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Predator–prey Systems with Mites 1)
Author(s) -
RABBINGE R.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
eppo bulletin
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.327
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 1365-2338
pISSN - 0250-8052
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2338.1979.tb02269.x
Subject(s) - predator , predation , spider mite , bionomics , biology , population , spider , ecology , mite , abiotic component , larva , demography , sociology
Population models of fruit tree red spider mite and predatory mite are given, which are used to explain the regulation of spider mites by predatory mites and may be used to manage spider mite systems in apple orchards. The models are based on extensive experimental knowledge of the bionomics of prey and predator. A detailed analysis of the prey–predator relations on the individual level paved the way for the development of prey–predator models on the population level. These models, based on the state variable approach, simulate the population fluctuations: of prey and predator in dependence of the changing abiotic factors during the season using time steps of a quarter of an hour and trace all state variables, as the number of eggs, larvae, adult females and gut content of the adult female predator. Verification of the models at different levels of integration showed good agreement between model output and the results of independent experiments, and this enabled a sensitivity analysis with the model. This sensitivity analysis showed the relative importance of different factors, so that management strategies to achieve tolerable prey–predator levels throughout the year may be developed.