scholarly journals Spider Communities and Biological Control in Native Habitats Surrounding Greenhouses

Insects ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Belén Cotes ◽  
Mónica González ◽  
Emilio Benítez ◽  
Eva De Mas ◽  
Gemma Clemente-Orta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Management ◽  
Frankliniella Occidentalis ◽  
Generalized Additive Model ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Additive Model ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Generalist Predators ◽  
Niche Complementarity ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Spider Abundance

The promotion of native vegetation as a habitat for natural enemies, which could increase their abundance and fitness, is especially useful in highly simplified settings such as Mediterranean greenhouse landscapes. Spiders as generalist predators may also be involved in intra-guild predation. However, the niche complementarity provided by spiders as a group means that increased spider diversity may facilitate complementary control actions. In this study, the interactions between spiders, the two major horticultural pests, Bemisia tabaci and Frankliniella occidentalis, and their naturally occurring predators and parasitoids were evaluated in a mix of 21 newly planted shrubs selected for habitat management in a highly disturbed horticultural system. The effects of all factors were evaluated using redundancy analysis (RDA) and the generalized additive model (GAM) to assess the statistical significance of abundance of spiders and pests. The GAM showed that the abundance of both pests had a significant effect on hunter spider’s abundance, whereas the abundance of B. tabaci, but not F. occidentalis, affected web-weavers’ abundance. Ordination analysis showed that spider abundance closely correlated with that of B. tabaci but not with that of F. occidentalis, suggesting that complementarity occurs, and thereby probability of biocontrol, with respect to the targeted pest B. tabaci, although the temporal patterns of the spiders differed from those of F. occidentalis. Conservation strategies involving the establishment of these native plants around greenhouses could be an effective way to reduce pest populations outdoors.

scholarly journals Assessing the Performance of Random Forests for Modeling Claim Severity in Collision Car Insurance

Risks ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 53
Author(s):  
Yves Staudt ◽  
Joël Wagner
Keyword(s):  
Random Forests ◽  
Goodness Of Fit ◽  
Generalized Additive Model ◽  
Mean Squared Error ◽  
Additive Model ◽  
Continuous Variables ◽  
Insurance Portfolio ◽  
Normal Transformation ◽  
Car Insurance ◽  
Log Normal

For calculating non-life insurance premiums, actuaries traditionally rely on separate severity and frequency models using covariates to explain the claims loss exposure. In this paper, we focus on the claim severity. First, we build two reference models, a generalized linear model and a generalized additive model, relying on a log-normal distribution of the severity and including the most significant factors. Thereby, we relate the continuous variables to the response in a nonlinear way. In the second step, we tune two random forest models, one for the claim severity and one for the log-transformed claim severity, where the latter requires a transformation of the predicted results. We compare the prediction performance of the different models using the relative error, the root mean squared error and the goodness-of-lift statistics in combination with goodness-of-fit statistics. In our application, we rely on a dataset of a Swiss collision insurance portfolio covering the loss exposure of the period from 2011 to 2015, and including observations from 81 309 settled claims with a total amount of CHF 184 mio. In the analysis, we use the data from 2011 to 2014 for training and from 2015 for testing. Our results indicate that the use of a log-normal transformation of the severity is not leading to performance gains with random forests. However, random forests with a log-normal transformation are the favorite choice for explaining right-skewed claims. Finally, when considering all indicators, we conclude that the generalized additive model has the best overall performance.

scholarly journals Evaluating the Impact of Two Generalist Predators on the Leafhopper Erasmoneura vulnerata Population Density

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 321
Author(s):  
Stefan Cristian Prazaru ◽  
Giulia Zanettin ◽  
Alberto Pozzebon ◽  
Paola Tirello ◽  
Francesco Toffoletto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Generalist Predators ◽  
Predator Species ◽  
Potted Plants ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Orius Majusculus ◽  
Limited Effectiveness ◽  
Pest Outbreaks ◽  
The Impact

