United Kingdom
August 6, 2008
Aphids are emerging as sentinels
of climate change, researchers at
BBSRC-supported
Rothamsted Research
have shown. One of the UK's most damaging aphids – the
peach-potato aphid (Myzus persicae) – has been found to be
flying two weeks earlier for every 1°C rise in mean temperature
for January and February combined. This year, the first aphid
was caught on 25 April, which is almost four weeks ahead of the
42-year average. This work is reported in BBSRC Business, the
quarterly research highlights magazine of BBSRC (the
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council).
Dr Richard Harrington of the Rothamsted Insect Survey said: "One
of the most noticeable consequences of climate change in the UK
is the frequency of mild winters. As a direct result of this,
aphids seeking new sources of food are appearing significantly
earlier in the year and in significantly higher numbers. We have
been studying the seasonal biology of aphids for a long time now
and we know that populations can continue to grow over the
winter and spring provided that conditions are warm enough.
After a warm winter, there are much larger numbers flying and
they are hence detected much earlier. This means that there are
more aphids flying in spring and early summer, when crops are
particularly vulnerable to damage."
Scientists at Rothamsted Research have been monitoring the
flying form of all aphid species for 42 years. They use a
network of 16 suction traps (12 in England and 4 in Scotland),
placed at various sites, to collect a representative sample of
all flying insects. The long term data on aphids can be used to
understand the wider implications of climate change, and also to
prepare for the season ahead by determining the need for and
timing of aphid control measures (based on preceding winter
temperatures). As well as being important indicators of a
changing climate, aphids can cause devastating damage to crops.
They extract large amounts of sap, weakening the plant, and also
spread plant viruses. In addition, because the sap is very high
in sugars the aphids excrete very sticky honeydew, which can
encourage the growth of sooty moulds that build up and prevent
sunlight from reaching the leaves, causing further weakening.
Professor Nigel Brown, Director of Science and Technology, BBSRC
said: "Environmental change is one of the big challenges facing
the world today. These long-term data on the seasonal appearance
of flying aphids not only show that there are already noticeable
changes in the UK climate, but they also provide the knowledge
which will help to mitigate the consequences."
The Biotechnology and
Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is the UK
funding agency for research in the life sciences. Sponsored by
Government, BBSRC annually invests around £420 million in a wide
range of research that makes a significant contribution to the
quality of life for UK citizens and supports a number of
important industrial stakeholders including the agriculture,
food, chemical, healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors.
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