Past and Current Attempts to Evaluate the Role of Birds as Predators of Insect Pests in Temperate Agriculture

摘要: Many bird species consume large quantities of invertebrates, some which are considered agricultural pests. However, relatively few quantitative studies demonstrate that avian predators can reduce insect pests below a level at unchecked populations would cause economic damage to crops or require treatment with pesticides. In fact, since the subject ornithology (“all relations birds has any bearing upon material welfare [humans]”— McAtee, 1933) was last reviewed (e.g., McFarlane, 1976; Sweetman, 1958), there have been only handful published on role in ecosystems, and most these refer small-plot effects, no attempt aggregate results an unit, i.e., farm.