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The role of birds as predators and potential biocontrol agents of insect pests in corn fields /

This project investigated the impact of bird predation on insect pest populations within two cornfields of Southwestern Quebec. Birds were excluded from portions of these fields through the use of bird-proof netting. Rhopalosiphum maidis, Ostrinia nubilalis, Agrotis spp. and Sphenophorus spp. were all found at greater densities in plots where birds were excluded as compared with the non covered plots. Only the adult Diabrotica longicornis population was not reduced by birds. Results significantly suggest that birds can reduce insect pest populations. Bird visits in cornfields with respect to distance from field edge, type of edge habitat and corn phenology were also studied. Red-winged Blackbird, Song and Chipping Sparrows and American Robin were the most frequently observed bird species inside cornfields. Early in the summer, birds tended to stay closer to the field edge, especially when composed of mature coniferous trees. Different bird species visited the cornfields at specific periods during corn development.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.21657
Date January 1999
CreatorsTremblay, Annie C.
ContributorsStewart, R. K. (advisor), Mineau, P. (advisor)
PublisherMcGill University
Source SetsLibrary and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation
Formatapplication/pdf
CoverageMaster of Science (Department of Natural Resource Sciences.)
RightsAll items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated.
Relationalephsysno: 001657821, proquestno: MQ50898, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest.

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