UC IPM Makes It Happen
Researcher finds ways to control invasive pests that threaten marine
organisms
 Many non-native species inhabit California's coastal waters,
posing a threat to aquatic ecosystems.
With funding from the UC Exotic/Invasive
Pests and Diseases Research Program, ecologist Ted Grosholz conducted
research on exotic invasive
pests of marine organisms and found ways to increase native oysters
without increasing European green crabs to damaging levels. In a
separate research
project, Ted found a way to destroy a serious pest of abalone.
First
discovered in the San Francisco Bay in 1989, the European green crab
has been reported in water bodies as far north as Coos Bay and
parts of Washington. "Specimens have been found in Bolinas
Lagoon, Tomales Bay, Drake's Estero, Bodega Bay, and Humboldt Bay," says
Ted.
This highly adaptable, invasive species thrives in a wide range
of temperatures and reproduces quickly. The crab doesn't do well
in
the open sea but
makes its home in bays and estuaries.
Feeding on mussels, clams,
oysters, other crabs, small fish, and snails, the green crab disrupts
the balance of the ecosystems
of
bays and their
bottoms. Bays support the smallest organisms in the food chain,
such as plankton and algae.
Ted's research in Bodega Harbor,
a small, protected inlet 70 miles north of San Francisco,
has developed ways to increase native oysters
without increasing green crabs to infestation levels.
"Trapping
the crabs in experimental oyster racks is an inexpensive and effective
method to significantly improve oyster survival, without
increasing
the European green crab population," he says.
Ted has also identified "hot spots" along the
west shore of the inner part of Tomales Bay where oyster
density and recruitment
is highest and where future native oyster restoration
efforts should be focused.
Shellfish growers and natural area managers
can employ these methods, although it may take up to three years.
Although
not directly life threatening to abalone, the sabellid polychaete is
a serious pest of abalone in
aquaculture facilities
in California.
Ted's research with this South African, shell-dwelling
species reveals that all life stages of the pest can
be destroyed by immersing
it in freshwater for a minimum of 24 hours. This practice
allows abalone culture and aquarium operators to destroy
the sabellid in abalone holding
units.
University of California joins alliance to protect
popular flower
UC IPM has teamed up with growers,
ornamental plant organizations, and industry personnel to develop
IPM strategies to protect
a $300 million
cut flower industry in California.
California
is our country's largest producer of gerbera
flowers, one of the most popular ornamental
flowers in the world with more than
200 varieties. Gerbera growers often spray
pesticides to control pests such as leafminers, whiteflies, and thrips.
With
funding from UC IPM and other organizations in the Gerbera
Pest Management Alliance (GPMA),
researchers are investigating
ways to
improve the timing for releasing natural
enemies, integrating
biological control,
and using new reduced-risk pesticides
to control destructive pests. A key concern is to determine
how many pests
are
present and the
number of pests it takes to impact crop
yields so that growers can skip treatments
when they are unnecessary.
Four
10,000-square-foot sites in Encinitas, Carpinteria, Ventura, and
Watsonville are
being used to develop
standardized sampling
methods and thresholds for gerberas.
Without knowing how different numbers
of pests
affect a crop, growers don't know
the best time to spray pesticides or
to release natural enemies, which can
result either in crop losses
or excessive control costs. With science-based
information on pest pressure and risk
gathered
in these experiments,
growers will have a better understanding
of when to apply natural enemies or pesticides
so they can obtain the best possible
pest control and reduce pesticide
use.
Researchers studied climatic factors
such as temperature and humidity and
non-climatic
variables
such as
variety and leaf
age to help
determine optimal pest management practices.
When complete, this study will
serve as a model system for cut and potted
floriculture crops statewide.
"The Gerbera Pest Management Alliance has been designed to advance
integrated pest management and biological control strategies for gerbera
growers
wherever they may fall on the pest management
continuum," says
UC Davis entomologist Michael
Parrella, who is one of the investigators
of the project. "We have some growers
who are actively using biological control,
while others are just starting.
This program, based on developing
solid sampling strategies, will offer all
growers the opportunity to advance their
integrated pest management. We meet three
times a year
at a cooperating grower's packing shed,
review progress
of the GPMA, share experiences, and tour
the gerbera production area."
Other
GPMA members are the California Cut Flower
Commission, the California
Department
of Pesticide
Regulation,
county advisors, allied industries
and manufacturers of reduced-risk pesticides.
UC IPM, the California Cut Flower Commission,
the
Hansen Trust,
USDA
(via the National
Floriculture & Nursery
Research Initiative), and the American
Floral Endowment also provided funding.
Exotic/Invasive Pests and Diseases Research
Program
Exotics and
invasive pests are a continuing and major threat to California’s
agricultural and natural ecosystems, with a new and serious pest being
introduced every 60 days or so. UC IPM manages
a federally funded program to help stop the introduction of new pests
and manage those that have already arrived.
