Distribution of bird cherry-oat aphids (Rhopalosiphum padi (L)) in relation to landscape and farming practices

Abstract

Apterous aphids show varying degrees of aggregation in the field. Both alate an apterous Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) were compared in terms of degree of aggregation in relation to landscape features and farming management (conventional vs. organic). Alate R. padi were clearly aggregated, but no effect of landscape features or farming management was found on the degree of aggregation. Apterous R. padi were aggregated, and to a degree that varied according to field. Aggregation tended to be lower in landscapes with high perimeter-to-area ratios of the fields, but there was no significant difference between organically and conventionally managed fields. The fields with low aggregation had few alate, low R. padi population growth rate and therefore a low abundance. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords

agricultural landscapes; cereal fields; landscape heterogeneity; Taylor's power law

Published in

Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment
2002, volume: 93, number: 1-3, pages: 67-71
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

SLU Authors

• Östman, Örjan

  • Department of Aquatic Resources (SLU Aqua), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Ecology
Agricultural Science

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0167-8809(01)00357-7

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/80312