Sustainability transitions in agriculture are explored through an analysis of niche initiatives within a common production system, relying on sustainable transitions, multi-level perspectives, and agroecological frameworks, involving multi-actor, agricultural knowledge, innovation systems (AKIS). The article focuses how experimental niches activities affect farmers’ relationships with nature, the reconceptualisation system which they operate, particularly where this is embedded less...

Worldwide, avian communities inhabiting agro-ecosystems are threatened as a consequence of agricultural intensification. Unravelling their ecological role is essential to focus conservation efforts. Dietary analysis can elucidate bird-insect interactions and expose pest-reduction services, thus supporting conservation. In this study, we used next-generation sequencing analyse the dietary arthropod contents 11 sympatric bird species foraging in macadamia orchards eastern Australia. Across all...

Between 8 and 15 million tons of spent coffee grounds (SCG) are produced as global waste each year. To reduce to landfill, SCG proposed a carbon nutrient source for degraded soils. contain caffeine other toxins that inhibit plant growth. However, they also repel slugs snails. We examined whether partial decomposition can neutralize promote growth while maintaining anti-herbivore properties. aged <1 14 months SCG-derived Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) frass. The frass were applied,...

Abstract Since the late 1970s, area of agricultural land dedicated to hybrid rice has rapidly increased throughout Asia, particularly in C hina, I ndia, and V ietnam. The pace adoption, a generally low genetic diversity varieties, higher agrochemical inputs with compared conventional varieties significantly changed landscape. Some authors have associated these changes an increasing incidence damage by herbivorous insects. This review examines trends adoption problems insect herbivores,...

Integrated biodiversity management aims to conserve the beneficial species components of production ecosystems and reduce impacts pests. In 2011 2013, experiments were conducted at Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines, compare arthropod communities in rice plots on levees with without vegetation strips. Vegetation strips included spontaneous weeds, sesame okra (2011), or mung bean (2013). The treated one three nitrogen levels experiment planted planthopper-resistant (IR62) susceptible (IR64)...

Hybrid rice has been noted for its susceptibility to insects and diseases compared pure-line (conventional) varieties. We investigated herbivory by Nilaparvata lugens, Sogatella furcifera Scirpophaga incertulas on replicated three-line hybrid sets (parental lines) in field greenhouse experiments. In a experiment, caterpillar densities stemborer damage was similar among parental lines. experiments, the cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS)-lines maintainer lines had higher of planthoppers (including...

Although a large number of pesticides different compositions are regularly used in agriculture, the impact on physiology field crops is not well understood. Pesticides can produce negative effects crop physiology-especially photosynthesis-leading to potential decrease both growth and yield crops. To investigate these greenhouse sweet peppers, effect 20 insecticides 2 fungicides (each sprayed with wetting agent) photosynthesis pepper leaves was analyzed. Among pesticides, nine caused...

Hybrid rice results from crossing a male-sterile line (the A line) with pollen doner restorer or R line). In 3-line hybrid breeding systems, fertile B is also required to maintain populations. Heterosis defined as condition of traits whereby the exceeds average parental lines. Heterobeltiosis where both parents. may display heterosis/heterobeltiosis for growth, yield and resistance herbivores, among other traits. greenhouse experiment, we assessed frequency heterosis brown planthopper...

Three-line hybrid rice is produced by crossing male sterile (A line) with a fertility-restorer (R line). Fertile lines (B lines) are also required to maintain A line seed for breeding programs. We used range of hybrids and their parental assess the frequency nature heterosis resistance whitebacked planthopper (Sogatella furcifera), brown (Nilaparvata lugens) yellow stemborer (Scirpophaga incertulas). Heterosis defined as trait improvement above average result outbreeding. Based on results...

This study compared the effects of wheat- and sorghum-based diets on broiler chickens. The growth performance caecal microbial community chickens were measured correlations between productivity specific gut microbes observed. Cobb broilers 15 days age individually caged two dietary treatments used, one with a wheat-based diet ( n = 48) another 48). Growth measurements taken over 10 day period samples for microbiota analysis at end that period. Caecal was characterised by sequencing 16S...

Organophosphate insecticides have been directly or indirectly implicated in avian populations declining worldwide. Birds agricultural environments are commonly exposed to these insecticides, mainly through ingestion of invertebrates after insecticide application. Despite exposure birds occurring mostly by ingestion, the impact organophosphates on digestive system has poorly researched. In this work we used Japanese quail ( Coturnix japonica ) as an model study short-term microbial community...

Soil microbial communities are a crucial link between soil nutrient availability and plant productivity. They particularly depend on organic matter (SOM) content, which is considered one of the main components fertility. But agricultural intensification increase in use fertilisers mineral origin recent decades (to detriment incorporation materials soils) have resulted continuous loss quality fertility, greatest challenges to addressing global food security. Therefore, better understanding...

