Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Weeds, Insects, and Diseases

  • Published:
Climatic Change Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The geographic distribution, vigor, virulence, and agricultural impact of weeds, insects, and plant pathogens will be affected by climatic changes accompanying the global "greenhouse effect." Weed/crop competitive interactions, particularly among species differing in photosynthetic pathway (C3 v C4), may be altered, with the C3 species favored by increasing CO2. Physiological and biochemical changes induced in host crop plants by rising CO2 may affect feeding patterns of pest insects. Compilation of climatic thresholds for phenological development of pest insects reveals the potential for shifts in pest behavior induced by global warming and other climatic change. Generation times may be reduced, enabling more rapid population increases to occur. Poleward migration may be accelerated during the crop season. The epidemiology of plant diseases also will be altered. Prediction of disease outbreaks will be more difficult in periods of rapidly changing climate and unstable weather. Environmental instability and increased incidence of extreme weather may reduce the effectiveness of pesticides on targeted pests or result in more injury to non-target organisms. Biological control may be affected either negatively or positively. Overall, the challenge to agriculture from pests probably will increase.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bazzaz, F.A., and Garbutt, K.: 1988, ‘The Response of Annuals in Competitive Neighborhoods: Effects of Elevated CO2’. Ecology 69, 937–946.

    Google Scholar 

  • Birch, L.C.: 1965, ‘Evolutionary Opportunity for Insects and Mammals in Australia’. in Baker, H.G., and Stebbins, G.L. (eds.), The Genetics of Colonizing Species, Academic Press, New York, N.Y., pp. 197–211.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cammell, M.E., and Knight, J.D.: 1991, ‘Effects of Climate Change on the Population Dynamics of Crop Pests’. Advances in Ecological Research 22, 117–162.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carlson, H. L., and Hill, J.E.: 1985, ‘Wild Oat (Avena fatua) Competition with Spring Wheat: Effects of Nitrogen Fertilization’. Weed Sci. 34, 29–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carter, D.R., and Peterson, K.M.:1983, ‘Effects of a CO2 Enriched Atmosphere on the Growth and Competitive Interaction of a C3 and a C4 Grass’. Oecologia 58, 188–193.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davidson, R.H., and Lyon, W.F.:1987, Insect Pests of Farm, Garden and Orchard, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 640 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeBach, P.: 1965, ‘Some Biological and Ecological Phenomena Associated with Colonizing Entomophagous Insects’, in Baker, H.G., and Stebbins, G.L. (eds.), The Genetics of Colonizing Species, Academic Press, New York, N.Y., pp. 287–303.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dobzhansky, T.: 1965, ‘'Wild’, and ‘Domestic’, Species of Drosophila’, in Baker, H.G., and Stebbins, G.L. (eds.), The Genetics of Colonizing Species, Academic Press, New York, N.Y., pp. 533–546.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elias, S.A.: 1991, ‘Insects and Climate Change: Fossil Evidence from the Rocky Mountains’. BioSci Am Inst Biol Sci. 41(8), 552–559.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fielding, D.J., and Brusven, M.A.: 1990, ‘Historical Analysis of Grasshopper (Orthoptera: Acrididae) Population Responses to Climate in Southern Idaho, 1950–1980’. Environmental Entomolology 19(6), 1786–1791.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flint, E.P., and Patterson, D.T.: 1983, ‘Interference and Temperature Effects on Growth in Soybean (Glycine max) and Associated C3 and C4 Weeds’. Weed Science 31, 193–199.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flint, E.P., Patterson, D.T., Mortensen, D. A., Riechers, G. H., and Beyers, J. L.: 1984, ‘Temperature Effects on Growth and Leaf Production in Three Weed Species’. Weed Science 32, 655–663.

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedrich, S.: 1994, ‘Wirkung Veräderter Klimatischer Factoren auf Pflanzenschaedlinge’, in Brunnert, H., and Dämmgen, U. (eds.), Klimaveraenderungen und Landwirtschaftl, Part II, Lanbauforsc, Völkenrode, Spec. 148, pp. 17–26.

