Chapter 14 - Environmental Management to Enhance Biological Control in Agroecosystems

Relationships between biodiversity and biological control in agroecosystems: Current status and future challenges

The development of sustainable cropping systems is a major challenge for agronomists and crop scientists in many regions of the world. The prophylactic uses of broad spectrum insecticides are actually the main solution for farmers to control insect pests. Therefore, there is a growing need to develop innovative crop protection strategies through an integrated approach which aims at favouring natural enemies and enhancing biological control in agroecosystems. The development of such strategies requires a thorough understanding of agroecosystem functioning. In this chapter, we present the effects of different elements, from the field scale to the landscape scale that are known to enhance biological control in agroecosystems and limit pest damage with particular reference to oilseed rape. Linking integrated pest management and landscape ecology brings a regional perspective to the management of pest populations. Available techniques are often added together rather than combined in an integrated way and are rarely evaluated through environmental and economical criteria. Therefore, we present a methodological framework to design and assess sustainable cropping systems, with a particular emphasis on complementariness between models, systemic trials and more analytical approaches. Implementation of sustainable cropping systems implies the development of new integrated pest management strategies and thereby an increased participation of the different stakeholders from farmers to policy makers.

Simple SummarySome species of insect herbivores can feed on a wide variety of plant species. Over evolutionary time, insect herbivores can associate preferentially with different host-plant species, which frequently leads to genetic divergence between populations of an herbivore species. This phenomenon, referred to as host-associated differentiation (HAD), not only affects insect herbivores, but can also impact their associated natural enemies, particularly predatory or parasitic insects, which are responsible for biological control in agroecosystems. Although the mechanisms underlying HAD in populations of herbivores and associated natural enemies remain underexplored, we argue that the chemical communication between plants, herbivores, and natural enemies likely plays a major role. Chemical cues emitted by plants and insect herbivores influence natural enemy foraging behavior, and divergent chemical cues can lead to natural enemy HAD, ultimately shaping biological control. In this synthesis paper, we explore how the chemical ecology of HAD could influence classical, conservation, and augmentative biological control, and propose research agendas to further biological control efficacy through natural enemy selection.Host-associated differentiation (HAD) refers to cases in which genetically distinct populations of a species (e.g., herbivores or natural enemies) preferentially reproduce or feed on different host species. In agroecosystems, HAD often results in unique strains or biotypes of pest species, each attacking different species of crops. However, HAD is not restricted to pest populations, and may cascade to the third trophic level, affecting host selection by natural enemies, and ultimately leading to HAD within natural enemy species. Natural enemy HAD may affect the outcomes of biological control efforts, whether classical, conservation, or augmentative. Here, we explore the potential effects of pest and natural enemy HAD on biological control in agroecosystems, with emphases on current knowledge gaps and implications of HAD for selection of biological control agents. Additionally, given the importance of semiochemicals in mediating interactions between trophic levels, we emphasize the role of chemical ecology in interactions between pests and natural enemies, and suggest areas of consideration for biological control. Overall, we aim to jump-start a conversation concerning the relevance of HAD in biological control by reviewing currently available information on natural enemy HAD, identifying challenges to incorporating HAD considerations into biological control efforts, and proposing future research directions on natural enemy selection and HAD.

Розглянуто проблеми та перспективи розвитку фінансової децентралізації в Україні. Здійснено аналіз основних показників надходжень до місцевих бюджетів під час проведення фінансової децентралізації. Розроблено пропозиції щодо подальшого здійснення реформ у сфері ефективного використання коштів місцевими органами влади. Обґрунтовано напрями щодо удосконалення відносин між державою та місцевими органами влади у процесі реалізації фінансової децентралізації та її наступних етапів.

Specific features of the information support for the process of decision-making while the enterprise management are considered in the work as well as the architecture of the information systems of a certain kind has been developed. The use of the models during making the analysis in the systems of support for decision-making is developed just as the assessment of the capabilities for these systems are validated at the different levels of management. The goals of support at the high level are examined and the possibility of the use of cognitive images is described as the instrument for data visualization.

