Winter cover crops shape early‐season predator communities and trophic interactions

Carson Bowers; Michael D. Toews; Jason M. Schmidt

doi:10.1002/ecs2.3635

journal article Open Access Jul 01, 2021

Winter cover crops shape early‐season predator communities and trophic interactions

Carson Bowers

Michael D. Toews Jason M. Schmidt

Ecosphere Vol. 12 No. 7 · Wiley

View at Publisher Save 10.1002/ecs2.3635

Abstract

AbstractDespite the dynamic nature of annual cropping systems, few studies have investigated how the structure of predator communities and their interactions with prey corresponds with crop seasonality. Adding winter habitat, such as cover crops, improves soil health and likely contributes seasonal habitat availability for arthropod communities. Stable habitat may lead to functionally diverse predatory communities and their associated ecosystem services, such as biological control. Here, we estimated predatory community functional changes based on foraging traits determined by molecular gut–content analysis (MGCA) in response to winter cover crops (rye and crimson clover) in a cotton agroecosystem. Predators were collected from replicated 1‐ha experimental field plots during each major stage of crop development in 2017 and 2018, and MGCA was used to estimate predator roles and responses to cover crop treatments. Cotton planted into a rye cover crop residue promoted unique predator communities in the early and mid‐season as compared to no‐cover fields. Correspondingly, we observed dissimilar prey consumption among cover crop treatments. Winter cover crops led to an increase in consumption of alternative prey and incidental pests by natural enemies on seedling cotton and encouraged high predator diversity that aligns temporally with potential early‐season pest outbreaks. Therefore, cover crops commonly employed for soil health and erosion benefits also contribute to pest management by providing habitat and alternative prey resources that boost early‐season predatory arthropod communities.

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Details

Published: Jul 01, 2021
Vol/Issue: 12(7)
License: View

Authors

C

Carson Bowers

Department of Entomology University of Georgia Tifton Georgia 31793 USA

M

Michael D. Toews

Department of Entomology University of Georgia Tifton Georgia 31793 USA

J

Jason M. Schmidt

Department of Entomology University of Georgia Tifton Georgia 31793 USA

Funding

Cotton Incorporated

University of Georgia

Cite This Article

Carson Bowers, Michael D. Toews, Jason M. Schmidt (2021). Winter cover crops shape early‐season predator communities and trophic interactions. Ecosphere, 12(7). https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3635

Winter cover crops shape early‐season predator communities and trophic interactions

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