| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 昆蟲學研究所 === 101 === The selection of biological control agents is a crucial decision for the success of pest management practices, which is made difficult by predation among agents (i.e., intraguild predation, IGP). Empirical studies show that the use of multiple agents can have positive, negative, or neutral effects on the control of pest populations (compared to the use of the single most efficient agent). However, current theoretical models are unable to explain the observed variation in biological control outcomes. This study combined theoretical and empirical approaches to bridge the gap between theory and observed patterns. In the empirical part, the functional responses of four common biological agents (Mallada basalis, Harmonia dimidiate, Lemnia saucia and Lemnia biplagiata) were determined. In the theoretical part, a mathematical model of IGP was developed by using the functional response model that was best supported in the experiment. The analysis of the model indicated that the model can explain the variation in biological control outcomes found in empirical studies. Biological control implications of model predictions are discussed with respect to the selection of biological control agents.
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