Outbreaks of the Nearctic leafhopper Erasmoneura vulnerata represent a threat to vinegrowers in Southern Europe, in particular in North-eastern Italy. The pest outbreaks are frequent in organic vineyards because insecticides labeled for organic viticulture show limited effectiveness towards leafhoppers. On the other hand, the naturally occurring predators and parasitoids of E. vulnerata in vineyards are often not able to keep leafhopper densities at acceptable levels for vine-growers. In this study, we evaluated the potential of two generalist, commercially available predators, Chrysoperla carnea and Orius majusculus, in suppressing E. vulnerata. Laboratory and semi-field experiments were carried out to evaluate both species’ predation capacity on E. vulnerata nymphs. The experiments were conducted on grapevine leaves inside Petri dishes (laboratory) and on potted and caged grapevines (semi-field); in both experiments, the leaves or potted plants were infested with E. vulnerata nymphs prior to predator releases. Both predator species exhibited a remarkable voracity and significantly reduced leafhopper densities in laboratory and semi-field experiments. Therefore, field studies were carried out over two growing seasons in two vineyards. We released 4 O. majusculus adults and 30 C. carnea larvae per m2 of canopy. Predator releases in vineyards reduced leafhopper densities by about 30% compared to the control plots. Results obtained in this study showed that the two predators have a potential to suppress the pest density, but more research is required to define appropriate predator–prey release ratios and release timing. Studies on intraguild interactions and competition with naturally occurring predators are also suggested.

scholarly journals Generalized additive model with embedded variable selection for bankruptcy prediction: Prediction versus interpretation

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 1597956
Author(s):  
Carlos Valencia ◽  
Sergio Cabrales ◽  
Laura Garcia ◽  
Juan Ramirez ◽  
Diego Calderona ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Variable Selection ◽  
Generalized Additive Model ◽  
Additive Model ◽  
Bankruptcy Prediction ◽  
Selection For

scholarly journals Deoxygenation impacts on Baltic Sea cod: Dramatic declines in ecosystem services of an iconic keystone predator

AMBIO ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Orio ◽  
Yvette Heimbrand ◽  
Karin Limburg
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Generalized Additive Model ◽  
Additive Model ◽  
Maximum Length ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
Hypoxic Zone ◽  
The Baltic ◽  
Baltic Cod

AbstractThe intensified expansion of the Baltic Sea’s hypoxic zone has been proposed as one reason for the current poor status of cod (Gadus morhua) in the Baltic Sea, with repercussions throughout the food web and on ecosystem services. We examined the links between increased hypoxic areas and the decline in maximum length of Baltic cod, a demographic proxy for services generation. We analysed the effect of different predictors on maximum length of Baltic cod during 1978–2014 using a generalized additive model. The extent of minimally suitable areas for cod (oxygen concentration ≥ 1 ml l−1) is the most important predictor of decreased cod maximum length. We also show, with simulations, the potential for Baltic cod to increase its maximum length if hypoxic areal extent is reduced to levels comparable to the beginning of the 1990s. We discuss our findings in relation to ecosystem services affected by the decrease of cod maximum length.

A Scientometric Study of Foraminiferal Research in Brazil

2021 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 267-285
Author(s):  
Beatriz Lima Vieira ◽  
Letícia Rizzetto Patrocínio ◽  
Douglas Villela de Oliveira Lessa ◽  
Doriedson Ferreira Gomes
Keyword(s):  
Continental Margin ◽  
Generalized Additive Model ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Additive Model ◽  
Scientific Production ◽  
Field Of Study ◽  
The North ◽  
Marine Realm ◽  
Scientometric Study ◽  
Brazilian Science

ABSTRACT Scientometrics is a field of study that involves measuring and analyzing scientific literature and can be a valuable tool to assess and reveal major gaps in national scientific production. Among the major challenges for Brazilian science is the development of research in the extensive national marine realm. This paper provides a scientometric survey of papers involving foraminiferal research in Brazil. The metrics utilized were papers listed in “Capes Portal” and “Scopus” databases up to the year of 2019. A total of 324 papers were found and 177 were selected based upon criteria established. A generalized additive model (GAM) was used to establish a relationship between publications and time. Studies involving foraminifera increased in Brazil from 1952 to 2019. Most studies have been conducted in the southeast region. We identified the need for more research on foraminifera to be carried out in the Brazilian continental margin, especially in the north and northeast regions of the country.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document