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[Display omitted] • Date palm production loss was characterized using tree/fruit morpho-biochemical traits. • Fruit damages caused by sparrows were higher in Deglet-Nour and Ghars varieties. • Depredation levels of dates significantly varied between studied cultivars. • Sparrow depredation was high in cultivars with high fruit water content, pH and reducing sugars. • Production loss parameters were positively correlated with date morphometric and biochemical traits. Bird intake and damage to fruits of Phoenix dactylifera is a common problem in date palm cultivation regions. Though plant vegetative characteristics and fruit nutritional values influence frugivory behavior in passerines, there is little knowledge about these parameters for sparrows feeding on dates, as most previous studies have focused on the impact of farm organization and location on the feeding choice made by sparrows. This study aimed to examine the effects of date palm tree traits and its fruit morphology and biochemical traits on the level of damage caused by hybrid sparrows to date fruits of three different date palm cultivars. In a traditional date palm plantation, three date varieties (Degla-Beida, Deglet-Nour and Ghars) were analyzed. The estimates of date production loss were correlated to several tree morphometrics and fruit morphological and biochemical traits, including the number of bunches/tree, bunch height, number of pedicels/bunch, number of dates per strand, total production/tree, and date fruit traits (length, width, weight, volume, pulp weight, ratio pulp weight/date weight, sugar content, water content and pH). We demonstrated that sparrows were attracted to bunches with low height and high fruit density, but they showed no interest to number of bunches per tree, number of pedicels per bunch, total number of dates and production per tree. Regarding date morphology, large and heavy dates were more likely to be selected by sparrows, although an unclear relationship was found between production loss per tree and date length, width and volume. In terms of fruit biochemical traits, sparrows damage rates increased with the increase in fruit pH, moisture, and total and reducing sugars. The average rate of lost dates per tree was 9.2 ± 7.66%, 8.4 ± 5.16%, and 3.9 ± 1.71% for Ghars, Deglet-Nour, and Degla-Beida, respectively. Significant differences were observed between cultivars in the amounts of damaged dates still on bunches or fallen on the ground. The hierarchical choice of dates by sparrows was also confirmed. Our results showed that soft dates were more preferred by sparrows than semi-soft and dry ones. The findings of this study indicated that it is necessary to provide extensive protection for highly attacked cultivars in palm groves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Remote sensing parameters using time series analysis: by employing time series analysis on Sentinel data, a comprehensive exploration of spectral and polarization responses was conducted, revealing correlations with maize damage severity. • Model for maize damage assessment: a model was developed using the Random Forest algorithm to monitor maize damage severity in different post-typhoon periods, generating maps depicting the distribution and magnitude of maize damage with improved monitoring accuracy. • Maize damage recovery from post-typhoons until maturity period: the study also assessed the recovery of maize damage during the period from typhoons to harvest, providing insights into the resilience and recovery trajectory of maize following severe typhoon events. • SAR and optical data fusion: the study highlighted the importance of SAR and optical data fusion in elucidating the dynamics of crop losses caused by typhoons, providing essential insights for proactive disaster risk reduction strategies in agriculture. • Post-typhoon maize damage impact factors: analysis of terrain and meteorological data revealed that post-typhoon maize disasters primarily occurred in low-lying and flat areas, with meteorological factors such as maximum wind speed and daily cumulative precipitation significantly impacting damage severity. The increasing frequency of typhoon events, attributed to global climate change, has significantly affected agricultural production, predominantly resulting in substantial negative consequences. Accurate and timely assessment of crop damage is crucial for understanding economic implications, devising effective agricultural strategies, and enhancing resilience amid mounting climate uncertainties. This study investigates the utility of Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Sentinel-2 MultiSpectral Instrument (MSI) data in tracking maize damage severity following typhoon events. By employing continuous field sampling techniques and conducting visual interpretation of high-resolution remote sensing imagery, sample sets representing a spectrum of maize damage severity were systematically established. The application of time series analysis on Sentinel data enables a comprehensive exploration of spectral and polarization responses, providing insights into the correlation with maize damage severity. Segmentation of the maize damage timeline into pre-disaster, disaster, and recovery periods, coupled with optimization of relevant feature parameters, was undertaken to bolster monitoring precision. Leveraging the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud platform, a Random Forest algorithm was used to develop a model for monitoring maize damage severity across different post-typhoon periods, yielding maps delineating the distribution and magnitude of maize damage in Northeast China. Results indicate that integrating spectral indices from the pre-disaster phase with backscatter variations of polarization bands during various post-typhoon periods enhances maize damage assessment. Maize damage severity is notably elevated during the disaster period, achieving an overall accuracy of 87.22 %. While mitigated during the recovery phase, localized exacerbation occurs in severely affected regions, yielding an overall accuracy of 88.54 %. Analysis incorporating terrain and meteorological data reveals that post-typhoon maize disasters predominantly occur in low-lying and flat areas, with meteorological factors, particularly maximum wind speed and daily cumulative precipitation, exerting significant influence on damage severity. This study underscores the critical role of SAR and optical data fusion in elucidating typhoon-induced crop damage dynamics, thereby providing essential insights for proactive mitigation strategies against future agricultural losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Insectivorous birds are more rich and abundant in semi-natural patches. • Especially forest insectivores are threatened by the lack of semi-natural patches. • Insectivores in olive farms are not related to pest abundance or pest damage. • Attack rates to plasticine dummies were negligible. • Insectivorous birds seem unsuccessful pest control agents against olive pests. Although avian-mediated pest control is a significant ecosystem service with important economic implications, few experimental studies have ever documented its role in Mediterranean agroforests. Specifically, information on pest control by birds is lacking in certain permanent agroecosystems of worldwide importance such as olive groves. Here, we assess experimentally for the first time the effectiveness of insectivorous birds in controlling the two main olive-tree pests. We also explore the effects of distance to semi-natural habitat patches on avian insectivore abundance and pest control. We combined bird and pest surveys with pest damage monitoring and two field experiments (branch exclusion and plasticine models) at a regional scale. The experiments showed that birds played a negligible role as pest controllers (measured in terms of attack rates on plasticine models and controlled pest damage) in the studied olive groves; overall, pests were abundant and pest damage was high on most farms. In addition, surveys showed that insectivorous birds were more abundant and diverse in patches of semi-natural habitat, compared to the matrix of olive groves, and that proximity to semi-natural patches was not a driver of bird-driven pest control. This study experimentally demonstrates that insectivorous birds are not effective pest controllers in olive groves. The absence of patterns linking insectivorous birds' availability and observed pest control suggests that birds are unable to exert effective control over the main olive-tree pests. This lack of biocontrol by birds is probably due to low accessibility and/or appetence for the current insectivorous groups. Habitat improvement aimed at encouraging some under-represented forager species could improve the likelihood that birds will provide this ecosystem service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Human-Elephant conflicts (HECs) are high-risk for agrarian landscape near elephant corridor. • People who grew more diverse crops near to their household had more human-elephant interaction. • Lower elevation with higher human density had more human-elephant conflict. • Local farmers must be supplemented with longer-term village-level crop protection and promote farming of alternative produces and diverse livelihoods. • Early Warning Systems using mobile technology and/or drones can be helpful in high conflict areas to function as deterrents. Understanding the dynamics that drive human-wildlife conflict and identifying potential mitigation solutions requires understanding the spatial patterns of conflict. The juxtaposition of ecological preservation and economic growth has led to increased conflicts between humans and Asian elephants Elephas maximus in the Rajaji-Corbett landscape of Uttarakhand, India, where the conversion of elephant habitat to agricultural land have increased over the last several decades. We investigated the predictors influencing household-level human-elephant conflicts (HECs) using binomial Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) collected from semi-structured questionnaire-based surveys of 266 households in the human-wildlife interface next to protected areas. Further, we modelled the landscape predictors that influence the spatial distribution of HECs by collecting occurrence data of HECs in 25 km2 grid units (N = 1473 grids) using Maxent software. We discovered that HECs are directly influenced by the diversity of major and minor crops planted and the proximity to agricultural land (conflicts decreased with increasing distance from the agricultural land). We also observed that the probability of HECs decreased with increasing elevation, increase in road networks, and with increasing slope in the study area; while HECs increased with increase in human population. We discovered that nearly one-fifth of areas sampled (3606.87 km2) in the Rajaji-Corbett landscape were at high risk of HEC, especially flat, agrarian areas where most people reside. Farmers in the susceptible risk areas identified by our study could lessen the