Mammals as BioContol Essays -- Environment Farming Agriculture Essays

Mammals as BioContol Biological control is a method of decreasing the population of pests that compete with vegetation. There are different methods of bio-control. Farmers use parasites, diseases, and predators as forms of bio-control in their fields. Sheep, goats, bats, cats, and mice are among the different mammals used for pest control. Sheep are used to control leafy spurge on many rangelands, and bats for controlling insects. We will discuss the benefits and downfalls of sheep and goats controlling unwanted weeds, and how a study has been done to prove that bats have made a huge difference in the population of insects that harm agricultural crops. Sheep and goats have both been used to control leafy spurge. Leafy spurge is very unpalatable for most animals, and therefore is only consumed by sheep and goats. This weed produces a large amount of seeds and reproduces quickly. Since it is a noxious weed, and isn’t useful for the production of crops, this becomes a problem that needs to be controlled. Sheep and goats will graze leafy spurge to decrease the spread of the plant, but won’t completely rid the population. The seeds can live through the digestive process and return to the soil in the form of feces. Not all seeds returned to the ground will germinate, but some will. Sheep are more effective than goats only because the seeds can travel through the goat’s system faster. Since the seeds have the potential to germinate after they have been eaten, the sheep and goats should be kept from areas that are free of leafy spurge for about five days to ensure they won’t be spreading it. Studies have also shown that lambs are useful in minimizing... ...Burning on Aristida ramosa and Sheep Productivity in Northern New South Wales." Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 39 (1999): 685-698. Long, Rachel Freeman. "Bats for Insect Biocontrol in Agriculture." The IPM Practitioner XVIII.Number 9 (1996): 1-6 May, Holly L. "NCRS." Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Wildlife. April 2004. NRCS. 03 Apr. 2005 . Mendalled, Fabian D., Paul C. Marino, Karen A. Renner, and Douglas A. Landis. "Post-Dispersal Weed Seed Predation in Michigan Crop Fields as a Function of Agricultural Landscape Structure." Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment 2002: 193-202. Williams, Shannon. Noxious Weed Grazing By Goats Demonstration Project. 2003. IMPACT University of Idaho. 03 Apr. 2005 .