On the grounds of contemporary understanding of emergency management and basing on the general interdisciplinary approach, the article examines competencies necessary for nowadays emergency managers. In the contemporary changing world, individual, community and the state permanently encounter a variety of threats and possible threats. The states, as the main interested parties, responsible for emergency management on different levels of management, are most interested in qualitative and effective management of such situations on all the levels. Using interdisciplinary approach towards ‘extreme situations’ management, the authors state that in order to successfully manage the threats and the consequences raised by them, different levels of emergency managers have to be competent and the competency model applied to them must be composed of the main two components: the whole of managerial knowledge and leadership skills. Managerial knowledge should be composed of a wide range of managerial subjects relevant to emergency situations, which would enable to effectively manage the situations in the whole range of possible situation. Emergency leadership skills are important in undefined situations, requiring immediate and adequate decisions. Only the managers possessing such competencies will correspond to contemporary requirements and will be able to manage them properly.

The article considers one of the aspects of an integrated approach to assessing the effectiveness of organizational (formal) leadership – the constructiveness of business interaction in management. The author considers the main types of influence in leadership based on the classification of K.Levin and common constructive and destructive models of business behavior (in the typology of S. Covey). The author suggests that following constructive types of influence and models of interaction will help to increase the effectiveness of the leader's influence on followers. 
 The article describes the author's interpretation of the methods of evaluating the constructiveness of the models of behavior of the head, their generalization into a single comprehensive methodology, the use of which will contribute to the improvement of communications at all levels of interaction in the organization.
 The author cites data from studies of constructiveness indicators of almost 500 managers of different levels of management and potential managers from among the personnel reserve. The data obtained allow us to draw conclusions about the main trends of leadership behavior of managers in modern Russian organizations and the importance of constructive business interaction in the formation of an individual leadership style. 
 The novelty of the research lies in the application of an integrated approach to assessing the effectiveness of organizational leadership; in a broader interpretation of the concept of «leadership style», the dilution of the concepts of «leadership style» and «type of influence in leadership», the allocation of a special factor (characteristic) of leadership that affects the quality of managerial influence – «constructiveness of business interaction».

Land use capability is one of the most widespread technical-interpretative classification systems, however, regional adaptations may be necessary because different attributes may affect it. For these adaptations, the Minas Gerais soil map was used as the starting point for this study. The criteria to define the land use capability were adapted to management levels with small (level A) and medium (level B) application of capital and modern technology (level C). The aim of the present study was to map land use capability for Minas Gerais state, Brazil, following the criteria adapted to different levels of management and measure the accuracy of the resulting maps. The system of land use capability is widely used by INCRA in evaluations of rural properties. Erosion criterion was replaced by erodibility. The information was handled in a geographic information system. For validation, soil profiles from regional pedological surveys were sampled, classified, and its land use capability was compared to the land use capability shown on the map according to the different management levels. In spite of the small scale of the soil map, the maps of land use capability exhibited adequate accuracy: 73% (management level A), 71% (B), and 50% (C). Therefore, it can be applied in initial phases of regional planning studies, in which the level of details required is reduced (for example, in ecological-economic zoning). More detailed analyses still depend on detailed field surveys, as advocated by the system of land use capability.

In modern conditions of globalized society in the theories of management, there is growing attention to emotional information, its importance and the need of its effective use. Researches confirm that emotions can act as organizational resources that can be managed to improve organization’s effectiveness, employee’s performance and create a favorable moral and psychological climate, both within the organization and with external stakeholders. This article studies the main approaches to the application of the concept of «emotional intelligence» among the various levels of management in the organization and offers authors’ development to improve competencies in this area. The relevance of the research is proved, which consists in special attention to the problems of exchange and use of emotional information among personnel and management. The basic competences those are necessary for the development of emotional intelligence from a position of importance for different levels of managers are studied. This article analyzes the development and practices of implementing programs to enhance emotional intelligence in international organizations and corporations. The purpose of the article is to study the influence of emotional intelligence on different levels of managers in order to identify the main areas of competence development. To achieve the set purpose the following tasks have to be solved: to study the concept of «emotional intelligence», its components; to study the basic competences of emotional intelligence; substantiation of competencies and their importance for managers; to research the best practices on increasing the emotional intelligence in organizations and results of its implementation; to analyze the need to apply and develop emotional intelligence among different levels of management. Authors use such research methods as analysis and synthesis, abstraction and generalization, comparison and competency-based approach. The result of the work is developed recommendations for increasing emotional intelligence among executives based on the analysis of the importance of different competencies for different levels of management.

