TY - JOUR
T1 - Relative importance of vertebrates and invertebrates in epigeaic weed seed predation in organic cereal fields
AU - Westerman, P.R.
AU - Hofman, A.
AU - Vet, L.E.M.
AU - Van der Werf, W.
N1 - Reporting year: 2003
Metis note: 3175; CTE; MTI ; ; file:///L:/Endnotedatabases/NIOOPUB/pdfs/Pdfs2003/Westerman_ea_3175.pdf
PY - 2003
Y1 - 2003
N2 - Exclosure trials were conducted in four organic cereal fields in The Netherlands in 1999 and 2000 to determine the relative importance of vertebrates and invertebrates in weed seed predation. The trials showed that seed predation by vertebrates was rather consistent and predictable, occurring on all fields and both years, being low early in the season, increasing towards mid-June and decreasing thereafter. The occurrence and level of seed predation by invertebrates were unreliable and unpredictable over time. Predation by both vertebrates and invertebrates showed no apparent pattern related to field margin. Vertebrates, presumably mice, accounted for the larger part of weed seed consumption (30–88% per fortnight and farm). Invertebrates, probably granivorous ground beetles, accounted for the smaller part of seed consumption (4–38%). They were the dominant seed predators in only one out of eight cases in July 1999 (74%), and overall contributed little to variability in seed predation [KEYWORDS: Mice; Granivorous ground beetles; Exclosures; Spatial variability; Temporal variability]
AB - Exclosure trials were conducted in four organic cereal fields in The Netherlands in 1999 and 2000 to determine the relative importance of vertebrates and invertebrates in weed seed predation. The trials showed that seed predation by vertebrates was rather consistent and predictable, occurring on all fields and both years, being low early in the season, increasing towards mid-June and decreasing thereafter. The occurrence and level of seed predation by invertebrates were unreliable and unpredictable over time. Predation by both vertebrates and invertebrates showed no apparent pattern related to field margin. Vertebrates, presumably mice, accounted for the larger part of weed seed consumption (30–88% per fortnight and farm). Invertebrates, probably granivorous ground beetles, accounted for the smaller part of seed consumption (4–38%). They were the dominant seed predators in only one out of eight cases in July 1999 (74%), and overall contributed little to variability in seed predation [KEYWORDS: Mice; Granivorous ground beetles; Exclosures; Spatial variability; Temporal variability]
U2 - 10.1016/S0167-8809(02)00224-4
DO - 10.1016/S0167-8809(02)00224-4
M3 - Article
SN - 0167-8809
VL - 95
SP - 417
EP - 425
JO - Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment
JF - Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment
IS - 2-3
ER -