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Plant and Invertebrate Ecology home page
Insect Population Genetics and EcologyInsect BehaviourPlant Biodiversity and Population GeneticsEU - funded projects within PIE MASTER (MAnagament STrategies for European Rape Pests)SADIE - Spatial Analysis by Distance IndicEs Weeds or wild plants?Willow RustLandSFACTS: Software for spatio-temporal allocation of crops to fields for researchers and modellersNational Bumblebee Nest Survey (now finished) RELU-Biomass Rothamsted Insect Survey SUPERGEN Biomass and Bioenergy Consortium TSEC-BIOSYS
Department of Plant and Invertebrate Ecology, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, United Kingdom.
Telephone: +44 (1)582 763133 x 2488.
Fax: +44 (1)582 760981
E-mail: sam.cook@rothamsted.ac.uk
Academic interests | Curriculum vitae | Professional activities | Publications
I study the behavioural and chemical ecology of insects in agricultural ecosystems. I’m interested in developing strategies which use semiochemicals and other host plant stimuli to (i) manipulate the behaviour of pests and beneficial insects to achieve effective pest control without recourse to insecticides and (ii) improve pollination services.
My current research interests include:
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| Oilseed rape plots with and without turnip rape trap crop |
Push-pull strategies involve using repellent or deterrent stimuli to 'push' pests away from the protected crop and simultaneously 'pull' them to attractive areas such as trap crops where they can be more efficiently controlled. Turnip rape (Brassica rapa) is more preferred than oilseed rape (Brassica napus) by several oilseed rape pests. I have been elucidating the mechanisms for this preference in order to maximise its efficiency as a trap crop. I have also been investigating the potential of epideictic (spacing) pheromones and non-host volatiles such as lavender as repellent 'push' components of the system. Once concentrated in the trap crop, the pests can be efficiently controlled. I'm investigating how this can be achieved through use of selective insecticides, or natural enemies of the pests including parasitoids and entomopathogenic fungi. I'm also involved in studies to understand the effects of the scale of adoption of such strategies on the effectiveness of pest management and in identifying the socio-economic constraints that hinder adoption of alternative pest management strategies.
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| Beetle and parasitoid |
A thorough understanding of the behavioural ecology of pests and their natural enemies is vital for developing robust control strategies. I’m particularly interested in understanding how these insects use visual and olfactory cues to locate their hosts. Can we augment natural biocontrol through habitat manipulation?
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| Honey bee (Apis mellifera) foraging on field bean flower |
Pollen odours may be used in resource-location by pollen-seeking insects. The nutritive value of pollen may also influence behaviour. Using olfactometry techniques, I showed that pollen odours are attractive to pollen beetles (Meligethes aeneus) and field studies suggested that pollen availability influences oviposition. However, pollen beetles don't need pollen! A pollen diet increased pollen beetle larval survival and development but was not obligatory. Using conditioned proboscis extension bioassays and free-flying choice tests with an electronic artificial flower, I showed that honey bees (Apis mellifera) can learn pollen odours and can discriminate between species on the basis of pollen odour. Pollen odours are involved in floral recognition by honey bees and may therefore play an important role in their foraging behaviour, helping them to discriminate rewarding from non-rewarding flowers. Honey bees showed preferences for some pollens which were related to their nutritive value. Does the amino acid composition of pollen affect the foraging behaviour of bees?
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Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society. Convenor of the Insect Behaviour Special Interest Group. |
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Associate Editor of the journal Arthropod-Plant Interactions. Arthropod-Plant Interactions is a new journal published by Springer, dedicated to fundamental or applied studies on the interactions of insects, mites and other arthropods with plants. |
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Associate Editor of the journal BioControl. BioControl is the official journal of the International Organization for Biological Control (IOBC). It includes original papers on basic and applied research in all aspects of biological control of invertebrate, vertebrate and weed pests and plant diseases. |
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Convenor of the Entomology subsection of the IOBC Working Group in Integrated Control in Oilseed Cropsa>. For details of the next meeting and programme/abstracts/reports from the previous meetings click here: http://wwwuser.gwdg.de/%7Eiobc/aims.html. |
Chairperson of Rothamsted's International Staff and Students Association (ISSA) This group provides support to international visiting workers during their time at Rothamsted and organises events to encourage social interaction and cultural exchange between visiting and resident scientists. (Sorry, link active for intranet uses only - click here for public site details.
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Cook, S. M., Jönsson, M., Skellern,, M. P, Murray, D. A., Anderson, P. & Powell, W. (2007). Electrophysiological and behavioural responses of Phradis parasitoids to volatiles of Lavender, Lavendula angustifolia - a possible repellent for their host, Meligethes aeneus BioControl (in press)
Click here for the online version
Cook, S. M., Khan, Z. R. & Pickett, J. A. (2007). The use of push-pull strategies in integrated pest management. Annual Review of Entomology, 52: 375-400. Complimentary one-time access this article as a PDF file is available by clicking here
Cook, S. M., Rasmussen, H. B., Birkett, M., Woodcock, C. M., Murray, D. A., Pye, B. J., Watts, N. P., & Williams, I. H. (2007). Behavioural and chemical ecology of the success of turnip rape (Brassica rapa) trap crops in protecting oilseed rape (Brassica napus) from the pest Meligethes aeneus. Arthropod Plant Interactions.
