Austria. It is largely unknown how native predatory mite species react to an unknown alien predator if it survives the increasingly milder winters due climate change. Therefore, the native predatory mite Kampimodromus aberrans and the alien predatory mite A. limonicus were tested, when they meet each other for the first time. In a second trial, females of both species, which had experience with their opponents were used as study objects. All tested females had to choose between a bean leaf with or without cues of the opponent. The prey patches with predator cues contained also four predator eggs. The prey patch selection and the oviposition site selection of the predatory mite species were evaluated in regular intervals and the intraguild predation rates were recorded after 24h and 48h. In experiment 1, the K. aberrans females clearly preferred to stay in prey patches without cues of the alien predatory mite species and also deposited more eggs in these prey patches. Contrary, the alien predator A. limonicus laid more eggs in prey patches with K. aberrans cues and consumed eggs of K. aberrans. In experiment 2, the behavior of the alien A. limonicus females was not changed by experience. Contrary, experienced K. aberrans females showed a strong intraguild predation on the A. limonicus eggs. Our results revealed that alien predator females might associate cues from the native species with additional food independent of experience. Kampimodromus aberrans females experienced with the cues of the alien predator displayed a more effective strategy: they did not leave the prey patch, but reduced the number of IG predator eggs by killing them. Thus, the behavioral responses of the native species K. aberrans to the alien predator A. limonicus may allow the co-existence of the two species in the case of the establishment of A. limonicus in the field.
- Beurteilende(r): Koschier Elisabeth Helene
- 1.Mitwirkender: Walzer Andreas