likelihood of crop damage and HEC incidents by cultivating highly profitable alternative crops that are less attractive to elephants. Additionally, implementing mobile-based Early Warning System in high HEC hotspot areas could mitigate crop raiding and potentially reduce the occurrence of HECs. The findings of our study can assist policymakers and park management in designing landscape-scale human-wildlife conflict mitigation strategies tailored to identified conflict hotspots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depredation has become a major concern worldwide as it jeopardises both socio-economic activities and species conservation. While modelling can help to inform the management of these conflicts, effectiveness may be hampered by the complexity of interactions that depredation generates within socio-ecological systems. Based on a systematic literature review, we summarised current practices and identified major gaps and research priorities for depredation modelling. We found that 74% of reviewed studies used statistical models to quantify depredation levels, identify environmental or anthropogenic factors influencing these levels or assess the effectiveness of specific mitigation measures. Only 8% of studies used models incorporating elements related to the three main entities involved in depredation: human activity, depredating species and depredated resource. Such integrated modelling approaches are however crucial to comprehensively assess management trade-offs. We highlighted future research priorities to comprehensively model depredation and inform the management of human-wildlife conflicts. • We carried out a systematic review to identify relevant approaches to study specific aspects of depredation through modelling. • We found statistical models to be predominantly used. • We identified the main factors driving depredation modelling efforts. • We provided recommendations for effective depredation modelling. • We highlighted research priorities to comprehensively model depredation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conversion of natural areas into agricultural land has increased human-wildlife interactions, often resulting in crop damage. This study focuses on the white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari), which thrives in landscapes where well-preserved, naturally-vegetated public and private lands are juxtaposed with agricultural fields. We investigated the habitat use and selection of four herds of white-lipped peccaries in a landscape mosaic along the southern border of Emas National Park in the Cerrado biome of Brazil. Our findings reveal that white-lipped peccaries prefer both corn plantations and gallery forests as habitats. Through high-frequency GPS telemetry, we observed a strong tendency to turn when herds were in agricultural areas and gallery forests, indicating feeding behavior. On the other hand, they typically move in straight lines for long distances when traversing bare soil fields and native Cerrado vegetation, suggesting they are merely passing through these habitats. The extensive feeding on corn crops in agricultural fields has resulted in significant financial losses for producers, leading to a conflict between white-lipped peccaries and landowners. Understanding the movement dynamics of the species and their intensive use of both private and public lands can aid in the development of management strategies that minimize or eliminate crop losses while ensuring the survival of this vulnerable species in landscapes comprising agricultural fields and native habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Roads are often used by agricultural pest species as dispersal corridors. • Rabbit damage to agricultural production has increased in Iberian Peninsula. • We assessed the distribution of rabbit warrens in motorway verges. • Rabbit warren presence correlated positively with the presence of olive groves. • Our modelling approach allows identifying high risk motorway stretches. Pest species cause significant ecological, social and economic impacts, and programs to control them usually target specific landscape features when pests use these to disperse. Roads or railways are often used by pest species as dispersal corridors, but little is known about the specific characteristics of these human infrastructures that facilitate pest species dispersal. This is particularly evident in the case of native agricultural vertebrate pests like the European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculu s) in the Iberian Peninsula (IP). Rabbit damage to agricultural production in IP has increased notably in recent years. This study uses a 'favourability function' to model the extent to which macroecological favourable conditions for rabbits and different fine-scale variables, including environmental, anthropogenic and agricultural factors, favour the presence of rabbit warrens on the verges of a motorway network in southern IP. For this purpose, we collected rabbit warren locations during car transects using CyberTraker 3.0 installed in a pad along 787 km of motorways. Our results revealed that rabbit warren distribution was widespread along the verges. Rabbit warren presence correlated positively with the presence of olive groves and with macroecological favourable conditions for rabbits. Our results provide strong evidence that rabbits use motorway verges, which are likely to act as dispersal corridors across landscapes. Additionally, our innovative approach, based on a rabbit warren index, the favourability function and a combination of local and macroecological predictors, could be used in many other areas where rabbits cause crop damage to make fine-scale predictions of high risk stretches and, therefore, where to apply mitigation measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corn consumption by birds is a costly problem in North America, yet growers have limited effective options for managing crop losses. Most research has focused on reducing bird conflicts in ripening corn fields, however, growers also report damage to newly-planted corn seeds and seedlings. We conducted a study of corn losses caused by birds on newly planted and emerging corn seedlings within fields in eastern and northern New York State during 2016–2018. A 97-day corn hybrid was selected with a typical insecticide and fungicide seed treatment package from Dairyland (DS 9791RA) in order to minimize other possible confounding variables. Each trial field (n = 5 in 2016; n = 16 in 2017; n = 20 in 2018) included a split-plot design on 2.02 ha (5 acres). Corn seed on half of each trial field 1.01 ha (2.5 acres) was treated with Avipel Shield (anthraquinone, AQ) and the other half was left untreated. Results from these field trials showed that the seed treatment with AQ reduced corn pulling by birds (primarily American crows) and increased plant populations during all 3 years. However, corn silage yield was similar between control and treatment blocks in trial fields, and was not impacted by seed treatment with AQ. Still growers believed the added repellent cost was justified to maintain high corn plant counts in spring and have at least the potential for better yields at harvest. • Corn-pulling by birds in spring is an important issue for farmers in New York State. • Avipel Shield containing anthraquinone significantly increased corn plant populations. • Corn silage yield was similar between control and treatment blocks at harvest. • Cost of seed treatment with Avipel Shield repellent was not excessive ($18.48/ha). • Growers believed the added cost was justified despite no differences in yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit consumption by birds is a costly problem in North America, yet basic information about the species and abundance of fruit-eating birds in fruit crops, and factors that influence abundance, are lacking. We conducted a study of fruit-eating birds in 'Honeycrisp' apples, blueberries, grapes, and sweet cherries in Michigan, New York, and the Pacific Northwest in 2012 and 2013. We documented the most frequently observed fruit-eating birds in each crop across our study regions, and used fruit-consumption data to identify bird species for each crop and region that have a great impact via fruit consumption. We found that American Robins (Turdus migratorius ; hereafter, 'robins') and Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum; hereafter 'waxwings') are important fruit consumers across regions and crops, while House Finches (Haemorhous mexicanus), additionally, are important in the Pacific Northwest. We modelled and compared the abundance of fruit-eating birds in all four crops, and found that while abundance varied by region and crop, it was unaffected by heterogeneity in the surrounding land cover. Fruit growers can use information from this study to tailor bird management plans to specific crops and regions, depending on the species of concern. • American Robins are important fruit consumers across fruit growing regions. • House Finches are important fruit consumers in Pacific Northwest fruit crops. • Apples' only important fruit consumer was the House Finch in the Pacific Northwest. • Land-cover heterogeneity did not influence fruit-eating bird abundance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract During the last decades in Italy red deer (Cervus elaphus) density has locally reached very high values, with consequent serious problems due to the interaction with human activities, especially in protected areas. This study aims at quantifying the impact of red deer on herbaceous crops for forage production in a protected area in Northern Italy, that has been recently colonized by this species. To this aim, 14 exclusion enclosures on maize destined for whole plant silage production and 24 exclusion enclosures (not grazed, NG) on permanent meadows were established. For each of these sample plots (2 × 2 m), an adjacent control plot of identical surface area was established, freely available to red deer (grazed, G). Maize was harvested in September, whereas three grass cuts were harvested on meadows (May, July and August) and biomass production was weighed. Grass samples were collected, both in NG and in G plots, for chemical analysis. Red deer number was monthly estimated by night counts along fixed paths, using spotlights. The analysis of deer distribution allowed the distinction between two areas: High Density (HD: Northern area, with lower human disturbance, abundance of sheltered areas and an estimated deer density of 14–30 heads/km2) and Low Density (LD: Central and Southern areas, with an estimated deer density of 0–1.6 heads/km2). The percentage of maize plots with deer damage was significantly higher in HD than in LD area (83.3 vs 12.5%, respectively; P < 0.05). In HD, red deer impact on maize crop was significant on plant height (NG = 250.75 ± 47.58 vs G = 136.87 ± 87.90 cm; P < 0.05) and biomass production/plant (NG = 0.87 ± 0.42 vs G = 0.37 ± 0.39 kg/4 m2; P < 0.05), whereas no significant effect was observed in LD. The percentage of plots of permanent meadows with deer damage did not differ between HD and LD areas. Significant losses were observed only in the second cut in the HD area for DM production, which was reduced by almost 14%. The chemical composition of the meadow forages showed only slight differences between G and NG plots (CP and NDF content significantly lower in G plots). The results obtained indicate that a high red deer density has an impact on the economic activity of farmers, particularly in term of maize losses (with estimated economic losses higher than € 20,000/farm/year), and suggest that appropriate management strategies, such as fencing of the crops at risk, are highly advisable. Highlights • Red deer density reached high values, causing problems to agricultural activities. • High deer densities caused severe damage on maize crops for silage production. • Limited deer damage was recorded on permanent meadows. • The presence of red deer has a serious impact on the economic activity of farmers. • Appropriate specific management plans are required to limit economic losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In recent years, ground-level O 3 and its potential risks on agricultural crops have attracted worldwide attention from both society and academic community. According to the hourly O 3 concentration data in 24 cities of the Yangtze River Delta during wheat (16 March to 29 May 2015) and rice (20 July to 20 October 2015) growing seasons, we estimated the yield and economic losses of wheat and rice resulted by O 3 exposure using O 3 exposure-response functions based on AOT40 (accumulated hourly O 3 concentration above 40 ppb, this exposure index is the current standard for vegetation protection against O 3). The results showed that the O 3 mean concentration during wheat and rice growing seasons ranged from 28.2 to 44.3 ppb and 27.6–44.2 ppb, respectively. The AOT40 values during wheat and rice growing seasons ranged from 4.33 to 15.82 ppm h and 7.64–25.15 ppm h, respectively. Relative yield loss ranged from 9.86 to 36.05% for wheat and 7.25–23.87% for rice. The total crop production loss for wheat and rice amounted to 552.55 × 104 tons and 535.06 × 104 tons, respectively. The total economic loss amounted to 209.31 × 107 US$ for wheat and 237.03 × 107 US$ for rice. Our study revealed the potential regional risk of ground-level O 3 exposure to crops in the Yangtze River Delta. Therefore, some effective measures should be taken urgently to reduce the negative effects of O 3 on crop productivity. Highlights • Surface O 3 is posing a serious threat to crop yields in the Yangtze River Delta. • The O 3 -induced crop yield reductions and economic damage were estimated. • Current O 3 level caused the yield losses of 26.41% for wheat and 16.33% for rice. • Agricultural losses amounted to 2.09 × 109 US$ for wheat and 2.37 × 109 US$ for rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frost is a major threat to crop productivity in the Kenyan highlands. With agriculture being central to the Kenyan economy, every effort needs to be taken to alleviate losses especially on high value crops like tea, the leading foreign exchange earner. Current frost mapping efforts by SERVIR, a joint initiative between National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and its hub institution in Eastern and Southern Africa, the Regional Center for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD), utilizes Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) derived Land Surface Temperature (LST) to probabilistically map areas that have been affected by frost. In this paper, we assessed the accuracy of these frost maps by testing the performance of MYD11A1 MODIS product in indicating areas affected by frost. MODIS derived LST values corresponding to frost and no frost observation locations and dates were reclassified according to 6 predetermined categories representing frost severity levels. The overall accuracy of each threshold category as LST cutoff separating frost and no frost affected areas was determined. An overall performance measure was then estimated using a Receiver Operating Characteristics curve (ROC). Overall accuracies of 67.3%–71.9% among the thresholds were obtained. An area under the ROC curve of 0.69 was obtained, indicating a poor performance of MODIS LST to distinguish frost from no frost areas. This shows that although MODIS derived LST can be used to identify frost-affected areas, it is not on its own sufficient in discriminating these areas with high levels of accuracy. Revision of temperature thresholds is recommended, in addition to improved characterization of frost occurrence in the region to include other factors that may be affecting frost occurrence. These results stand to better prepare the agricultural sector for damaging weather-related events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feral swine (also called wild pigs; Sus scrofa Linnaeus) are known to cause damage to crops among other types of property damage. This research addresses the lack of economic welfare estimates of wild pig imposed crop damages in the literature by estimating the value of wild pig removal with respect to five crops in nine southern U.S. states. An equilibrium displacement model was used to assess the changes in price and quantity that would result from eliminating damage to corn, soybeans, wheat, rice, and peanuts in these nine states. Changes in price and quantity were used to calculate the changes in producer and consumer welfare in both the short- and long-run. The total producer and consumer surplus gains were found to be $142 million in the short-run and $89 million in the long-run. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human-wildlife conflicts are a growing problem in Iran and pose a notable challenge to conservation efforts in its Hyrcanian forest region. We surveyed 162 households in 45 villages at six study sites to understand species-specific patterns of human-wildlife conflicts and people’s reactions to these conflicts, and to suggest appropriate conflict mitigation measures. By using generalized linear and generalized linear mixed models, we analysed socio-economic and ecological variables to find key determinants of the main conflict types around seven species of mammals. We also incorporated prey richness data (i.e. red deer, roe deer and wild boar) in our models. Wild boar ( Sus scrofa ) and grey wolf ( Canis lupus) were found to be the primary conflict species in regard to reported levels of severity and crop loss by wild boars was reported by 97% of households. Logistic regression showed that these conflicts were positively influenced by the variety of cultivated crop species and the size of land under cultivation. Generalized linear mixed models showed that human-wild boar conflicts increased in areas with lower human density, vegetation cover and distance to protected areas. Wolf conflicts were most frequent in the form of sheep attacks (81%) compared to goat (11%) and cattle (8%) attacks. Our analysis showed that the attacks were positively influenced by village and elevation and increased in areas with lower prey richness and those located closer to, or inside, protected areas. Several cost-effective mitigation measures should be used complementarily according to their effectiveness. These include avoiding planting of palatable seasonal crops near protected areas and establishing physical barriers around crop fields to lower large-scale crop damage by wild boars. To reduce livestock predation by wolf, it will be essential to address the restoration of the wild prey community and efficiency of animal husbandry practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbicide use must be reduced because of environmental and health issues. This raises the question of whether weeds and the resulting crop yield loss will increase. Previous studies analysing relationships between herbicide use intensity, weeds and yield loss suffer from methodological shortcomings in terms of weed flora and farm diversity as well as temporal scales. Here, we collected data on 272 arable cropping systems from one Spanish and six French regions, from farm surveys, the Biovigilance-Flore network, expert opinion, cropping system trials, crop advisors and scientists. Each system was simulated over 27 years and with 10 weather repetitions consisting of 28 randomly chosen weather years, using the virtual-field model F lor S ys . This process-based model simulates multi-species weed floras and crop canopies as a function of cropping systems and pedoclimate at a daily time-step over the years. Four series of simulations were run, 1) starting with a typical regional weed flora, 2) eliminating all herbicides without any other change in management practices. The two series were run again, but without an initial weed seed bank. Comparing series 1 and 2 to respectively 3 and 4 led to calculating a crop yield loss due to weeds in series 1 and 2. Comparing series 1 and 2 quantified the herbicide impact on weeds, crop production and yield loss. The simulations showed that (1) crop yield loss increased with increasing weed biomass, and that the weed/crop biomass ratio at crop flowering was the best indicator of the year’s yield loss, (2) herbicide use intensity was not correlated to either weed variables or yield loss, because herbicide use intensity greatly depended on other management practices; e.g., it decreased with increasing frequency and interannual variation of mechanical weeding and superficial tillage, (3) weed biomass and yield loss increased when herbicides were eliminated without any other change in management practices, (4) effects were more visible at the multi-annual than the annual scales. The systems the most sensitive to herbicide suppression were characterized by monotonous rotations with short crop cover, high herbicide use, no plough or winter ploughing and frequent rolling operations. Finally, a decision tree predicting yield loss as a function of management practices was proposed to support farmers and crop advisors when designing innovative cropping systems reconciling low herbicide use and low yield loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waterlogging is a persistent problem resulting in damage to crops and therefore livelihood of the coastal people in the southwestern region of Bangladesh. It is important to better understand the perception of local people on this problem to formulate appropriate policy interventions. This research aimed at analyzing the perception of local people on waterlogging, its impact on crop production and related adaptation interventions in Khulna district. Concurrent mixed methods of research were employed and a total of 200 households were interviewed. The findings revealed that lack of silt removal or dredging in canals, reduction of water flow in canals and encroachment of canals were the main causes of waterlogging. Major demographic, social and economic characteristics of the surveyed households rarely affected crop production. It was also observed that delayed cropping reduced waterlogging-induced crop damage in coastal areas. Although local people spontaneously participated in traditional