- Proposals due April 15, 2006
- Progress reports April 1, 2006
- Funding notification to PIs August 2006
- Funding starts Sept. 1, 2006
The UC Exotic/Invasive Pests and Diseases Research Program (EPDRP) is
funded through USDA-CSREES. The review committees approved $1.8 million
in funding for 18 new projects from the 2005-2008 USDA grant. This brings
the number of projects sponsored by the program to 82 for $7.3 million.
New research funded for 2005-06
Agricultural Systems
- Managing corn leafhopper and corn
stunt disease
C. G. Summers, Entomology, UC Davis
(2 years, $61,627)
- Detecting Fusarium oxysporum in cotton seed and soil
R. M. Davis, Plant Pathology, UC Davis
(3 years, $133,867)
- Characterizing glyphosate resistance in ryegrasses
M. A. Jasieniuk, Plant Sciences, UC Davis
(3 years, $125,059)
- Training to identify predaceous mites found in California
E. E. Grafton-Cardwell, Entomology, UC Riverside
(3 years, $113,817)
- Economic injury level for cottony cushion scale
E. E. Grafton-Cardwell and J. T. Trumble,
Entomology, UC Riverside
(2 years, $47,111)
- Managing avocado lace bug in California
M. S. Hoddle, J. G. Morse, and R. Stouthamer, Entomology,
UC Riverside
(2 years, $163,918)
- Characterizing invasive isolates of verticillium wilt
K. V. Subbarao, Plant Pathology, UC Davis
(1 year, $36,600)
- Response of rice blast to a resistant rice cultivar
T. R. Gordon, Plant Pathology, UC Davis
(3 years, $91,970)
Natural Systems
- Investigating causes of a fungal disease in amphibians
C. J. Briggs, Integrative Biology, UC Berkeley
(2 years, $86,738)
- Evaluating how five beetle species spread pitch canker
D. L. Wood, Insect Biology, UC Berkeley
T. R. Gordon, Plant Pathology, UC Davis
(3 years, $155,704)
- A protocol for screening potentially invasive woody species
M. Rejmanek, E. Grotkopp Kuo, and J. Erskine Ogden,
Evolution and Ecology, UC Davis
(3 years, $143,342)
- Using molecular markers to describe the spread of water primrose
in freshwater wetlands
M. A. Jasieniuk, Plant Sciences, UC Davis
(2 years, $135,242)
- Impact of barb goatgrass on soil nutrients and soil organisms in
grasslands
W. R. Horwath, Land, Air and Water Resources,
UC Davis
(2 years, $88,632)
- Effects of rust fungus on yellow starthistle
J. M. DiTomaso, Plant Sciences, UC Davis
A.J.
Fisher,
USDA-ARS
D. M.
Wood,
California Dept.
of Food and Agriculture
(3 years, $131,351)
- Artificial diets for rearing new biological control agents of yellow
starthistle and other exotic weeds
L. Smith, USDA-ARS, Western Regional Research
Center
(2 years, $102,752)
Urban Systems
- Mediterranean pine engraver and redhaired bark beetle in urban pines
M. L. Flint, Entomology, UC Davis
S.J.
Seybold,
USDA-Forest
Service, Pacific
Southwest Research
Station
(3 years, $128,000)
- Effects of environment on mating during swarming of red imported
fire ant
M. K. Rust and L. Greenberg, Entomology, UC Riverside
(1 year, $45,863)
- Implementing a statewide biological control program for the spotted
gum psyllid in eucalyptus
T. D. Paine, Entomology, UC Riverside
K.
M. Daane,
Insect
Biology,
UC Berkeley
(3 years, $150,000)
Read about the current
research projects in the 2005 Exotic/Invasive Pests and Diseases
Research Program Annual Report
UC IPM Competitive Grants
Program
UC IPM has brought back to life its Competitive Research
Grants Program for 2006-07 funding. The program sought proposals, due
Dec. 14, 2005, in the five traditional IPM research areas, plus air
and water quality. Through an arrangement with ANR, savings from other
parts
of the IPM program will be added to the recently reduced research budget
to allow for a fully-funded program for the next few years.
New Projects for 2005-06
Air and Water Quality
- Using nematode resistant carrots, an alternative to soil fumigation,
to reduce VOCs from fumigant pesticide emissions.
P. A. Roberts, Nematology, UC Riverside
(Year 1 of 3)
- Investigating the influence of sub-lethal heating and soil moisture
components on microbial colonization of weed seeds and non-emerged
seedlings.
J. J. Stapleton, UC IPM, Kearney Agricultural
Center
(Year 1 of 1)
- Refining management of late-season insect pests of cotton to mitigate
VOCs and protect lint quality.
L. D. Godfrey, Entomology, UC Davis
(Year 1 of 3)
- Developing a predictive model for risk assessment of cavity spot
of carrots.
R.M. Davis, Plant Pathology, UC Davis
(Year 1 of 1)
- Microbial analysis of walnut replant suppression.
J. O. Becker, Nematology, and J. Borneman,
Plant Pathology, UC Riverside
(Year 1 of 1)
Research schedule
- IPM grant proposals due Dec. 14, 2005
- Progress and final reports Jan. 5, 2006
- Funding notification to PIs April 2006
- Funding starts July 1, 2006
|
2005
Annual Report 