@article{fdi:010079516,
  title = {{E}valuating the link between predation and pest control services in the mite world},
  author = {{R}oy, {L}. and {T}audiere, {A}. and {P}apaix, {J}. and {B}latrix, {R}. and {C}hiron, {G}. and {Z}riki, {G}. and {B}onato, {O}livier and {B}arnagaud, {J}. {Y}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{P}est regulation by natural enemies has a strong potential to reduce the use of synthetic pesticides in agroecosystems. {H}owever, the effective role of predation as an ecosystem service remains largely speculative, especially with minute organisms such as mites. {P}redatory mites are natural enemies for ectoparasites in livestock farms. {W}e tested for an ecosystem level control of the poultry pest {D}ermanyssus gallinae by other mites naturally present in manure in poultry farms and investigated differences among farming practices (conventional, free-range, and organic). {W}e used a multiscale approach involving (a) in vitro behavioral predation experiments, (b) arthropod inventories in henhouses with airborne {DNA}, and (c) a statistical model of covariations in mite abundances comparing farming practices. {B}ehavioral experiments revealed that three mites are prone to feed on {D}. gallinae. {A}ccordingly, we observed covariations between the pest and these three taxa only, in airborne {DNA} at the henhouse level, and in mites sampled from manure. {I}n most situations, covariations in abundances were high in magnitude and their sign was positive. {P}redation on a pest happens naturally in livestock farms due to predatory mites. {H}owever, the complex dynamics of mite trophic network prevents the emergence of a consistent assemblage-level signal of predation. {B}ased on these results, we suggest perspectives for mite-based pest control and warn against any possible disruption of ignored services through the application of veterinary drugs or pesticides.},
  keywords = {animal farming ; assemblage dynamics ; biological control ; ecosystem services ; predation ; trophic interactions},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{E}cology and {E}volution},
  volume = {10},
  numero = {18},
  pages = {9968--9980},
  ISSN = {2045-7758},
  year = {2020},
  DOI = {10.1002/ece3.6655},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010079516},
}