The use of natural means to control unwanted pests Examples include introduction of naturally occurring predators such as wasps, or hormones that inhibit the reproduction of pests Biological controls can sometimes be alternatives to mechanical or chemical means
A term used to describe the use of natural organisms to reduce the effects of undesirable organisms (pests) and to favor desirable organisms such as crops, trees, animals, beneficial organisms or insects
The regulation of plant and animal numbers by natural enemies It is the aim of biological control to manipulate natural enemies (parasitoids, predators, pathogens) in an attempt to reduce the pest numbers and keep them at much reduced levels The 'manipulation' can involve the introduction of natural enemies into a region where they previously did not exist to counter accidentally introduced pests of crops (classical biological control) Also manipulation can involve the use of indigenous natural enemies to augment existing populations or to alter the environment to improve conditions for enhanced natural enemy activity
The use of natural means to control unwanted pests Examples include introduced or naturally occurring predators such as wasps, or hormones that inhibit the reproduction of pests Biological controls can sometimes be alternatives to mechanical or chemical means
A method of controlling a disease-causing organism or pathogen or an exotic species A biochemical product or bioengineered or naturally-occurring organism is used to cause death, inhibit growth, or inhibit the reproduction of an unwanted organism One example is the import and use of the European beetle that feeds exclusively on purple loosestrife
Control of pests by disrupting their ecological status, as through the use of organisms that are natural predators, parasites, or pathogens. Also called biocontrol
Use of biocides, housekeeping measures and good plant design to minimize formation of microbiological deposits (usually slim) in machine system In alkaline system the micro-organisms are usually bacteria rather than fungi
The action of parasites, predators, or pathogens in maintaining another organism's population density at a lower average than would occur in their absence