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Pest insects on crops are an important component of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes, as they are characterized by a wide variety of species and can account for a significant proportion of the biomass. As a key food source for higher trophic levels and in predator-prey relationships, they are fundamental links in food webs and important indicators of the natural regulatory capacity of agricultural ecosystems and the impact of interventions.
Comprehensive surveys of insect pests are conducted by the federal states for the purpose of agricultural information (pest monitoring). In the “Pest Insects” subproject, these are assessed for their suitability as basis for a nationwide diversity monitoring of pest insects, and methods for corresponding analyses are identified. The module’s task is to develop and test a monitoring concept that enables regular reporting on the status quo and trends in pest insect diversity, as well as the identification of relevant influencing parameters.
Based on test datasets, an initial concept for a nationwide, systematic pest monitoring program was developed using winter rapeseed as a case study and evaluated by plant protection services. It incorporates existing structures and includes an index for pest diversity that accounts for the different survey methods and procedures used in monitoring the various species. For cause-and-effect analyses, an approach was developed to link data with landscape and management information. In addition, DNA (meta)barcoding was evaluated as an additional data source to fill data gaps and derive further insights, particularly regarding natural regulatory mechanisms. These analyses may provide valuable insights into the stability of agricultural ecosystems in the future.
Currently, the concept is being further developed to determine how reporting on pest insect diversity can be implemented. This includes, among other things, the development of a workflow for applying the developed methods to currently available monitoring data and a concept for long-term cooperation between the federal government and states.