Click
here for the online version
Cook, S.M., Smart, L.E., Martin,
J.L., Murray, D.A., Watts, N.P. & Williams, I.H. (2006).
Exploitation of host plant preferences in pest management strategies for oilseed rape (Brassica napus). Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 119:221-229).
Click here for the online version
Barari, H., Cook, S. M. & Williams, I. H. (2006). Rearing the larval parasitiods of Psylliodes chrysocephalaand Ceutorynchus pallidactlylus from field-collected specimens. Bulletin IOBC/wprs: Integrated Control in oilseed crops 29(7):213-224.
Cook, S.M., Murray, D.A., Watts, N.P., & Williams, I.H. (2006). Responses of pollen beetles (Meligethes aeneus) to conspecific odours. Bulletin IOBC/wprs: Integrated Control in oilseed crops. 29(7):143-150.
Cook, S.M., Skellern, M.P., Smith, M.J. & Williams, I.H. (2006). Responses of pollen beetles (Meligethes aeneus) to petal colour. Bulletin IOBC/wprs: Integrated Control in oilseed crops. 29(7):151-160.
Cook, S.M., Watts, N.P., Castle, L.M., & Williams, I.H. (2006). Determining the sex of insect pests of oilseed rape for behavioural bioassays. Bulletin IOBC/wprs: Integrated Control in oilseed crops. 29(7):205-212.
Barari, H., Cook, S. M. & Williams, I. H. (2005). The effect of a turnip rape (Brassica rapa) trap crop on stem-mining pests and their parasitiods in oilseed rape (Brassica napus). BioControl 50(1):69-86
Click here for the online version
Cook, S. M., Sandoz, J-C., Martin, A. P., Murray, D. A., Poppy, G. M., & Williams, I. H. (2005). Could learning of pollen odours by honey bees (Apis mellifera) play a role in their foraging behaviour? Physiological Entomology 30 (2) 164-174. Click here for the online version
Cook, S. M., Watts., N. P., Hunter, F. J., Smart, L. E., & Williams, I. H. (2004).
Effects of a turnip rape trap crop on the spatial distribution of Meligethes aeneus and Ceutorhynchus assimilis in oilseed rape. Bulletin IOBC/wprs: Integrated Control in oilseed crops 27 (10): 199-206 (E-01). Edited by Koopman, B., Evans, N., Cook, S., & Williams, I.H.
Click here for the online version
Cook, S. M., Murray, D. A., & Williams, I. H. (2004). Do pollen beetles need pollen? The effect of pollen on oviposition, survival, and development of a flower-feeding herbivore Ecological Entomology 29:164-173
Click here for the online version
Cook, S. M., Awmack, C. S., Murray, D. A., & Williams, I. H. (2003). Are honeybees’ foraging preferences affected by pollen amino acid composition? Ecological Entomology 28: 622-627.
Click here for the online version
Cook, S. M., Smart, L. E., Rasmussen, H. B., Bartlet, E., Martin, J. L., Murray, D. A., Watts, N. P., Williams, I. H. (2003). Push-Pull strategies to reduce insecticide input to oilseed rape (Brassica napus): Potential of low alkenyl glucosinolate oilseed rape varieties (push!), and turnip rape (Brassica rapa) trap crops (pull!). Proceedings of the 11th International Rapeseed Congress: Toward enhanced value of cruciferous oilseed crops by optimal production and use of high quality seed components. The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen, Denmark. July 6-10 2003. Volume 3 pp1018-1021.
Barari, H., Cook, S. M., Watts, N. P., Williams, I. H. (2003). Effects of a turnip rape (Brassica rapa) trap crop and insecticide treatment on infestation of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus) by coleopteran stem-mining pests and their parasitoids. Proceedings of the 11th International Rapeseed Congress: Toward enhanced value of cruciferous oilseed crops by optimal production and use of high quality seed components. The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen, Denmark. July 6-10 2003. Volume 3 pp1015-1017.
Cook, S. M., Smart, L. E., Potting, R. J. P., Bartlet, E., Martin, J. L., Murray, D. A., Watts, N. P., & Williams, I. H. (2002). Turnip rape (Brassica rapa) as a trap crop to protect oilseed rape (Brassica napus) from infestation by insect pests: potential and mechanisms of action. Proceedings of the British Crop Protection Council International Conference. 18-21 November 2002. Volume 2 pp 569-574.
Cook, S. M., Bartlet, E., Murray, D. A., & Williams, I. H. (2002). The role of pollen in the attraction of pollen beetles to oilseed rape flowers Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 104 (1): 43-50.
Cook, S. (2000).The use of pollen cues in resource location by a pollinator and a pest. PhD Thesis, NottinghamUniversity. 266pp.
Cook, S., Murray, D. A., & Williams, I. H. (1999). Pollen beetle, Meligethes aeneus Fabricius, incidence in the composite hybrid winter oilseed rape, Synergy. Proceedings of the 10th International Rapeseed Congress: ‘New horizons for an old crop’ September 26-29 1999, Canberra, Australia. Ed. GCIRC. Abstract book pg. 248; Full text on CD-ROM. Click here for the online version
Cook, S. (1998). Pollen cues for pollinators and pests. Antenna 22 (3): 146-147
