Submitted to: Ciencia Hoy
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: March 22, 2012
Publication Date: August 1, 2012
Citation: Cabrera Walsh, G., Briano, J., Briano, A. 2012. El control biologico de plagas(Biological control of pests). Ciencia Hoy. 22(128):57-64.
Interpretive Summary: Biological control is a longstanding and scientifically sound discipline. Nevertheless, in Argentina it has very few practitioners, and is regarded with some suspicion by the academia. In this publication, meant for a non-specialized Spanish-speaking audience, we illustrate the strict and environmentally alert development of a typical biocontrol project. Some ecological principles that drive applied biocontrol and agent selection are discussed. Subjects such as specificity evaluations, host shifts and species invasiveness are analyzed under the light of ecological theory. The main assertions are: 1. biological control is a safe and beneficial technique when scientifically applied; 2. arthropod biocontrol agent selection cannot be approached with the centrifugal phylogenetic method commonly used for weeds; 3. a similar approach based on the articulation of phylogenetic and ecological affinities may serve the same purpose. A brief history of biocontrol is presented, including environmental and economic benefits. Finally, a succinct history of biocontrol in Argentina is presented.
Technical Abstract:
In this work some ecological principles that drive applied biocontrol and agent selection are discussed. Subjects such as specificity evaluations, host shifts and species invasiveness are analyzed under the light of ecological theory. The main assertions are: 1. biological control is a safe and beneficial technique when scientifically applied; 2. arthropod biocontrol agent selection cannot be approached with the centrifugal phylogenetic method commonly used for weeds; 3. a similar approach based on the articulation of phylogenetic and ecological affinities may serve the same purpose. A brief history of biocontrol is presented, including environmental and economic benefits. Finally, a succinct history of biocontrol in Argentina is presented.
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