Potential of natural repellents methylanthranilate and anthraquinone applied on maize seeds and seedlings against house sparrow (Passer domesticus) in captivity

Abstract Various bird pests caused severe economic losses to valuable crops and fruit orchards all over the world. Among the birds, house sparrow is also considered to cause heavy plunder, not only to seeds of crops but also seedlings especially in organic farming. In present study two bird repellents, methylanthranilate and anthraquinone tested against house sparrows on maize seeds and seedlings in aviary conditions. Trial group in aviary-I, the treated maize seeds and seedlings with different doses of both bird repellents, control group in aviary-II, untreated seeds and seedlings were provided for three hours in the early morning. In each aviary, two closed circuit cameras were also installed to monitor the behavioral responses against different concentrations of both chemical repellents. Statistical analysis showed that there existed highly significant (P<0.01) variations among the trial and control groups for seeds and seedlings. By comparing both repellents, significant (P<0.05) differences were detected and anthraquinone showed better efficacy when compared to methylanthranilate, but in maize seedlings both repellents equal repellent properties. Non-significant (P>0.05) differences were observed in different grading of both natural chemical repellents for maize seeds while significant (P<0.05) variations were noticed for maize seedlings when provided to sparrows. By videotaped behavior sparrows presented manifest head juddering and feather upsetting activities by consumption of treated seeds and seedlings with higher concentrations of both natural bird repellents.

摘要 全球范围内，多种鸟类害虫会对高经济价值农作物与果园造成严重经济损失。其中家麻雀被认为会造成严重的盗食危害，不仅取食农作物种子，还会啃食幼苗，在有机农业种植场景中尤为突出。本研究于鸟舍环境中开展试验，以家麻雀为受试对象，针对玉米种子与幼苗评估了两种鸟类驱避剂——邻氨基苯甲酸甲酯（methylanthranilate）与蒽醌（anthraquinone）的驱避效果。试验设置两组鸟舍：鸟舍I为试验组，投放经两种驱避剂不同剂量处理后的玉米种子与幼苗；鸟舍II为对照组，投放未经处理的玉米种子与幼苗，两组均于清晨投放，时长3小时。每个鸟舍均安装两台闭路摄像机（closed circuit cameras），用以监测家麻雀对两种化学驱避剂不同浓度的行为响应。统计分析结果表明，试验组与对照组在玉米种子及幼苗的取食表现上存在极显著差异（P<0.01）。对比两种驱避剂的效果，二者存在显著差异（P<0.05）：蒽醌的驱避效果优于邻氨基苯甲酸甲酯，但针对玉米幼苗时，两种驱避剂的驱避效果相当。在玉米种子试验中，两种天然化学驱避剂的不同浓度梯度下，取食情况无显著差异（P>0.05）；而在玉米幼苗试验中，取食情况则存在显著差异（P<0.05）。通过录像观测可知，家麻雀取食经两种天然鸟类驱避剂高浓度处理后的玉米种子与幼苗后，会呈现出明显的头部震颤与羽毛凌乱等行为反应。