| Popis: |
This chapter introduces the scope and significance of biological control. It is important to place the forms of biological control in the context of animal and plant protection schemes often discussed today. The true biological control is considered as one that is self-sustaining or partially so and that is achieved by parasites, predators, and pathogens, including antagonists of plant pathogens. There are three recognized forms of biological control: one that is naturally self-sustained, one in which augmentation is utilized, and one that uses conservation of natural enemies through management practices. This chapter also deals with theories and mechanisms of natural population regulation covering single-species populations, interspecific competition, host–parasitoid systems, host–pathogen systems, and multispecies systems. The principal aim of biological control is the reduction of negative impact of pest species, including both pest suppression and pest regulation. The dynamic behavior involved can be one with a density-dependent nature for the pest and the natural enemy, and can involve specific search behavior, more than a single natural enemy, the patchiness of the environment, and both behavioral and stochastic interactions. |
