BioControl (2005) 50, 821-870
Dirk Babendreier, Franz Bigler and Ulrich Kuhlmann (2005)
Methods used to assess non-target effects of invertebrate biological control agents of arthropod pests
BioControl 50 (6), 821-870
Abstract: The number of concerns regarding potential non-target effects of invertebrate biological control agents of arthropods has risen over the last decade and an increasing number of studies have since dealt with this topic. Despite some recent international initiatives aimed at providing guidance for risk assessment of biological control agents, detailed methods on how tests should be designed and conducted to assess for potential non-target effects still need to be provided. It is believed that this review comes at an ideal time, giving an overview of methods currently applied in the study of non-target effects in biological control of arthropod pests. It provides the first step towards the ultimate goal of devising guidelines for the appropriate methods that should be universally applied for the assessment and minimisation of potential non-target effects. The main topics that are reviewed here include host specificity (including field surveys, selection of non-target test species and testing protocols), post-release studies, competition, overwintering and dispersal. Finally, a number of conclusions that have emerged from this comprehensive compilation of studies are drawn, addressing potential non-target effects in arthropod biological control.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Dirk Babendreier, Ulrich Kuhlmann
Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
non-target effects/fate in environm.
classical biocontrol/new introduction
