Category: Climate Change

Evidence of Climate Change There are several studies on the changes observed in the climate system: the atmosphere and the ocean have warmed, the volumes of snow and ice have decreased, the sea level has risen. There are more and more problems of pest reinfestation in agriculture, they reproduce more quickly and remain for longer. It is another evidence: phenology as a bioindicator of Climate Change. Climate Change affects the reproductive cycle of pests and therefore their control. In ancient times the different agricultural tasks were sequenced according to the order of the seasons and months. These agricultural calendars are called medieval mensaries. Even then they knew that agricultural cycles necessarily have to adapt to the climatic conditions of nature. And they used to be represented graphically by calendars, because the cycles had a duration that was maintained over the years. There is now more documentation on the relationship between environmental factors and the biological cycle of plants and insects. As centuries ago, following that ancient mentality that related seasons with agricultural work, when talking about the cycles of biological development of plants or pests, the number of days elapsed between events is usually indicated. But climate change manifests itself differently in different geographical areas, and therefore the responses of different populations of the same species will also be unequal in different locations. The model of calendar dates for agriculture is no longer valid. Several studies show that certain climatological changes are taking place that alter or render invalid the determination of biological cycles in terms of days. Phenology as a bioindicator of Climate Change Phenology, which studies the repercussions of climate on the cycles of living beings (such as the flowering or migration of birds) is a good bioindicator of the climatic changes that are taking place. Climate Change and Pest Control Evidence in crops The consequences of climate change are very diverse for crops. They have influenced, for example, to increase the Huglin heliothermal index in the last 15 years (index based on the insolation and temperature of an area to determine its suitability for vine cultivation) in all wine-producing areas of France. Thus favoring the production of wine, and that it is of higher quality, in those areas. In fact, the vine is very sensitive to climatic conditions and reflects that agricultural tasks are varying their traditional moments. An advance of up to 3 or 4 weeks in the harvest date has been observed in the last 50 years. And the consequences of warming are already detectable in a gradual increase in the alcohol index of wine, with an average rise of 13.3 points on the scale of 100, for every 1ºC increase in temperature during the growing season. Climate Change and the control of agricultural and forestry pests Regarding insects and agricultural and forestry pests, a phenomenon similar to that which is occurring in plant species is happening. When a region warms between optimal temperature ranges for its development and in prolonged periods, certain species of pests are favored: some, which significantly increase their populations, and others, which manage to expand their presence, colonizing new areas. In fact, climate change is altering the conditions of pest development. New pests appear where previously they did not have the natural conditions of development, pests develop more quickly because their biological cycles are shorter, and the number of cycles and therefore generations increases. Screenshots of FuturCrop. Automated monitoring and control. Forecast calculations. Most pests have fluctuations in their density, depending on the seasons. But these fluctuations, which may be similar in successive years, increasingly show more variations from one year to another. The increase and decrease in densities associated with the seasons are mainly determined by climatological factors and by the phenology of the host plants, which as we have already seen is changing significantly. With this new factor of uncertainty, and increased likelihood of crop damage, pests are becoming a serious economic problem. The future trend in agriculture, in forestry, and in the management of parks and gardens (particularly in trees and plants whose conservation is considered of interest), calls for greater control of crops and pests. Nowadays it is already essential to introduce new technologies in these sectors, which allow a greater degree of information on the development of crops and pests depending on changes in climatic and environmental conditions. More information Pest and weather models, College or Agricultural Sciences. Oregon State University USA National Phenology Network Aids Management of Pest Insects With Life-Stage Forecast Maps, Using Degree-Days and Plant Phenology to predict pest Activity, Daniel A. Herms, The Ohio State University Related Posts

The productivity of world agriculture It is estimated that agriculture will necessarily need to increase its food and raw material production capacity by 60% to feed an estimated population of 9.1 billion people in 2050. Although crop yields will continue to grow, growth will be slower than in the past, approximately half (0.8%) of their historical growth rate (1.7%; 0.9% and 2.1% for developing countries). In addition, the impact of Global Warming on agricultural pest control may influence global agricultural productivity, as pests have accelerated their development as a result of Climate Change. FAO estimates that global agricultural production is reduced by 20% to 40% each year due to pests and diseases. Reducing food losses caused by crop pests and diseases is therefore of great importance to meet the world’s future food needs. Climate change and pest control But the phenomenon of global warming will lead to an increase in crop pest problems, increased crop losses and a decrease in crop quality and yields. If CO2 emissions are not reduced, predictions for the year 2050 assume a global increase in temperatures of 2°C to 3°C. Insect pests are poikilothermic organisms, i.e. they cannot internally regulate their own temperature, depending on the temperature to which