  • Fye, R.E., and McAda, W.C.: 1972, Laboratory Studies on the Development, Longevity, and Fecundity of Six Lepidopterous Pests of Cotton in Arizona, Agricultural Research Service. Technical Bulletin No. 1454, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Furtick, W. R.: 1978, ‘Weeds and World Food Production’, in Pimentel, D. (ed.), World Food, Pest Losses, and the Environment, AAAS Selected Symp. 13., Westview Press, Boulder, CO. pp. 51–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodenough, J.L., and Mckinion, J.M. (eds.): 1992, Basics of Insect Modeling, ASAE Monograph No. 10., Amer. Soc. Agric. Engrs., St. Joseph, MI., 221 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton, J.G., and Gage, S.H.: 1986, ‘Outbreaks of the Cotton Tipworm, Crocidosema plebejana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), Related to Weather in Southeast Queensland, Australia’. Environmental Entomolology 15, 1078–1082.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harlan, J. R.: 1975, Crops and Man, American Society of Agronomy, and Crop Science Society of America, Madison, WI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrington, R., and Stork, N.E. (eds.): 1995, Insects in a Changing Environment, Academic Press, London, 535 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hatzios, K.K., and Penner, D.: 1982, Metabolism of Herbicides in Higher Plants, CEPCO iv., Burgess Publ., Edina, MN.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holm, L.G., Plucknett, D.L., Pancho, J.V., and Herberger, J.P.: 1977, The World's Worst Weeds: Distribution and Biology, Univ. of Hawaii Press, Honolulu.

    Google Scholar 

  • Joyce, R.J.V.: 1983, ‘Aerial Transport of Pests and Pest Outbreaks’. EPPO Bulletin 13(2), 111–119.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kingsolver, J.G.: 1989, ‘Weather and the Population Dynamics of Insects: Integrating Physiological and Population Ecology’. Physiol. Ecol. 62(2), 314–334.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lingren, P.D., Bryant, V.M., Jr., Raulston, JR., Pendleton, M., Westbrook, J., and Jones, G.D.: 1993, ‘Adult Feeding Host Range and Migratory Activities of Corn Earworm, Cabbage Looper, and Celery Looper (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Moths as Evidenced by Attached Pollen’. Journal of Economic Entomology 86, 1429–1439.

    Google Scholar 

  • Löpmeier, F.J.: 1990, ‘Klimaimpakforchung aus Agrarmeteorologischer’. Sicht. Bayer. Landw. Jarhb. 67(1), 185–190.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mattson, W.J., and Haack, R.A.: 1987, ‘The Role of Drought in Outbreaks of Plant-eating Insects’. BioScience 37(2), 110–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meier, W.: 1985, Pflanzenschutz im Feldbau. Tierische Schädlinge and Pflanzenkrankheiten, Eidgenossiche Forschungsanstalt for Landwirtschaftlichen Pflanzcnbau, 8 Auflage, Zorich-Reckenholz.

