In: Weed Technology, 2013, vol. 27, no. 2, p. 405–411
This study determined the potential of the tortoise beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) to control Canada thistle (Asteraceae) in Iran. Genetic analysis of the tortoise beetle, based on mitochondrial DNA, confirmed the presence of the species in Iran. A field experiment using five insect densities (0 to 20 larvae plant−1) showed a positive correlation between the number of larvae transferred and...
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In: NeoBiota, 2020, vol. 55, p. 117–146
One of the biggest challenges in classical biological control of invasive weeds is predicting the likelihood of success. Ambrosia artemisiifolia, a North American plant species that has become invasive in Europe, causes economic losses due to health problems resulting from its huge amount of highly allergenic pollen and as a weed to agricultural crops resulting from high seed densities. Here...
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In: Biological Control, 2020, vol. 150, p. 104356
In 2013, the North American oligophagous leaf beetle, Ophraella communa LeSage (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), was found in Europe for the first time. Recent studies in Northern Italy and Southern Switzerland record extensive defoliation by O. communa on its preferred host, common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. (Asteraceae, Tribe Heliantheae), and reductions in its flowering and seeding. In...
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In: Basic and Applied Ecology, 2006, vol. 7, no. 4, p. 347-359
The use of local seed provenances is often recommended in restoration and habitat creation because they are thought to be better adapted to local habitat conditions. However, spatial scales and the degree of population differentiation are not well known and germination is often not included in comparisons between provenances. We analysed germination as a key trait of plant development in five...
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In: Journal of Ecology, 2006, vol. 94, p. 1130-1142
1 Adaptation of plant populations to local environments has been shown in many species but local adaptation is not always apparent and spatial scales of differentiation are not well known. In a reciprocal transplant experiment we tested whether: (i) three widespread grassland species are locally adapted at a European scale; (ii) detection of local adaptation depends on competition with the...
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In: Restoration Ecology, 2009///doi:10.1111/j.1526-100X.2008.00454.x
The increased translocation of plant species for biodiversity restoration and habitat creation has provoked a debate on provenance and genotypic diversity of the used plant material. Nonlocal provenances are often not adapted to the local environmental conditions, and low population genotypic diversity may result in genetic bottlenecks hampering successful establishment. We tested provenance...
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In: Oikos, 2010, vol. 119, no. 3, p. 445-454
The maternal environment may contribute to population differentiation in offspring traits if growing conditions of mother plants are different. However, the magnitude of such environmental maternal effects compared with genetic differentiation is often not clear. We tested the importance of environmental maternal effects by comparing population differentiation in parental seed directly collected...
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In: Aerobiologia, 2016, vol. 32, no. 2, p. 371–374
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In: Aerobiologia, 2015, vol. 31, no. 4, p. 499–513
This study aims to determine whether a significant decrease in airborne concentrations of Ambrosia pollen witnessed in the north-west of the Province of Milan in Northern Italy could be explained by environmental factors such as meteorology, or whether there is evidence to support the hypothesis that the decrease was related to the presence of large numbers of the oligophagous Ophraella communa...
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In: Biocontrol Science and Technology, 2019, p. 1–8
Following its first record in Europe in 2013, the North American ragweed leaf beetle Ophraella communa, used already as a most successful biocontrol agent against common ragweed in China, is spreading rapidly, asking for a detailed analysis of the potential benefit and risk of this introduction for Europe. Here, we report twelve specific and polymorphic tetranucleotide microsatellite markers,...
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