Impact of climate change on the occurrence and activity of harmful organisms

Abstract

Climate conditions exert a significant influence over the spreading, life cycle duration, infestation pressure and the overall occurrence of majority of agricultural pests and diseases. Recently there is paid a big attention to possible climate change and its impacts resulting the threat to the controlled agro ecosystems. In the context of actual climate change there is likely the shift in the occurrence of some pests and diseases and at the same time also the change of the spectrum of harmful organisms. Direct results of the effect of higher temperatures on the pests' lifecycle can involve the acceleration of pests' development due to the faster achieving of number of degree-days which can result the shift of pests to higher altitudes. There is likely the increase of the number of generations of some pests and higher population density in the consequence of prolonged growing season and the period favourable for reproduction. Changed conditions during the period of overwintering could be the determining factor for population dynamic of insect and fungi.