  • Mochida, O.: 1991, ‘Impact of CO2-climate Change on Pests Distribution’. Agr. Horticul. 66, 128–136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muzik, T.J.: 1976, ‘Influence of Environmental Factors on Toxicity to Plants’, in Audus, L.J. (ed), Herbicides: Physiology, Biochemistry, Ecology, 2nd ed., 2, Academic Press, New York, pp. 204–247.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oechol, W.C., and Strain, B.R.: 1985, ‘Native Species Responses to Increased Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Concentration’, in Strain, B.R., and Cure, J.D. (eds), Direct Effects of Increasing Carbon Dioxide on Vegetation, DOE/ER-0238, Department of Energy, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parker, C., and Fryer, J.D.: 1975, ‘Weed Control Problems Causing Major Reductions in World Food Supplies’. FAO Plant Protection Bulletin 23, 83–95.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parry, M.L., Porter, J.H., and Carter, T.R.: 1990, ‘Agriculture: Climatic Change and its Implications’. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 5, 318–322.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pashley, D.P., and Bush, G.L.: 1979, ‘The Use of Allozymes in Studying Insect Movement with Special Reference to the Codling Moth, Laspeyresia pomonella (L.) (Olethreutidae)’, in Rabb, R.L., and Kennedy, G.G. (eds), Movement of Highly Mobile Insects: Concepts and Methodology in Research, North Carolina State University Press, Raleigh, North Carolina, pp. 333–341.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, D.T.: 1993, ‘Implications of Global Climate Change for Impact of Weeds, Insects, and Plant Diseases’, in International Crop Science, vol. I., Crop Science Society of America, Madison, Wisconsin, pp. 273–280.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, D.T.: 1995, ‘Weeds in a Changing Climate.’, Weed Science 43, 685–701.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, D.T., and Flint, E. P.: 1980, ‘Potential Effects of Global Atmospheric CO2 Enrichment on the Growth and Competitiveness of C3 and C4 Weed and Crop Plants’. Weed Science 28, 71–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, D.T. and Flint, E.P.: 1990, ‘Implications of Increasing Carbon Dioxide and Climate Change for Plant Communities and Competition in Natural and Managed Ecosystems’, in Kimball, B.A., Rosenberg, N.J., and Allen, L.H., Jr. (eds), Impact of CO2, Trace Gases, and Climate Change on Global Agriculture, Special Publication 53, American Society of Agronomy, Madison, WI, pp. 83–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, D.T., Meyer, C.R., Flint, E.P., and Quimby, P.C., Jr.: 1979, ‘Temperature Responses and Potential Distribution of Itchgrass (Rottboellia exaltata) in the United States’. Weed Science 27, 77–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, D.T., Flint, E.P., and Beyers, J.L.: 1984, ‘Effects Of CO2 Enrichment on Competition Between a C4 Weed and a C3 Crop’. Weed Science 32, 101–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, D. T., Russell, A.E, Mortensen, D. A., Coffin, R. D., and Flint, E.P.: 1986, ‘Effects of Temperature and Photoperiod on Texas Panicum (Panicum texanum) and Wild Proso Millet (Panicum miliaceum)’, Weed Science 32, 101–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pedgley, D.E: 1982, Windborne Pests and Diseases: Meteorology of Airborne Organisms, Ellis Horwood Ltd., West Sussex, England, 250 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Porter, J.H., Parry, M.L., and Carter, T.R.: 1991, ‘The Potential Effects of Climatic Change on Agricultural Insect Pests’. Agricultural Forest Meteorology 57, 221–240.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prescott-Allen, R., and Prescott-Allen, C.: 1990, ‘How Many Plants Feed the World?’, Conservation Biology 4, 365–374.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prestidge, R. A., and Pottinger, R. P.: 1990, ‘The Impact of Climate Change on Pests, Diseases, Weeds and Beneficial Organisms Present in New Zealand Agricultural and Horticultural Systems’, New Zealand Ministry for the Environment, Wellington.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rahman, A., and Wardle, D. A.: 1990, ‘Effects of Climate Change on Cropping Weeds in New Zealand’, in Prestidge, R. A., and Pottinger, R. P. (eds.), The Impact of Climate Change on Pests, Diseases, Weeds and Beneficial Organisms Present in New Zealand Agriculltual and Horticultural Systems, New Zealand Ministry for the Environment, Wellington, pp. 107–112.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rainey, R.C.: 1989, Migration and Meteorology: Flight Behavior and the Atmospheric Environment of Migrant Pests, Oxford University Press, New York, 314 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raulston, J.R., Pair, S.D., Loera, J., and Cabanillas, H.E.: 1992, ‘Prepupal and Pupal Parasitism of Helicoverpa zea and Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) by Steinernema sp. in Corn Fields in the Lower Rio Grande Valley’. Journal of Economic Entomology 85, 1666–1670.

    Google Scholar 

  • Royle, D.J., Shaw, M.W., and Cook, R.J.: 1986, ‘Patterns of Development of Septoria nodorume and S. tritici in Some Winter Wheat Crops in Western Europe, 1981–1983’. Plant Pathology 35, 466–476.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott, R.W., and Achtemeier, G.L.: 1987, ‘Estimating Pathways of Migrating Insects Carried in Atmospheric Winds’. Environmental Entomology 16(6), 1244–1254.

    Google Scholar 

  • Southwood, T.R.E., and Comins, H.N.: 1976, ‘A Synoptic Population Model’. Journal of Animal Ecology 45(3), 949–965.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spittlehouse, D.L., and Sieben, B.: 1994, ‘Mapping the Effect of Climate on Spruce Weevil Infestation Hazard’, in Preprints of the 11th Conference on Biometeorology and Aerobiolology, American Meteorology Society, Boston, MA,. 448–450.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stinner, B.R., Taylor, R.A.J., Hammond, R.B., Purrington, F.F., McCartney, D.A., Rodenhouse, N., and Barrett, G.W.: 1987, ‘Potential Effects of Climate Change on Plant-pest Interactions’, in Smith, J., and Tirpak, D. (eds.), The Potential Effects of Global Climate Change on the United States, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, pp. 8.1–8.35

