Potential for Entomopathogenic Nematodes in Biological Control: A Meta-Analytical Synthesis and Insights from Trophic Cascade Theory

摘要: Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) are ubiquitous and generalized consumers of insects in soil food webs, occurring widely natural agricultural ecosystems on six continents. Augmentative releases EPN have been used to enhance biological control pests agroecosystems. Pest managers strive achieve a trophic cascade whereby natural-enemy effects permeate down through the web suppress host herbivores increase crop production. Although cascades studied diverse aboveground arthropod-based systems, they infrequently investigated systems. Moreover, no overall quantitative assessment effectiveness suppressing hosts with cascading benefits plants has made. Toward synthesizing available but limited information their ability prey affect plant yield, we surveyed literature performed meta-analysis 35 published studies. Our analysis found that effect sizes for arthropod as result addition were consistently negative indirect positive. Results held across several different metrics (abundance, fecundity survival) measures performance (biomass, growth, yield survival). relationship between was strikingly significantly negative. That is, positive impact responses generally increased intensified, providing strong support mechanism cascades. We also review ways which might interact antagonistically each other predators pathogens adversely suppression dampen conclude implications multiple-enemy interactions involving little studied, but, management techniques promote long-term persistence improved, antagonistic more likely arise. hope occurrence webs should stimulate researchers conduct field experiments explicitly designed examine plants.