In the southeastern USA Bemisia tabaci, or Silverleaf White Flies (SLWF) have emerged due to recent anthropogenic impacts that cascade into climate change at an alarming rate in tandem with pesticide use that eliminated competition for this crop pest. In agricultural ecosystems many native species exist as crucial predators for reducing herbivore damage. However, concerns arose due to the feeding on the same resources that could lead to Intraguild Predation which decompresses the impact of predators on specific prey. This can further be explored with the impact of IGP during specific seasons as there may be times when the effect is stronger.
To achieve this, specimens were collected from Fall 2022 until Fall of 2023. This project utilizes Restriction site associated DNA sequencing(RAD-seq) to analyze genetic markers to see if movement of prey impacts predator genetic variation of the common ground beetle Harpalus pensylvanicus while simultaneously using CO1 sequencing of gut contents to asses the diet throughout farming seasons over a range of collecting sites. The analysis via RAD-seq will assess population structure amongst the predator.
Based on the hypothesis that prey movement influences predator genetic variation , this study seeks to contribute insight into the relationship between prey movement, generalist diet composition and predator genetic variation. The result shall provide valuable insight for understanding ecological dynamics within agricultural systems for Integrated Pest Management(IPM) systems that incorporate biological control, which can cut down on cost and pesticide usage if employed correctly.
.png)