10 Biodiversity and biocontrol: Lessons from insect pest management

隨著國內全民健保制度之實施，各大型醫院之競爭也日趨激烈，由於各大型醫院的管理模式的不同，導致績效構面間的差異，其間的相互關係，雖然已有學者加以研究，但仍缺乏實證且完整的具體結論。本研究之目的在探討國內四家醫學中心在經營環境、組織文化、管理模式、競爭優勢與經營績效等方面的差異，並探討以上各構面之互動關係。透過一系列之專家訪談與問卷調查，本研究之結果顯示，當醫學中心愈加強化其醫院組織文化，注重降低成本，提升效率和人性關懷、員工導向的管理模式，其競爭優勢愈高，且經營績效也愈顯著，另外研究結果亦顯示，醫學中心組織文化、管理模式以及競爭優勢，兩兩相互間皆有顯著的正相關。研究成果可作為醫學中心經營者及各級主管在擬定管理制度及經營方針之參考，亦可作為學術界後續研究之依據。

The research aims to evaluate different levels of management understanding and performance on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of traditional banks and Islamic banks in Bangladesh. Moreover, the paper points out the philosophy of both banks’ policy makers. The study is exclusively analytical in nature where 14 banks were selected on the basis of availability of branches in the research area. The research was based on primary data sources through a structured questionnaire. The research findings revealed that there is a gap between policy makers’ assurance of CSR contribution and its real implementation. The analysis found that Islamic banks are better than traditional banks with regard to the implementation of CSR policies. The result also showed that there are still some controversies on CSR performance of Islamic and traditional banks in general. The study also observed that Islamic, as well as traditional banks’ different levels of management conceive that CSR activities are performed by banks for their own interest rather than for social welfare. Therefore, it must be emphasized that good CSR policy is inevitable for all types of banks in Bangladesh. For the betterment of the society, as well as the banks, all levels of management should harmonize their CSR philosophy. Keywords: corporate social responsibility, management performance, traditional bank, Islamic bank, Bangladesh. JEL Classification: G21, M10, M14

Vegetation management and biological control in agroecosystems

The section is devoted to the study of a new method of presenting information about the state of the company – integrated reporting. Particular attention is paid to one of the components of integrated reporting – environmental reporting. A comparative characteristic of traditional financial and integrated reporting by different criteria is made. The content and elements of the integrated report in accordance with the International Standard are disclosed. It is proposed to consider the new reporting model as a possible way to obtain a more complete picture of the company’s activities, which will allow it to reflect risks and opportunities, more logically link social, environmental factors and financial results. A group of financial and non-financial indicators of integrated reporting analysis is proposed, which will become the information base in the management system of entities at different levels of management. The financial statements were improved by adding additional items in the context of disclosure of information on environmental performance of the enterprise. The classification of environmental costs is proposed, which will contribute to the further development of environmental accounting and analysis. The presented results can be used by entities of different levels of management when deciding on the feasibility of an integrated report, especially management environmental reporting and its analysis.

The knowledge-intensive enterprises, in the course of their activity, face a combination of various threats and the attendant risks. In the article the authors proved the importance of the problem of improving the risk management system in the aviation industry. The relevance of this study is justified by the need to improve the quality of management decisions taking into account the impact of risks in the implementation of complex innovative projects for the creation and operation of aviation equipment. The article contains the results of a study to identify new approaches to solving the problem of effective management of aviation industry enterprises, including risk management, as part of the overall management system of the enterprise. The existing risk management system, substantiates the main shortcomings and develops proposals for its improvement are described. As a result of the work done the authors developed a risk management system that allows timely detection of risk factors and assess the impact of the implementation of a risk event on key performance indicators of enterprises. The application of the proposed risk management system will allow to provide a new approach to risk-oriented management in the industry, with the possibility of making effective management decisions at different levels of management, from sectoral to project management, which will increase the level of economic security of enterprises in modern conditions, ensure effective interaction between enterprises with the ability to make managerial decisions at different levels of management - from project to industry. The economic effectiveness of the proposed risk management system will be manifested in the selection of the optimal management solution, with efficient use of limited resources, in improving the indicators that characterize the economic security of enterprises.