Biocontrol potential varies with changes in biofuel-crop plant communities and landscape perenniality

摘要: We examined the potential local- and landscape-level impacts of different biofuel production systems on biocontrol, an important service provided by arthropod natural enemies. Specifically, we sampled enemies with sweep nets measured predation sentinel pest eggs in stands corn, switchgrass mixed prairie Michigan Wisconsin (total n 5 40 for enemy sampling, 60 egg predation), relating them to crop type, forb cover diversity, composition heterogeneity surrounding landscape. Grasslands intermediate levels flower diversity supported two-orders magnitude more biomass, fourfold families, threefold greater rates than corn. Data suggest this was part due a general increase richness perennial grasslands compared combined positive effect diversity. biomass family showed hump-shaped relationships that peaked sites 5–25% forbs, while increased floral At landscape scale, both natural-enemy area forest landscape, almost doubled as herbaceous, habitats within 1.5 km study increased. Our results floristically diverse, support diverse abundant predator communities contribute suppression. In addition, large-scale crops could positively or negatively affect biocontrol services agricultural landscapes through associated changes habitats. Biofuel incorporate variety beneficial organisms ecosystem addition producing biomass.