adaptation methods, they hardly realized their own contributions towards the practices. About one-third of the local people were not aware of institutional initiatives addressing waterlogging. They proposed structural solutions such as re-excavation of canals to reduce waterlogging. Furthermore, majority of the people living inside the polder (a low-lying tract of land enclosed by a built construction that forms an artificial hydrological unit) perceived that institutions and management were vitally important. The post-facto nature of adaptation interventions in the region might lead to unusual losses and damages, which could be minimized through a good mix of technology and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Crop damage by wildlife can be characterized by network analysis that describes the identity and strength of interactions in a food web. • Crops, crop-raiding wildlife and farmer socio-ecological factors are integrated in complex interactions that lend themselves to emerging network analysis. • We show that network analysis provides insights to interactions between wildlife and farmers that can guide suitable interventions. Managing crop damage by wildlife is a complex challenge in agrarian-wildlife landscapes. Losses to farmers and their negative attitude towards crop-raiding wildlife, compromise wildlife conservation and farmer-wildlife coexistence. Priority crop types, crop-raiding wildlife and socio-ecological factors are highly integrated. Here we use cross-sectional network analysis as a conservation planning tool to simultaneously identify the crop types used by crop-raiding wildlife, and evaluate the importance of these crop-wildlife interactions relative to the socio-ecological factors that affect these interactions. The most vulnerable crops were maize, millet and fruit trees, while the most problematic crop-raiding wildlife were African elephant, bushpig, hippo, warthog and red-billed quelea. Crop damage declined with countermeasure effectiveness, farm size, and distance from river to farm, but increased with richness of attractive crops. Undamaged crops included cash crops, such as chili, onion, ginger, lemon grass and garlic. Applying network analysis to different crops and damage scenarios enables identification of the most important and influential crops, crop-raiding wildlife and socio-ecological factors needed to develop effective crop protection strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frugivorous birds impose significant costs on tree fruit growers through direct consumption of fruit and grower efforts to manage birds. We documented factors that influenced tree fruit bird damage from 2012 through 2014 with a coordinated field study in Michigan, New York, and Washington. For sweet cherries, percent bird damage was higher in 2012 compared to 2013 and 2014, in Michigan and New York compared to Washington, and in blocks with more edges adjacent to non-sweet cherry land-cover types. These patterns appeared to be associated with fruit abundance patterns; 2012 was a particularly low-yield year for tree fruits in Michigan and New York and percent bird damage was high. In addition, percent bird damage to sweet and tart cherries in Michigan was higher in landscapes with low to moderate forest cover compared to higher forest cover landscapes. 'Honeycrisp' apple blocks under utility wires were marginally more likely to have greater bird damage compared to blocks without wires. We recommend growers prepare bird management plans that consider the spatial distribution of fruit and non-fruit areas of the farm. Growers should generally expect to invest more in bird management in low-yield years, in blocks isolated from other blocks of the same crop, and in blocks where trees can provide entry to the crop for frugivorous birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the results of one of the most comprehensive surveys on feral swine ( Sus scrofa ) damage and control in 11 US states (Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas). The survey was distributed by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service in the summer of 2015 to a sample of producers of corn ( Zea mays ), soybeans ( Glycine max ), wheat ( Triticum ), rice ( Oryza sativa ), peanuts ( Arachis hypogaea ), and sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor ) in the 11-state region. Producers that failed to respond to the initial mailing received multiple follow-up phone calls in an attempt to minimize non-response bias, and a total of 4377 responses were obtained. Findings indicate that damage can be substantial. The highest yield loss estimates occur in peanut and corn production in the Southeast and Texas. Control efforts are common, and producers incur considerable costs from shooting and trapping efforts. Extrapolating crop damage estimates to the state-level in 10 states with reportable damage yields an estimated crop loss of $190 million. Though large, this number likely represents only a small fraction of the total damage by feral swine in the 10 states because it only includes crop damage to six crops. We hope findings from this survey will help guide control efforts and research, as well as serve as a benchmark against which the effectiveness of future control efforts can be measured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearly 100% of U.S. artichoke production comes from California and is concentrated in Monterey County. California meadow voles are damaging rodent pests that can threaten the profitability of growing artichokes. A practical population monitoring method can be invaluable to integrated pest management programs for guiding when and where control is needed and assessing control efficacy. The standard method for indexing vole populations in artichoke fields has been based on observing chewing on artichoke bracts placed throughout the field. Because toxicants are delivered on artichoke bracts, bias for population indexing is potentially introduced. We therefore compared artichoke bracts to nontoxic grain-based wax bait blocks as an alternative chewing medium for eliciting chewing observations for indexing abundance. We also compared the use of binary (presence-absence) observations of chewing to continuous measures (percent chewed). We considered the effect of three sizes of observation grids (4 × 4, 5 × 5, 6 × 6) for indexing. We conducted intensive trapping to determine number of voles known to be alive (KTBA) at each site as a basis for assessing which of the 12 indexing approaches (2 chewing mediums, 2 measurement types, 3 grid sizes) best tracked population abundance. The percent chewed on artichoke bracts for all grid sizes only marginally correlated with KTBA (∼0.5), whereas percent chewed on bait blocks correlated very well with KTBA for all grid sizes (∼0.9). Reducing continuous data to binary observations produced indices only weakly or negatively correlated with KTBA. Available resources would probably determine whether smaller grid sizes would be used for obtaining chewing observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provision of permanent soil cover using crop residues in conservation agriculture (CA) is constrained by livestock grazing and termite consumption in smallholder farming systems of sub Saharan Africa. This study evaluated the effects of surface applied maize ( Zea mays L.) crop residues on termite prevalence, crop damage due to termite attack and maize yield over two seasons, 2008/9 and 2009/10. Treatments with residue application rates of 0, 2, 4 and 6 t ha −1 under CA and a conventional mouldboard ploughing (CMP) control were laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replicates on three farm sites in Kadoma, Zimbabwe. Maize residues increased (P < 0.05) termite numbers compared to CMP treatment. Crop lodging at harvest increased (P < 0.05) from 30 to 34% in CMP to 42–48% in CA systems. However, no significant difference was found in crop lodging with increasing residue rates within CA treatments. Significantly higher crop yields were observed under CA (P < 0.05) ranging from 2900 - 3348 kg ha −1 in 2008/9 season compared to CMP with 2117 kg ha −1 . Nevertheless, increasing residue cover in CA did not necessarily increase maize crop yield. Thus, increasing crop residue application rates under CA increased termite prevalence while crop lodging was influenced more by soil tillage system than by crop residue application rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Blackbirds (Icterinae) in North America, and dickcissels ( Spiza americana Gmelin), eared doves ( Zenaida auriculata Des Murs), and monk parakeets ( Myiopsitta monachus Boddaert) in South America can cause serious economic damage to grain crops. Farmers frequently advocate lethal bird damage abatement measures based on the perceived need to take immediate action to avoid serious economic losses. In comparison, wildlife managers must make informed decisions based on a multitude of factors, including local, state, and national environmental laws, administrative restrictions, logistics, costs, expected outcome, and cultural considerations related to wildlife stewardship. In this paper, we focus on practicality, environmental safety, cost-effectiveness and wildlife stewardship to evaluate efforts to manage avian crop damage using lethal control. In each case where a lethal program was initiated, at least one of these four tenets was violated and there was temporary relief at best. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbivorous waterfowl populations have increasingly adapted to forage on agricultural land and triggered a parallel rise in damage to agricultural crops. Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) is the most commonly reported crop damaged in northern Europe, and farmers increasingly demand management actions to mitigate economic impacts. Here, we apply two parallel approaches (exclosure experiments in undisturbed fields and yield assessments in fields subject to scaring) to quantify the impact of waterfowl grazing on winter wheat yield, crop height and nutrient content. We demonstrate that waterfowl grazing led to a substantial reduction in crop height during winter and early spring, but also that compensatory growth led to no significant effect on crop height at the time of harvest. In terms of grain yield, the effect of waterfowl grazing varied from non-significant to a 6% loss, and on fields subject to scaring, the negative effect of grazing was only significant when grazing continued into spring (the case for 7.6% of the area sampled). In addition, the exclosure experiments indicated that plots grazed both winter and spring had a protein content 9% lower than ungrazed plots. While these figures express an economic loss to the affected farmers, our findings also indicate that substantial economic impacts from grazing waterfowl on winter wheat was rare in our study area. This may also be the case elsewhere in the temperate region, when most waterfowl abandon crop foraging in due time to allow for compensatory growth in late spring, and as long as the early developmental stages survive the early impacts from grazing. A substantial scaring effort had only a limited effect on grain yield loss when fields were grazed during spring, but seemed to prevent damage on fields that were grazed only during winter. Future decision-making in relation to the waterfowl-agriculture conflict may benefit from studies looking in-depth at the costs and benefits associated with scaring efforts. • Waterfowl grazing reduced winter wheat crop height during winter and early spring. • Compensatory growth of winter wheat led to no differences in crop height at harvest. • Effects of grazing on grain yield varied from non-significant to a reduction of 6%. • Spring grazing led to a 9% reduction in protein content of the wheat grain. • Organized scaring of waterfowl had little impact on the amount of damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bird damage to agricultural crops is an important cause of economic loss for farmers worldwide. Predictive habitat models relating bird abundance and damage to characteristics of the agricultural environment at multiple scales are a key tool for designing management programs to reduce impacts of birds on agricultural production. In this study, we explored habitat features influencing abundance and damage of monk parakeets ( Myiopsitta monachus ) to corn ( Zea mays ) and sunflower ( Helianthus annuus ) fields, as a basis for the design and evaluation of management strategies for preventing damage in the future. Using a multi-level approach, we evaluated within-field, field, and landscape variables at three spatial scales potentially related to monk parakeet abundance and damage in crop fields. Monk parakeet abundance and damage was greater in sunflower than in corn fields. Landscape variables, such as distance to nearest site with trees, percentage of landscape with trees, and availability of foraging sites for monk parakeets around the crop fields were more important than local variables in explaining monk parakeet damage to crop fields. However, local variables, such as field area, plant density and percentage of field border with trees, also were related to damage. Relationships varied depending on the crop under consideration and spatial scale of analysis. Based on this study, managers should consider both local and landscape factors when planning management measures to prevent bird damage to crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Wildlife causes extensive crop damage throughout much of North America and these shared feeds are a key risk factor in the transmission of diseases between wildlife and livestock, including bovine tuberculosis (TB). Predicting wildlife use of agricultural crops can provide insight directed toward targeted disease mitigation at areas of potential indirect interaction. In this study, we quantified use of hay bales by elk (Cervus canadensis) during the winter in southwestern Manitoba, Canada using a database of 952 damage claims paid compensation from 1994 to 2012. We evaluated environmental factors predicted to determine risk of hay bale damage on each quarter section by elk using a Resource Selection Probability Function (RSPF) model. The most important variables (as measured for each quarter section and based on cumulative Akaike weights that scale from 0 to 1) were distance to protected areas (1.00), forest including a buffer around the quarter section (1.00), forage crop including a buffer around the quarter section (1.00), distance from streams (0.99), forage crop (0.92), cereal and oilseed crop cover including a buffer (0.85), and forest cover (0.82). We then developed an RSPF-based predictive map of damage to hay bales by elk that identified key areas with high probability of damage (RSPF≥0.6), accounting for 3.5% of the study area. We then multiplied the RSPF values by the inverse of the proximity to known cases of TB positive elk and determined that 0.51% of the study area had an overall high combined probability of hay bale damage and proximity to TB positive elk (i.e. adjusted probability of ≥0.6). In the southern half of the study area where 164 hay yard barrier fences have been implemented since 2002, there has been a significant decrease in the number of annual claims. Barrier fencing around Riding Mountain National Park has been successful at reducing elk damage where it has been implemented. In our study area, prevalence of TB in both cattle (0.003%) and elk (0.89%) is very low, precluding conventional epidemiological analyses. In the absence of clear evidence of specific routes of TB transmission, we advocate that on-farm risk assessments and mitigation efforts should continue to address areas where elk cause damage to hay bales in winter using barrier fencing. Mitigation effort should especially focus on areas where TB positive elk have been identified, as these sites provide potential for indirect interaction between cattle and elk. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In areas of subsistence agriculture, a variety of soil conservation methods have been implemented in the last few decades to improve crop yields, however these can have unintended consequences such as providing habitat for rodent pests. We studied rodent population dynamics and estimated crop damage in high and low stone bund density fields for four cropping seasons in Tigray highlands, northern Ethiopia. Stone bunds are physical structures for soil and water conservation, and potentially habitat for rodents. We used a general model to relate the proportion of crop damage to rodent abundance, stone bund density and crop stages. Generally, rodent abundance remained relatively low during the study period, except during the fourth quarter of the 2010 cropping season. We found a positive correlation between rodent abundance and crop damage, and significant variation in rodent abundance and crop damage between high and low stone bund density fields. Furthermore, crop damage also varied significantly between crop stages. We concluded that Mastomys awashensis (Lavrenchenko, Likhnova and Baskevich, 1998) and Arvicanthis dembeensis (Ruppel, 1842) were the two most important crop pests in Tigray highlands causing significant damage. Fields with high stone bund density (∼10m average distance apart) harbor more rodents and endure a significantly higher proportion of crop damage compared to fields with lower stone bund density (∼15m average distance apart). The fact that rodent abundances peaked during the reproductive stage of the crop and around harvest implies the need for management intervention before these crop stages are attained. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Wildlife repellents can be part of non-lethal management strategies to reduce the negative impacts of wildlife to property, agricultural production, and human health and safety. Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are associated with negative impacts in all three of these areas. Anthraquinone is a useful avian repellent and its utility as a mammalian repellent is still being explored. Our objective was to evaluate laboratory efficacy of an anthraquinone-based repellent for raccoons using different concentrations. We fed captive raccoons whole corn treated at 0.5%, 1%, 1.5% and 2% anthraquinone and examined their behavioral response related to feeding repellency including consumption and change in duration related to approach, interaction and extended interaction with the feed bowl. Feeding repellency was 26–37% for whole corn treated with 0.5–1.5% anthraquinone and 71% for whole corn treated with 2% anthraquinone. Interaction duration among the treatments varied (p = 0.005) with a longer interaction duration with the food bowl at 2% anthraquinone compared to 0.5% anthraquinone. However, the addition of anthraquinone did not significantly alter behaviors of approach, interaction, or extended interaction between pretreatment and treatment for the raccoons within treatments. The decreases in consumption that we observed warrant development of further research and field evaluation regarding anthraquinone as a deterrent with raccoons or to repel vertebrate competitors from raccoon specific baits. • Adding anthraquinone, a repellent, on corn impacted raccoon feeding. • Anthraquinone concentration at 0.5–1.5% resulted in 26–37% feeding repellency. • Increasing anthraquinone concentration to 2% increased feeding repellency to 71%. • Raccoons had longer interaction at 2% than at 0.5% anthraquinone concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large carnivores are making remarkable comebacks in Europe, but how this affects human-wildlife conflict remains unclear. Rebounding carnivore populations lead to increasing livestock depredation, which in turn leads to greater economic losses for farmers. However, returning carnivores could also influence the behavior of wild ungulates, which are themselves responsible for major crop damage and associated economic losses. Here, we exploit the natural experiment of a rebounding wolf population in the Italian Apennines to study how this affected both types of human-wildlife conflic. We used large datasets of wolf occurrences (n = 351), livestock depredation events (n = 165), and crop damage events by wild boar (n = 3442) to independently model the determinants of livestock depredation and crop damage distribution in relation to wolf habitat suitability over a ten-year period of increasing wolf numbers. These analyses yielded two major insights. First, livestock depredations were mainly related to insufficient prevention measures (e.g. lacking fencing) rather than landscape context, providing a clear pathway to conflict mitigation. Second, crop damage decreased in areas of higher wolf habitat suitability and became more likely in areas of lower wolf habitat suitability, closer to settlements. This suggests increasing predation pressure forces wild boars to avoid the most suitable wolf habitat, leading to a redistribution of crop damage in the landscape. More generally, our study highlights complex human-wildlife interactions as large carnivores recover in human-dominated landscapes, suggesting that multiple, co-occurring conflicts need to be assessed jointly and adaptively in order to foster coexistence between humans and wildlife. • Livestock depredation by wolves mainly determined by a lack of preventative measures • Crop damage decreased in areas of high wolf habitat suitability • Rebounding wolf population influenced several human-wildlife conflicts • Strategies aimed at coexistence need to consider trophic interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild ungulates are a major consumer of agricultural crops in human dominated landscapes. Across Europe, ungulate populations are leading to intensified human-wildlife conflicts. At the same time, ungulates play a vital role in the structuring and functioning of ecosystems, and are highly appreciated for recreational hunting. Thus, managers often face the challenge of maintaining the benefits of having thriving ungulate populations while simultaneously minimizing their negative impacts. Broadcasting playbacks of predator vocalizations (e.g. dogs barking, wolves howling or humans talking) could potentially be used to induce fear and thereby displace or steer behavior of ungulates from conflict-prone sites resulting in reduced visitation and foraging time and consumption. Predator playback experiments in wilderness areas have repeatedly demonstrated to reduce the preys´ resource use and impacts on the surrounding landscape, but this has not been tested in agricultural fields where human-ungulate conflicts are most pronounced. We responded to this need by conducting a predator playback experiment in multiple crop fields in southern Sweden, where multiple ungulate species (fallow deer, roe deer, red deer, moose, wild boar) coexist, using a novel integrated camera trap – speaker system (ABRs) that broadcasts sounds of choice when a camera is triggered by an ungulate. Predator playbacks (wolf, dog, human) reduced deer patch use and crop damage on wheat fields more than playbacks of control sounds (owl, goose, raven). Our results confirm findings from previous studies in wilderness areas, and demonstrate that broadcasting predator playbacks using ABRs may provide an effective tool to reduce crop damage at the scale and duration of our study. Predator vocalization (human, wolf, dog) broadcasted by integrated camera trap – speaker systems (ABRs) reduced crop damage and patch use by ungulates on vulnerable wheat fields. Ungulates responded most strongly to human vocalizations. [Display omitted] • Predator vocalizations reduced patch use and crop damage by ungulates. • Ungulates responded most strongly to human voices. • Playback systems (ABRs) are a promising tool to reduce negative impact by wildlife. