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Projeto de investigação
NOVATERRA - Integrated novel strategies for reducing the use and impact of pesticides, towards sustainable mediterranean vineyards and olive groves H2020-SFS-2018-2020
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Ground-cover vegetation composition shapes the abundance of Sphaerophoria scripta (Diptera: Syrphidae) in Mediterranean olive groves
Publication . Madureira, Marta; Rodrigues, Isabel; Pereira, J.A.
The ground-cover vegetation, commonly found in olive groves, provides shelter and vital floral resources for syrphids. Such resources can contribute to syrphids’ growth, development, reproduction, and survival, allowing them to maximize their function as natural pest enemies, pollinators, and decomposers of organic matter. Therefore, identifying the flowering plant families driving the abundance of Sphaerophoria scripta Linnaeus, 1758, is essential to promote its presence and abundance. Here, we described the flowering plants present in the vegetation cover of olive groves and studied how these flowering plant families shape the abundance of S. scripta. A total of 90 plant species belonging to 20 families were identified. Asteraceae was the dominant flowering family, followed by Poaceae. The generalized linear model showed that the presence of flowering plants of the families Campanulaceae, Asteraceae, Orobanchaceae, and Plantaginaceae in the ground-cover vegetation promotes the abundance of S. scripta in olive groves. Conversely, flowering plants of the families Poaceae and Polygonaceae were associated with the decreased abundance of this syrphid species. Our results suggest that increasing particular plant families and decreasing others in the ground-cover vegetation may favor S. scripta abundance in the Mediterranean olive groves.
Predatory potential of Alopecosa albofasciata (Araneae: Lycosidae) against Bactrocera oleae (Diptera: Tephritidae): laboratory functional response and field predation
Publication . Kubiak, Ketrin; Baptista, Paula; Pereira, José Alberto
Spiders play a crucial role in the natural suppression of pests in agroecosystems. In olive groves, the olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae, is one of the major pests, increasing the need for sustainable management strategies based on naturally occurring enemies. This study evaluated the predatory potential of a ground-dwelling spider on the overwintering generation of B. oleae under laboratory and field conditions. Epigeic spiders were sampled using pitfall traps in an olive grove in northeastern Portugal over two consecutive years, from October to February. The functional response of the dominant species was assessed under laboratory conditions, and field predation was evaluated using PCR-based gut-content analysis. A total of 764 spiders were collected, representing 21 families, at least 38 species, and 10 guilds. The ground-hunting Alopecosa albofasciata was consistently the dominant and most active species across both sampling years. Due to its abundance and temporal stability, A. albofasciata was selected as the model species for laboratory functional response experiments and field assays. Laboratory trials showed that A. albofasciata efficiently consumed B. oleae third-instar larvae at low prey densities and exhibited a type II functional response, whereas predation on pupae remained low across all prey densities. PCR analyses of field-collected specimens confirmed predation of B. oleae under natural conditions. Overall, these results indicate that A. albofasciata contributes to the natural mortality of B. oleae during the overwintering period and highlights its potential role in conservation biological control in the olive agroecosystems.
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Entidade financiadora
European Commission
Programa de financiamento
HORIZON 2020
Número da atribuição
H2020-SFS-2018-2020