Too much of any one thing can have negative impacts - like overindulging in wine or cake. The same is true in nature. Locust swarms can cause widespread destruction to crops, while the Great Barrier Reef has been decimated by the spread of the crown-of-thorns starfish. However, researchers have now discovered naturally occurring solutions that can help manage these invasive pests and bring back balance.
Locust swarms are a natural phenomenon that can devastate harvests, leading to food shortages and economic hardship. While chemical insecticides have traditionally been used to control locusts, farmers in Somalia recently successfully used a combination of bio-insecticide known as Metarhizium acridum and predatory birds to great effect.
Research compared outcomes for different countries from a locust outbreak in 2019-2021 that ravaged the African horn. The impact of each approach to manage swarms as well as the broader implications of treatments was compared between countries.
The researchers uncovered that the Somalian farmers approach in utilising a species of fungi called M. acridum pushed locusts to the top of crops to sun themselves, making them easy prey for birds. This combined approach was found to be more effective than Kenya and Ethopia’s use of high doses of the highly toxic organophosphates and pyrethroids insecticides. Overuse of the chemical in Kenya coincided with mortality to non-target bird and bee populations, while Ethopian honey production declined by 78 per cent in 2020.
Half a world away, researchers at The University of Queensland have been investigating predators to the pervasive crown-of-thorns starfish (CoTS). This predatory starfish is known for periodic outbreaks if left unchecked and CoTS have transformed once healthy reefs to a shadow of their former vibrant glory.
Despite their destructive nature, some reefs have fared better against CoTS than others, leading scientists to wonder about potential predators present at some sites helping the reefs resist the impact of CoTS. In a study published in March 2023, 104 species were assessed for their capacity to consume CoTS early in their lifecycle. Red decorator crabs were found to be the most consistent feeders, consuming as many as five juvenile CoTS in their entirety in a single day.
Our understanding of the natural world and, in this case, the key role of natural predators, can help restore balance and mitigate against devastating or lasting impacts on our ecosystem. With this knowledge we can more sensitively deal with imbalances and implement suitable science-based solutions that protect biodiversity.
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