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In the western Negev desert of Israel frequent sandstorms cause heavy damage to young lettuce, carrot, peanut and potato plants during the planting season. The damage of plants is based mainly on the mechanical impact of saltating sand particles, which causes irreversible injuries to the plant leaves. Current agro-technique measures taken to prevent wind damage to crop in Israel are based on high frequency irrigation. Although the high-frequency irrigation helps bind soil particles together by forming a soil crust, it is associated with the large waste of water, which is not practical under the arid conditions. Application of polyacrylamide (PAM) as a chemical stabilizer has proved to be effective for prevention of soil erosion, saving irrigation water and a stable growth of plants in the early stages. Although the technique of PAM application is not yet used commercially in Israel, the preliminary studies suggested that it might have the potential to reduce the damage to the plant leaves by sandstorms, providing both environmental and agricultural benefits. In this study the effectiveness of PAM for preventing sandstorms in the western Negev was also investigated. Optimal concentration and volume of PAM solution per hectare of bare sandy soil were determined. For this purpose a wind tunnel was used to determine wind velocities of the first and continuous detachment of particles. The ability of PAM application to minimize the damage of plants by sandstorms was experimentally verified using image analysis tools. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Populations of wild boar (Sus scrofa Linnaeus, 1758) and reports of crop damage by them have increased in Japan. In considering strategies for damage control, it is necessary to quantify both the environmental factors and the countermeasures affecting damage. We surveyed damage by wild boar in 1540 rice paddies on the Boso Peninsula. We obtained environmental factors by GIS: distance from forest edges, rivers and settlements; overground openness; and human population density. We recorded the weeding and fencing practices as countermeasures. We constructed cumulative logit models using Bayesian inference to predict damage and assessed the importance of the simultaneous evaluation of environmental factors and countermeasures by deviance information criteria. The best model incorporated both environmental factors and countermeasures, indicating that both are important for predicting damage. It showed that weeding around rice paddies, electric fencing and corrugated iron fencing were effective at reducing damage by wild boar. The risk of damage increased with lower values of distance from forest edges and rivers, overground openness, and human population density, and with higher values of distance from roads. These environmental factors allowed us to identify high-risk cropland where countermeasures could be introduced to reduce damage. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A survey of the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of 100 rice farmers and 50 coconut farmers was conducted in the coastal lowland agro-ecosystems of the Sierra Madre Biodiversity Corridor, Luzon, Philippines to identify current rodent management practices and to understand the extent of rat damage and the attitudes of farmers to community actions for rodent management. Pests were most commonly listed as one of the three most important rice and coconut production constraints. Other major crop production constraints were typhoons and insufficient water. Farmers consider rats to be the major pest of coconut and of rice during the wet season rice crop, with average yield losses of 3.0% and 13.2%, respectively. Rice and coconut farmers practised a wide range of rodent management techniques. These included scrub clearance, hunting and trapping. Of the 42 rice farmers and 3 coconut farmers that applied rodenticides to control rodents, all used the acute rodenticide, zinc phosphide. However, only ten rice farmers (23.8%) applied rodenticides prior to the booting stage and only seven farmers (15.6%) conducted pre-baiting before applying zinc phosphide. The majority of farmers belonged to farmer organisations and believed that rat control can only be done by farmers working together. However, during the last cropping season, less than a third of rice farmers (31.2%) applied rodent management as a group. In order to reduce the impact of rodents on the farmers of the coastal lowlands of the Sierra Madre Biodiversity Corridor, integrated management strategies need to be developed that specifically target the pest rodents in a sustainable manner, and community actions for rodent management should be promoted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Human-wildlife conflicts often spur retaliatory killing, which may be a major threat to some wildlife species. Asiatic black bears depredate crops and livestock and also attack humans. We investigated whether human–bear conflicts in Sichuan Province, southwestern China, resulted in increased bear poaching. We conducted semi-structured interviews within 429 15×15-km cells across the province, asking villagers about bear occurrence, population trends, attitudes toward bears, human–bear conflicts, responses to bear damage, and bear poaching. Bears raided crops (n =174 cells), killed livestock (n =114 cells), and attacked people (n =49 cells). Fifty percent and 43% of villagers held negative and neutral attitudes toward bears, respectively; attitudes were more negative among people who had previous interactions with bears or lived where bear encounters were more likely. Although killing bears was illegal, villagers in 117 cells (38%) indicated that bear poaching occurred around their villages. However, killing bears was not significantly linked to damage: indeed, killing was more common in areas without human–bear conflicts. Poachers killed bears mainly for trade of their valuable parts (gall bladder and paws, 78.5%). Tibetan people experienced bear damage and also had negative attitudes toward bears, but reported less poaching than Han or Yi people, due to their religious beliefs. Our study indicated that human-wildlife conflicts shaped people’s attitudes toward bears, but strong economic incentives, not attitudes, prompted illegal killing. Whereas mitigation of human–bear conflicts could help foster more positive attitudes toward bears and the nature reserves that protect bears, this strategy will not remove the primary threat against this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevated concentrations of ground-level ozone (O3) are frequently measured over farmland regions in many parts of the world. While numerous experimental studies show that O3 can significantly decrease crop productivity, independent verifications of yield losses at current ambient O3 concentrations in rural locations are sparse. In this study, soybean crop yield data during a 5-year period over the Midwest of the United States were combined with ground and satellite O3 measurements to provide evidence that yield losses on the order of 10% could be estimated through the use of a multiple linear regression model. Yield loss trends based on both conventional ground-based instrumentation and satellite-derived tropospheric O3 measurements were statistically significant and were consistent with results obtained from open-top chamber experiments and an open-air experimental facility (SoyFACE, Soybean Free Air Concentration Enrichment) in central Illinois. Our analysis suggests that such losses are a relatively new phenomenon due to the increase in background tropospheric O3 levels over recent decades. Extrapolation of these findings supports previous studies that estimate the global economic loss to the farming community of more than $10 billion annually. