Ecological Management of Vertebrate Pests in Agricultural Systems

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Abstract
Managing vertebrate pests has been a neglected topic of research in sustainable agriculture. Conventional approaches, often reactionary rather than preventative, have failed to provide sustainable solutions. Indeed, conventional control through density reduction often involves battling natural ecological processes. Agricultural practices may improve habitat quality for vertebrates that then become pests. Density reduction, but without a concomitant reduction in carrying capacity, may stimulate density-dependent reproduction and survival, rapid recolonization, or both; thus, vertebrate pests often show remarkable resilience in recovering from density reduction. Effective management of vertebrate pests in agricultural systems should incorporate knowledge of temporal and spatial dynamics of pest species. We review several approaches for managing vertebrate pests that might be successful in sustainable agriculture. Habitat quality, and thus carrying capacity, for pests might be reduced by modifying cultural systems; repellent or diversionary crops also can be effective. Predators, either real or simulated, might reduce the density or alter the behaviour or distribution of pests. A variety of scaring devices may protect crops or commodities, although protection is usually temporary and is ineffective for some pest species. Chemical repellents, either synthetic or naturally-occurring, can discourage pests. Physical exclusionary devices can protect individual plants or entire fields, although expense often is high. Pest damage, especially from birds, can be reduced by relatively modest changes in crop phenology, and pest-resistant cultivars have been developed for several agricultural crops. Preventative pest management should employ forecasting, use a landscape approach, and incorporate cost-benefit analyses.