they are exposed in the environment to initiate or complete their biological development phases. The global increase in temperatures means that there will be a greater abundance of pests and that the difficulty in controlling pests in agricultural systems will increase. On one hand, new geographical areas will be affected by new pests, from the expansion of the range of native pests and invasion by new pests. And on the other, there will be accelerated pest development leading to more pest generations per growing season and year. In fact, both consequences of global warming are already a reality. It is very likely that pests that today are considered minor will become primary pests because of their increased recurrence, and that susceptibility to pests in drought-stressed plants will increase. New technologies and pest control The best way to control this effect is to apply a smart agriculture technology tool that assesses the risks of global warming and monitors the biological development of pests. In addition, global warming will have another added effect on pest control in agriculture. Traditionally, pest pressure on crops was mitigated by the natural control mechanism exerted by predators and parasitoids (especially before the widespread use of chemical insecticides in agriculture, which broke the balance between pests and biological control organisms). Increasing temperatures may further damage this biological control mechanism. Several studies indicate that in many cases the temporal and geographic synchronization of pests and beneficial insects will be broken, due to a different sensitivity to climatic variability or optimal development temperatures. Differences in the thermal requirements of pests and their associated predators, parasites and parasitoids may lead to a disruption of their temporal or geographic synchronization, increasing the risks of infestation outbreaks. Thus, the effectiveness of biological pest control methods may be reduced in the future. Degree-Days: About Phenology models – UC IPM. Universidad de California. Agriculture & Natural Resources

Global Warming allows what International Trade transports The globalization of the international market means that billions of plant products are moved between countries every year. Obviously, pests and diseases travel with the goods. And as climatic conditions have changed, with shorter and milder winters, many pests easily establish themselves in the new ecosystems, where they could not have done so before. It only takes a few years for certain pests to become firmly established in their new territories. The rate of pest introduction in Europe is 1 pest or disease every 7 months. According to data managed by the European Union, from 2009 to 2013 at least eight new pests were detected in EU territory: Anoplophora glabripennis, Diabrotica virgifera, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, Pomacea insularum, Anthonomus eugenii, citrus tristeza virus, Xylella fastidiosa, and potato spindle tuber viroid. This rate of establishment means a new pest or disease in Europe every seven months. Problems caused by new pests These are particularly dangerous agricultural pests and diseases, because in the new territories where they are introduced, their development or biological cycle and their correct treatment are unknown, and because in many cases they lack natural enemies. In their new territory, they sometimes find new hosts. These new pests and diseases seriously affect agricultural production and the environment. Some examples The Asian wasp, Vespa velutina, which arrived in Europe in a container from Southeast Asia, is a dangerous predator of bees, which in Europe is directly affecting the pollination process and the entire ecosystem in general. In addition, the adult wasp feeds on ripe fruit (apples, plums, grapes, etc.) in large quantities, and can cause serious damage to agriculture. Another common pest, the tomato moth, Tuta absoluta, is native to Chile, although it has spread throughout much of South America. It was first detected in Spain in 2007, and quickly spread to the rest of the country, including the Canary Islands, and the Mediterranean area. Today it is a fully established pest that causes serious problems in tomato crops. There are other foreign pests and diseases of recent settlement in Europe: the Guatemalan moth, or Tecla solivanora, the African citrus psylla, Trioza erytreae, or citrus greening, which pose a serious danger to the potato crop in the first case, and to Mediterranean citriculture in the last two. New pests and diseases are also causing serious damage in the ornamental and forestry sectors. Such is the case of Cydalima perspectalis, a butterfly whose larvae feed on boxwood leaves, which has devastated wooded areas in Switzerland, but is already affecting large parts of southern Europe. The best known case today is that of Xilella fastidiosa, a bacterium that forced the felling of hundreds of thousands of olive trees in Italy, damaging the agricultural economy and the traditional landscape of large regions. It is in fact the most dangerous emerging plant disease in Europe. Europa: notificación y control a través de Europhyt The European Union has a body, Europhyt, for the notification and control of import interceptions, for plant health reasons. According to a report from that agency, during 2017, imports were intercepted because of 1,484 harmful organisms, among others: Liriomyza sp, Helicoverpa armigera, Phyllostica citricarpa, Spodoptera litura, Tephritidae, Santhomonas citri sitri, Anastrepha fraterculus, Ceratitis capitata, Tribolium confuus, Bactrocera dorsalis, Thrips palmi, Liriomyza sativae, Cordylomera spinicornis, Acidovorax citrulli, Aleurocanthus spiniferus, Ripersiella hibisci, Santhomonas euvesicatoria, Bactrocera sp. , Phyllosticta citricarpa, Apriona germari, Liriomyza huidobrensis, Bemisia afer, Spodoptera cosmioides, Radopholus similis, Thaumatotibia leucotreta, Bactrocera invadens, Ceratitis cosyra, Anthonomus eugeni, Helicoverpa zea, Tortricidae, Globodera rostochiensis, Aphelenchoides, Thaumatotibia leucotreta, Scyphophorus acupunctatus, Bactrocera latrifons, Bactrocera zonata, Zeugodacus, Oryzaephilus sp., Protopulvinaria mangiferae, Thaumatotibia