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Rodents are a severe and chronic pest for farmers in the upland farming system of Lao PDR where upland rice is the predominant subsistence crop. Farmers participated in developing and implementing a series of ecologically-based rodent management (EBRM) strategies designed to reduce the impact of rodents in their upland farming system. These were tested in replicated Treatment and Reference sites in two provinces of northern Laos. A survey was conducted with farmers to determine their knowledge, attitudes and practices prior to and after the implementation of EBRM. This paper reports on the results of the post-implementation survey and compares results with the pre-implementation survey. The survey revealed that rodents remained the most important pest for these farmers. The mean estimated yield loss of upland rice was 12%. There was a significant reduction in the yield loss from pre- to post-treatment, but the time by treatment interaction was not significant. Trapping rodents in the fields remained the most important control strategy for these farmers and also was considered the most effective method. There was an increase in effort expended by farmers in controlling rodents post-treatment on Treatment sites in Luang Namtha, but no difference for other sites. The money spent on controlling rodents was lower on all sites post-treatment except for Treatment sites in Luang Namtha. Farmers on the Treatment sites in Luang Namtha had the lowest effort during the pre-treatment period and thought they needed to increase their rodent management efforts because of their involvement in this project. As a result of the project, farmers were more aware of the problems of rodents and were interested in adopting EBRM strategies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Soil injection of animal slurry is increasingly being used to mitigate odour and ammonia (NH3) emissions, but in order to perform injection in fields with growing cereal crops, injectors that have a greater working width than the existing equipment are needed. To reduce crop damage, a disc injector can be used, but due to the need for a high vertical load a simple tine is used in conjunction with the discs, to penetrate the soil more easily. This study investigates how to reduce horizontal and vertical forces when operating the combination of a double disc and tine injector. An experimental force-measuring system was built with the purpose of making simultaneous force measurements in both field and soil bin studies. Two experiments were carried out in a soil bin facility in order to find the optimal placement of the tine in relation to the discs and the best working depths for the tine and discs. A field study was also done to evaluate the amount of crop damage caused by operating a prototype injector in a growing winter wheat crop. The measuring system was found to provide very reliable data. To reduce horizontal and vertical forces, as well as crop damage, it was found that running the double discs at approximately 40mm and the tine at 100mm below the soil surface gave the best results. The tine should be placed as close as practically possible to the discs, with a rake angle of 40°. At this adjustment the horizontal force demand was reduced to 30–40% of what has been reported for comparable injectors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Winter canola ( Brassica napus L.) is considered the most promising domestically-produced oilseed feedstock for biodiesel production and for diversifying wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.)-based cropping systems in the Inland Pacific Northwest, USA. Winter canola field experiments conducted in east-central Washington were completely destroyed, and commercial fields were damaged or destroyed, over several years by large flocks of horned larks ( Eremophilia alperestis L.) that ate the cotyledon leaves of pre-emerged and newly-emerged seedlings. Numerous control methods were attempted in field experiments, including laying bird netting over the entire experiment, placement of a life-size predator decoy in a field experiment, loud propane-powered cannon blasts, and mixing garlic with canola seed before planting followed by spraying garlic water on the soil surface. None of the attempted control methods were successful. This is the first report in the literature of horned lark damage to pre-emerged and newly-emerged canola seedlings. We discuss questions relevant to our novel account as well as potential abatement using falcons and non-toxic chemical repellents for the protection of industrial canola crops associated with horned lark depredation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Hail numerical and physical parameters are examined for an assessment of frequency, spatial and temporal distribution and intensity of hailfalls in Central Macedonia periphery, Northern Greece. Data from weather stations of the Hellenic National Meteorological Service (HNMS) indicated a mean yearly point frequency varying between 1 and 2 hail days for Central Macedonia. Crop insurance data from the Hellenic National Agricultural Insurance Organization (ELGA) showed a mean regional frequency of 22.3 hail days for the total cultivated area of Central Macedonia, about 6,500 km2, for the warm season, from April to September. Hailpad data representing almost one third of the total cultivated area of Central Macedonia, indicated a regional average of 8 hail days and 45 hailpads recording hail for the warm season. Spatial analysis over the hailpad area revealed a large variability of hail occurrence, with local maxima at the higher altitude and close to mountain barrier areas and a decreasing frequency over areas closer to the sea. The size distribution of a sample of 22,000 hailstones measured by the hailpads, showed a great majority, of 85.7%, having diameters up to 11 mm. An inter-comparison of hail impact energies according to crop damaging potential indicated Central Macedonia hailfalls as the less intense compared to those of areas of Northern America. Application of the revised TORRO hail intensity scale extending to classes from H0 to H10, permitted a classification of Central Macedonia hailfalls appropriate for comparisons and correspondence between areas and countries about the severity and damaging of hailfalls. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper we evaluate the global impact of surface ozone on four types of agricultural crop. The study is based on modelled global hourly ozone fields for the year 2000 and 2030, using the global 1°×1° 2-way nested atmospheric chemical transport model (TM5). Projections for the year 2030 are based on the relatively optimistic “current legislation (CLE) scenario”, i.e. assuming that currently approved air quality legislation will be fully implemented by the year 2030, without a further development of new abatement policies. For both runs, the relative yield loss due to ozone damage is evaluated based on two different indices (accumulated concentration above a 40ppbV threshold and seasonal mean daytime ozone concentration respectively) on a global, regional and national scale. The cumulative metric appears to be far less robust than the seasonal mean, while the seasonal mean shows satisfactory agreement with measurements in Europe, the US, China and Southern India and South-East Asia. Present day global relative yield losses are estimated to range between 7% and 12% for wheat, between 6% and 16% for soybean, between 3% and 4% for rice, and between 3% and 5% for maize (range resulting from different metrics used). Taking into account possible biases in our assessment, introduced through the global application of “western” crop exposure–response functions, and through model performance in reproducing ozone-exposure metrics, our estimates may be considered as being conservative. Under the 2030 CLE scenario, the global situation is expected to deteriorate mainly for wheat (additional 2–6% loss globally) and rice (additional 1–2% loss globally). India, for which no mitigation measures have been assumed by 2030, accounts for 50% of these global increase in crop yield loss. On a regional-scale, significant reductions in crop losses by CLE-2030 are only predicted in Europe (soybean) and China (wheat). Translating these assumed yield losses into total global economic damage for the four crops considered, using world market prices for the year 2000, we estimate an economic loss in the range $14–$26 billion. About 40% of this damage is occurring in China and India. Considering the recent upward trends in food prices, the ozone-induced damage to crops is expected to offset a significant portion of the GDP growth rate, especially in countries with an economy based on agricultural production. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: Private enterprises are active in conservation initiatives in Africa. Some of these enterprises have long-term licences for the development of conservation areas. The motivation of these organisations to participate in conservation is ultimately determined by the economic output of their activities. An electric fence is being constructed in the Maputo Elephant Reserve, Mozambique. A costs-benefit analysis was carried out, in order to assist in the optimisation of the management activities of the elephant population, based on elephant population size, fence costs, crop raid costs, elephant poaching, and benefits derived from tourism (game-viewing and hunting). Tourist numbers increased with increasing elephant density through a concave utility function. Optimal harvest/hunting strategies were calculated from optimal control theory, using dynamic optimisation (Pontryagin''s Maximum Principle). Poaching and raid costs could be compared to fence construction costs at different elephant population sizes. Costs generated through elephant poaching and elephant crop raid costs were higher than fence construction costs at a population size >100. Elephant hunting was a less favourable activity, economically and ecologically, than elephant viewing, due to the large game-viewing profits per elephant. Only if the licence fee increases from US$6500 to 28,500 would hunting become attractive, although ecological and economical constraints would probably prevent the development of hunting activities in the area. The assumed resource price of elephant (US$5000) was lower than the marginal value derived from tourism, indicating that elephants should be bought until the maximum stocking rate is reached. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: There are increasing demands for non-lethal methods of resolving foraging conflict between people and a wide range of wildlife species. Badgers make good models for studying human–wildlife conflict resolution, and they epitomise the circumstances driving research in this field; they cause millions of pounds worth of crop damage each year in England and Wales, and yet they are protected legally from culling. In anticipation of future field conditioning trials, we set out here to identify the minimum concentration of the repellent ziram for inhibiting badger damage to maize. We believe this to be the first study to investigate the dose-dependent effects of a repellent on a wild free-ranging population of mammals. We adapted a multi-choice design to test the acceptability to free-ranging badgers of maize cobs treated topically with a range of ziram concentrations (0–5.3% (w/w)). We used video surveillance to obtain detailed behavioural observations of individually identifiable animals. The seven badgers that ate maize during the trial did not discriminate between treatments on the first night on which they fed. However, on subsequent nights, most of these badgers either failed to return to experimental sites or returned without feeding. These animals may have developed learned aversions to ziram after a single night''s exposure. Two individuals visited and fed throughout the study, and demonstrated a clear negative dose-dependent response that reached a plateau at a ziram concentration of 1.3% (w/w). This effect was evident in both individual behavioural data and the proportion of cobs suffering badger damage. Our aim was to identify an optimal (threshold) concentration of ziram for deterring badger feeding on maize; we conclude that maize cobs should be treated at approximately 1.3–1.5% (w/w), by topical application of a 10% (w/v) ziram paste. A field experiment of similar design could provide a model starting point for research with other species, repellents and food substrates. