Spatial and temporal dynamics of arthropods arthropods in arable fields

Abstract

Pest distributionPest distribution in an arable field is rarely homogeneous. As for diseases and weeds many different abiotic and biotic factors can induce non-homogeneous or even aggregated distribution aggregated distributions. Moreover animal pestsanimal pests are able to respond actively themselves to external factors such as small differences in local habitat quality through their behaviour. The combined effects of variations in plant physiological stage and local climate, arthropodarthropod behaviour and population dynamicspopulation dynamics, and (tri-)-trophic interactions often result in aggregated distribution aggregated spatial distributions spatial distribution arthropods of the pest, which can evolve over time due to pest-plant interactions. The large number of potential interactions makes it almost impossible to foresee spatial distributions spatial distribution arthropods at the field scale. In situ studies on spatial distributionspatial distribution arthropods of the pest can be used to reveal (stable) distribution patterns. Then it can be tempted to correlate these to intra-field variation in (plant, climate, etc.) characteristics. Stable (and/or predictable) patterns will certainly not occur for all pests. Some examples are cited, mainly occurring in perennial crops and/or for highly mobile pests. Knowledge of such sustainable patterns can then be used to optimise field monitoringmonitoring pests and/or management. However, practical implementation of such knowledge in pest managementpest management seems still very limited because of technical (equipment) reasons and impacts on working methods