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PhD defended september 20th, 2012
Direction: Denis Poinsot & Anne-Marie Cortesero

Abstract:

The aim of the present thesis was to understand the interactions between D. Radicum and its main natural enemies in an agricultural landscape. To do so, we have carried out a multidisciplinary study, using landscape and population genetics approaches and working at different special scales ranging from the plant to the landscape. We found that some landscape elements and agricultural practices limiting field colonization and crop damages by D. Radicum and favoring its regulation by predators and parasitoids. After developing microsatellite markers, we characterized the genetic structure of their populations. We observed a weak genetic structure in pest populations, possibly due to high dispersal capability or high population densities. The two parasitoid species had a stronger population structure, suggesting a more limited dispersion than their host. The specialist parasitoid Aleochara bilineata shows the strongest genetic structure. In those species, geographic distance does not seem to be essential to population genetic structure. Finally, at a fine scale, we have determined the resource exploitation behavior of D. Radicum and its parasitoid A. Bipustulata. The clustering of D. Radicum eggs results from some plants being exploited by several females laying a few eggs each. Between each laying bout, females seem to move very little. Females of the generalist parasitoid A. Bipustulata apparently use successively odoriferous cues linked to the host plant then cues linked to their host D. Radicum during the behavioral sequence preceding egg-laying.