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The economic impact of blackbirds can be severe to rice producers in the United States. One approach to managing this damage is the application of bird-deterrent chemical to the crop. Previous pilot trials suggested that caffeine offered potential as a safe, economical bird repellent. In this study, cage feeding trials with female red-winged blackbirds and male brown-headed cowbirds confirmed that a treatment rate of 2500ppm caffeine on rice seed reduced consumption as much as 76%. Trials with mixed species blackbird flocks in a 0.2-ha flight pen resulted in just 4% loss of caffeine-treated rice compared to 43% loss of untreated rice. Field trials of a 10,000ppm caffeine treatment in Louisiana revealed >90% of caffeine-treated rice seed remained unconsumed on days 2 and 3 of the study whereas blackbirds consumed >80% of the untreated seed. As a rice seed treatment to deter blackbirds, caffeine appears to be effective, economical and environmentally safe, although additional aquatic toxicity testing is desirable. Improvements in formulation will be needed to make the compound practical for general agricultural spray applications and to extend the adherence of caffeine to rice seeds in field conditions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The efficacy of mating disruption of pink bollworm Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) was evaluated by monitoring its population with pheromone baited traps as well as by sampling flowers and bolls to record damage levels in cotton fields in 1988 and 1989, in central Greece. PB-rope dispensers were used at a rate of 1000 per hectare in the treated fields, each field covered an area of 10 and 15ha in the first and second year, respectively. These treated fields were compared with control fields in which 2–3 insecticide sprays were applied. The dispensers reduced pink bollworm catches in pheromone traps and reduced crop damage. The direction of cotton rows in relation to the prevailing wind had a significant effect on moth catches and needs to be taken into account when using dispensers. Mating disruption was effective in preventing damage when applied early season, but damage levels were not proportionally reduced in relation to the reduction of trap catches. Sufficient gossyplure for reducing moth catches in the traps was in pheromone dispensers even 90 days in the field. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Lake Miyajimanuma, in central Hokkaido, is an important stopover site for white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons) wintering in Japan. In this area, increasing numbers of the geese are causing damage to wheat crops. The effects of several factors on the unconsumed density of food resources in rice fields, their main foraging site, were investigated with a view to propose a method for reducing damage. It is shown that unconsumed rice grain density increased with decreasing distance from houses, roads and windbreaks, which seemed to act as disturbance factors. Unconsumed rice density was also affected by the type of harvester used, probably because of the difference in net intake rate between the sites where different types of harvester operated. It is recommended that rice fields be harvested using the current machinery, and located further from houses, roads and windbreaks, wheat fields being located nearer to houses, roads and windbreaks. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Riparian strips prevent river bank erosion, help to maintain water quality, and contribute to the maintenance of biodiversity in agro-ecosystems. These areas are often perceived by farmers as potential breeding habitats of animals and plants that are harmful to crops. Consequently, the vegetation in riparian strips is periodically subjected to grazing, mowing, burning and/or herbicide spraying. Bird use was compared among six types of farmland riparian strips (grazed, grassy herbaceous, non-grassy herbaceous, low shrubby, tall shrubby, and wooded) in the agricultural landscape of southern Que´bec (Canada). These strip types constituted a gradient with respect to plant diversity, vegetal structure, and plant cover control or disturbance. The objectives of this study were to document the avian communities of these riparian strip habitats to determine (1) their respective contribution to bird conservation and (2) their role as potential breeding habitats for crop damaging bird species. Bird abundance and species richness were greater in the wooded and tall shrubby strips than in the other riparian strips. Abundance of crop damaging species was significantly greater in wooded strips than in any other type; however, Red-winged Blackbirds, the most abundant bird species recorded and the species most likely to damage crops in the study area, did not differ in abundance among the six strip types, nor in adjacent crop fields. Diversified riparian strip habitats that include trees and tall shrubs can contribute to the preservation of avian diversity in agricultural landscapes, without providing significant breeding habitats for birds harmful to agriculture. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

During 2000–2001, small mammals, birds, and potential corn/soybean damage were studied at a low-tillage, non-irrigated agricultural research site in the Colorado Piedmont. A small mammal survey involved four trapping sessions and 18, 12-live-trap grids each. Within years, two grids each were placed at random, fixed locations in experimental corn, fallow, millet, pea, soybean, sunflower, and wheat plots at the site; two off-plot grids each were set at random, fixed locations <100 m from the north and south edge of these plots. In 2001, periodic bird observations were conducted, and damage to corn and soybean plants was assessed. Capture rates were low during all trap sessions (range 0.1%–3.3%,X¯=2.2%). Sixty-three small mammals were captured and 39 were recaptured. Captures included deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus), northern grasshopper mouse (Onychomys leucogaster), thirteen-lined ground squirrel (Spermophilus tridecemlineatus), and western harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys megalotis). Deer mice accounted for 56 of the initial captures (88.9%). In-crop captures (n=15) and recaptures (n=16) were most frequent in wheat plots. Bird counts were low and included horned lark (Eremophila alpestris), killdeer plover (Charadrius vociferus), lark bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys), mountain plover (Charadrius montanus), mourning dove (Zenaida macroura), and western meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta). No direct seed removal, sprout removal, or plant clipping by small mammals or birds was observed, but some clipping of soybean plants was attributed to deer (Odocoileus virginianus and O. hemionus) and jack rabbits (Lepus townsendii or L. californicus). Plant debris accumulation is viewed as a key factor determining small mammal abundance and potential damage in low-till agriculture. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Experiments between 1996 and 1997 at the Manga Research Station in the Sudan savanna zone of Ghana on the effects of millet variety and date of sowing on the incidence of diapause in Coniesta ignefusalis showed that only the late millet variety Zaa supported C. ignefusalis larval diapause. Early millet was not important in supporting dry season survival of the insect. Delayed planting tended to increase the incidence of diapause, resulting in significantly higher numbers of diapausing larvae in millet stalks at the end of the growing season. Grain yields also declined with delayed planting. Diapausing larvae were extracted from plants of different ages during mid-November each year, suggesting that age of the host plant may not be the main factor inducing diapause development in this insect. The practical implications of these findings are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Recent flooding and heavy precipitation events in the US and worldwide have caused great damage to crop production. If the frequency of these weather extremes were to increase in the near future, as recent trends for the US indicate and as projected by global climate models (e.g., US National Assessment, Overview Report, 2001, The Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change, National Assesment Synthesis Team, US Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC; Houghton et al., 2001, IPCC Climate Change 2001: The Scientific Basis, Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 335pp.), the cost of crop losses in the coming decades could rise dramatically. Yet current assessments of the impacts of climate change on agriculture have not quantified the negative effects on crop production from increased heavy precipitation and flooding (Impacts of climate change and variability on agriculture, in: US National Assessment Foundation Document, 2001. National Assessment Synthesis Team, US Global Change Research Program, Washington DC.). In this work, we modify a dynamic crop model in order to simulate one important effect of heavy precipitation on crop growth, plant damage from excess soil moisture. We compute that US corn production losses due to this factor, already significant under current climate, may double during the next thirty years, causing additional damages totaling an estimated $3 billion per year. These costs may either be borne directly by those impacted or transferred to private or governmental insurance and disaster relief programs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Cereal crop farmers in the Western Cape province of South Africa regard the Egyptian Goose as a serious pest. The Agulhas Plain, in particular, attracts thousands of geese annually primarily because of the abundance and availability of nutritious crops such as wheat Triticum spp. and barley Hordeum spp. for food and permanent water bodies for roosting, moulting and breeding. Therefore, this paper investigates the population dynamics and physical and financial impacts to cereal crops of the Egyptian Goose on the Agulhas Plain, Western Cape. Egyptian Geese inflict damage during three main periods, viz. soon after sowing (surface seeds); young, developing plants (growing plants); and cut plants stacked in windrows (long, linear piles) to dry. The largest numbers of geese were recorded during June and July when they foraged on growing plants less than 25 cm tall. Overall, the mean yield loss was 65.6% in 1997 and 63.5% in 1998. Fields suffering greatest yield loss in 1997 and 1998 were generally those within 600 m of the roosting sites and had about 300 geese grazing on them on areas of around 2 ha in size for about 2 months. By August, geese moved from croplands on to pastures. During October and November, geese once again fed primarily on barley seeds in harvested crops stacked in windrows. Damage by geese to farmers was estimated to be >2.5 and 7% of annual revenue received from barley and wheat farming, in 1997 and 1998, respectively. There are many variables that need to be considered when attempting to quantify and explain damage to cereal crops by Egyptian Geese. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]