Global Assessment of Predation Rates
GLOBAL ASSESSMENT OF PREDATION RATES
Using artificial caterpillars, Roslin et al. (2017) confirmed that the strength of predation reflects the latitudinal diversity gradient in natural habitats.
However, around 40% of the Earth’s terrestrial surface is occupied by arable land, where intensive agriculture is known to have a strong homogenising effect on biotic communities (Ponisio et al., 2016).
Whether the latitudinal predation gradient holds in human-modified environments is unknown. Preliminary results indicate that predation rates in maize fields are similar despite geographical differences (Ferrante et al. 2019), which may indicate that intensive agriculture homogenises biotic communities and biotic interactions.
References
Ferrante, M et al., 2019. Predation pressure in maize across Europe and in Argentina: an intercontinental comparison. Insect Sci, 26, 545-554.
Ponisio, LC et al. 2016. On‐farm habitat restoration counters biotic homogenization in intensively managed agriculture. Glob Change Biol, 22, 704-715.
Roslin, T et al. 2017. Higher predation risk for insect prey at low latitudes and elevations. Science, 356: 742-744.
We used standardised sampling transects to assess predation in maize fields, neighbouring non-crop habitats, and edge habitats during the crop season.
At the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, we prepared artificial caterpillars and mailed them to all participants together with prefabricated labels and data sheets. Participants were trained to identify bite marks consistently.
