THE CHALLENGE OF LINKING PEST AND CROP MODELS

Developing integrated pest management systems requires detailed quanti tative knowledge of the interactions between the crop and its pests (i nsects, diseases and weeds) to identify intervention points and to pre dict effects through damage relationships or yield loss functions. Bec ause of the complexity of such systems, models at different levels of detail are needed to provide insight into the mechanisms of crop-pest interactions. These insights may form the basis prediction and decisio n support systems. Several approaches have been developed to link pest models with crop models. Several coupling points for pest-crop models were identified for different pest-crop combinations. These were mode led on the basis of experimental research on the quantification of the physiological damage mechanisms. Examples are given of the rue of the models that simulate the impact of pests on crops as an important res earch tool. Recently, approaches to simulate multiple pest damage have been developed and evaluated Special attention is given to the use of such models to understand and predict the effects of weeds on crops. The approach of linking pest and crop models provides a tool vith whic h to explore the dynamics of the interactions and optimize pest manage ment strategies.