Ecological engineering is an agroecological approach to pest management that has been adopted by thousands of rice farmers in the Mekong Delta Region Vietnam. Farmers intervention as part a heuristic developing technology. This study assesses knowledge, attitudes and practices related ecological among participating non-participating farmers. Interviews with 315 revealed diversity under umbrella engineering, all which were associated establishment linear vegetation strips habitat for natural...

Abstract Hybrid and pure‐line (inbred) rice [ O ryza sativa L . ( P oaceae)] varieties have distinct physiologies, particularly as related to their nutrient requirements. These differences could confound the results interpretation of experiments that compare grown in pots for resistance responses herbivores. In this study, a series was conducted identify potentially confounding interactions between pot size (soil volume), fertilizer regime, use acetate insect cages with line type (hybrid,...

Microbats perform important ecological services in agro-ecosystems, but several species are globally threatened by loss of roosting and breeding habitats. The successful conservation bats agricultural land requires adequate knowledge their ecology. Using ultrasonic recorders, we studied the activity insectivorous areas macadamia production eastern Australia at two spatial scales: across woodland-orchard transects local scale three levels fragmentation landscape scale. At scale, patterns...

The brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål), is a key challenge to rice production in Asia. Outbreaks of planthoppers are associated with excessive fertilizer applications; consequently, we examined planthopper interactions susceptible, tolerant and resistant varieties under varying levels soil nitrogen greenhouse experiment. We compared fitness (survival × reproduction) plant tolerance (functional loss index) for 16 at 0, 80 150 Kg added ha-1. grew larger, developed more quickly laid...

Abstract Plants that bear oversized fruits, but do not co‐occur with present‐day large‐bodied frugivores to disperse their seeds, are considered represent seed dispersal anachronisms. It is hypothesized these plants were originally dispersed by the megafauna became extinct at end of Pleistocene. Accordingly, many plant species in South America bearing so‐called megafaunal fruits occur ecosystems lacking native modern megafauna. In Chile, Lardizabala biternata an endemic vine produces a large...

Abstract The microbiomes of phloem‐feeding insects include functional bacteria and yeasts essential for herbivore survival development. Changes in microbiome composition are implicated virulence adaptation by herbivores to host plant species or populations (including crop varieties). We examined patterns the green leafhopper, Nephotettix virescens , near‐isogenic rice lines (NILs) with one two resistance genes recurrent parent T65, without genes. Only line was effective reducing leafhopper...

Waste from apple juice and cider industries (pomace) compares poorly against spent grains other relatively high-nutrient wastes as a substrate for bioconversion by the black soldier fly (BSF: Hermetia illucens). However, global pomace production exceeds 24 million tonnes annually novel management approaches are required to reduce waste landfill. We examined effects of BSF inoculation densities (intraspecific competition) larval size categories on cohort weight gains reduction. found that,...

Damage to grasses and cereals by phloem-feeding herbivores is manifest as nutrient chlorophyll loss, desiccation, a gradual decline in host vigour. Chlorophyll loss particular leads succession of colour changes before eventual death. Depending on the attacking herbivore species, can be difficult detect with human eye. This study used digital images examine rice seedlings during feeding brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) whitebacked Sogatella furcifera (Horváth). Values for red (580...

The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment proposed four categories of ecosystem services as regulating, provisioning, supporting and cultural. Of these, cultural have been the most difficult to quantify despite playing a key role in developing society’s ecosystems. By reviewing series case studies related derived from raptors, we examine relations between tangible ‘knowledge’ ‘beliefs’ part human societies We identified types raptor regulating provisioning patterns service--knowledge-beliefs that...

Soil silicon enhances rice defenses against a range of biotic stresses. However, the magnitude these effects can depend on nature variety. We conducted series greenhouse experiments to examine planthoppers (Nilaparvata lugens [BPH] and Sogatella furcifera [WBPH]), leafhopper (Nephotettix virescens [GLH]), blast disease (Magnaporthe grisea) bacterial blight (Xanthomonas oryzae) in susceptible resistant rice. added powdered silica gel (SiO2) paddy soil at equivalent 0.25, 1.0, 4.0 t ha-1....

Ecological engineering is defined as the design of sustainable ecosystems for benefit both human society and environment. In Southeast Asia, researchers have applied ecological by diversifying farms using flower strips to restore regulatory services rice thereby reduce herbivore-related yield losses overall pesticide use. We conducted a survey 302 farmers across four regions Philippines assess their farm diversification practices determine possible associations with Rice was main product on...

In rice ecosystems, seeding densities can be adjusted to compensate for lower nitrogen levels that reduce GHG emissions, or increase farm profitability. However, density-induced changes plant anatomy could affect herbivore-rice interactions, and alter arthropod community dynamics. We conducted an experiment varied transplanting density (low high), nitrogenous fertilizer (0, 60 150 kg added ha−1) variety (resistant susceptible phloem-feeding insects) over two rice-growing seasons. Yields per...