leucotreta, Ditylenchus dipsaci, Anoplophora chinensis, Aleurocanthus spinferus, Dacus bivittatus, Pratylenchus, Radopholus similis, Ceratitis cosyra, Atherigona orientalis, Leptoglossus clypealis, Pantoea stewartii, Bactericera cockerelli, Andean potato latent virus, Arracacha virus B, Bephratelloides, Potato virus, Potato yellowing virus, Synchytrium endobioticum, Phyllosticta citricarpa, Bactrocera cucurbitae, Leucinodes orbonalis, Buprestidae, Phyllosticta citricarpa, Clavibacter michiganensis. (You can consult those corresponding to 2018 in this link.https://ec.europa.eu/food/plant/plant_health_biosecurity/europhyt/interceptions_en) Europhyt 2015 notifications The latest Europhyt Annual Report, corresponding to the year 2016 says among other things: Bactrocera tau Blepephaeus succinctor Chalcodermus aeneus Cofana sp. Cordylomera spinicornis Dialeurodes kirkaldyi Diaporthe eres Doliopygus sp. Orchidophilus sp. Saperda tridentata Xiphinema californicum Xyleborinus artestriatu. New pests present in Europe, 2016 More information European Union Notification System for Plant Health Interceptions – EUROPHYT

Climate change and pest management Global warming associated with climate change and pest control have associated effects. Rising global temperatures affect the density of agricultural pest populations, their geographic distribution and the length of time they may be active. Climate-induced changes present challenges for sustainable agricultural programs based on integrated pest management (IPM). If global food production is to keep pace with growing demand, we need new ways of producing, an adaptation of IPM programs and improved response times to new pest outbreaks. Rising temperatures Temperatures in most regions of the world are rising, and there are already signs that pests and plants are responding to the changes. These temperatures are not only the result of warmer summer days, but also fewer cold days and less frost. This can favor fungal and pest growth, altering the interaction of the disease triangle (host – pathogen – environment), and thus reductions in crop production. The spread of pests In the Northern Hemisphere, migration of pest populations from the south is already being detected. One of the reasons for such expansions is a change in frost patterns. As temperatures increase, frost frequency decreases and frost-free periods increase, resulting in an increase in pest duration and intensity. Increased temperatures will allow growers to anticipate the planting of their crops. These plants, by being available to the pests that infest them, will allow pest populations to grow even faster by adding additional generations during the growing season. This means that many pests will experience significant population increases at the end of the respective season. Transboundary pests New pest species frequently arrive from one country to another, mainly due to the rapid movement of people and goods. Increasingly warmer temperatures, however, mean that pests that previously could not survive can now thrive in their new environment. Changes in the ecosystems Warmer temperatures will benefit some pest species over others. In addition, this could lead to the elimination of insect populations, such as a parasite, which could lead to increased damage caused by some species (such as some types of caterpillars) that would likely result in increased pesticide applications. Pest control software Integrated pest management (IPM) is the most widely used strategy for pest control. This approach generally integrates biological controls (predators, parasites and pathogens), chemical controls (pesticides) and cultural controls (resistant crop varieties, planting times, etc.) to reduce pests below threshold populations that will cause economic losses. Most researchers and producers seek to design IPM programs that maximize economic and sustainability returns while minimizing potential environmental impacts. This strategy is based on a broad knowledge of how many insects can be tolerated before yield losses occur. Already today, because insect development is faster at higher temperatures, populations develop more rapidly and, therefore, crop damage occurs earlier than expected, forcing treatment thresholds based on insects per plant to be adjusted. IPM programs based on phenological models that correlate temperature and biological development, such as FuturCrop, can be the solution to anticipate pest events and to respond to these pattern changes due to annual temperature variation. Daily monitoring of the pest stages in its biological cycle makes it possible to pinpoint the date on which changes in the pest’s development occur (oviposition, larval stages, peak flight) etc. In this way it is possible to match the type of treatment with the phase of the pest in which it is most efficient. There are reports detailing that even the temperature increases that have occurred to date can reduce the effectiveness of pathogens. In some cases, increased temperatures can greatly reduce efficacy of pest parasites/predators. For example, differences between the thermal tolerances of the host and its parasitoids can lead to temporal or geographic separation between the host and parasitoids. The fly Drosophila Simulans, which is a suitable host for the wasp Leptopilina heterotoma at temperatures between 18°C and 22°C becomes a poor host at 26°C. Temperatures will favor pests with short reproductive cycles and multiple annual generations. Due to the increased rate of development at higher temperatures, these species could add even more generations and thus could potentially reach a much larger population at the end of the season. The maximum effect can be expected in those regions where rising temperatures completely eliminate frost, allowing these pests to reproduce throughout the year. This will allow a variety of new tropical and subtropical pests to expand in these areas. The effects of these changes on the diversity of natural and agricultural ecosystems are likely to be profound. Recommendations Information Five ways climate change is intensifying the threats to plant health. FAO Sustainable management of transboundary plant pests and diseases in the Near East and North African region, FAO