    Google Scholar 

  • Sutherst, R.W.: 1990, ‘Impact of Climate Change on Pests and Diseases in Australasia’. Search 21, 230–232.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sutherst, R.W.: 1991, ‘Pest Risk Analysis and the Greenhouse Effect’. Review of Agricultural Entomology 79, 1177–1187.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sutherst, R.W., Maywald, G.F., and Skarrate, D.B.: 1995, ‘Predicting Insect Distributions in a Changed Climate’, in Harrington, R., and Stork, N.E. (eds.), Insects in a Changing Environment, Academic Press, London, pp. 59–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tauber, M.J., Tauber, C.A., and Masaki, S.: 1986, Seasonal Adaptations of Insects. Oxford University Press, New York, NY, 411 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Terranova, A.C., Jones, R.G., and Bartlett, A.C.: 1990, ‘The Southeastern Boll Weevil: An Allozyme Characterization of its Population Structure’. Southwestern Entomology 15(4), 481–496.

    Google Scholar 

  • Treharne, K.: 1989, ‘The Implications of the 'Greenhouse Effect' for Fertilizers and Agroehemicals’, in Bennet, R.M. (ed.), The 'Greenhouse Effect and UK Agriculture, No. 19, Center for Agricultural Strategy, University of Reading, Reading, UK, pp. 67–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waggoner, P.E.: 1983, ‘Agriculture and a Climate Changed by More Carbon Dioxide’. in Changing Climate: Report of the Carbon Dioxide Assessment Committee, National Academy Press, Washington, DC, pp. 383–418.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waggoner, P.E.: 1993, ‘Assessing Nonlinearities and Surprises in the Links of Farming to Climate and Weather’, in Darmstadter, J., and Toman, M.A. (eds.), Assessing Surprises and Nonlinearities in Greenhouse Warming, Resources for the Future, Washington, D.C. pp. 45–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Westbrook, J.K., Wolf, W.W., Pair, S.D., Sparks, A.N., and Raulston, J.R: 1985, ‘An Important Atmospheric Vehicle for the Long Range Migration of Serious Agricultural Pests of the South Central United States’, in Preprints of the 7th Conf. on Biometeorol. and Aerobiol., American Meteorological Society, Boston, MA, pp. 281–282.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watt, A.D., and Leather, S.R.: 1986, ‘The Pine Beauty in Scottish Lodgepole Pine Plantations’, in Berryman, A.A. (ed.), Dynamics of Forest Insect Populations: Patterns, Causes, Implications, Plenum Press, New York, pp. 243–266.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodward, F.I.: 1988, ‘Temperature and the Distribution of Plant Species’, in Long, S.P., and Woodward, F.I. (eds.), Plants and Temperature, The Company of Biologists Ltd., Univ. of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK, pp. 59–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodward, F.I., and Williams, B.G.: 1987, ‘Climate and Plant Distribution at Global and Local Scales’. Vegetatio 69, 189–197.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong, S,C.: 1990, ‘Elevated Atmospheric Partial Pressure of CO2 and Plant Growth. II. Non-structural Carbohydrate Content in Cotton Plants and its Effect on Growth Parameters’. Photosynthesis Research 23, 171–180.

    Google Scholar 

  • Worner, S.P.: 1988, ‘Ecoclimatic Assessment of Potential Establishment of Exotic Pests’. Journal Economic Entomology 81(4), 973–983.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wray, S. M., and Strain, B. R.: 1987, ‘Competition in Old-field Perennials Under CO2, Enrichment’. Functional Ecology 1, 145–149.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. NCDA&CS, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27611, USA

    D.T. Patterson

  2. USDA/ARS, College Station, Texas, 77840, USA

    J.K. Westbrook

  3. USDA/ARS, Lane, Oklahoma, 74555, USA

    P.D. Lingren

  4. Agricultural Institute for Climatic Research, Muncheberg, Germany

    J. Rogasik

Authors
  1. D.T. Patterson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J.K. Westbrook
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. R.J.V. Joyce†
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. P.D. Lingren
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. J. Rogasik
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Patterson, D., Westbrook, J., Joyce†, R. et al. Weeds, Insects, and Diseases. Climatic Change 43, 711–727 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005549400875

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005549400875

Keywords

Search

Navigation