EXAMINE (EXploitation of Aphid Monitoring In Europe):: an European thematic network for the study of global change impacts on aphids

Aphids are the insect group most sensitive to climate change because of their very short generation times and rapid potential growth rates. A network of suction traps, 12.2 metres tall, has been established in 19 countries to monitor these insects. The combined system will provide the most comprehensive database for any terrestrial invertebrate group anywhere in the world and will be a unique resource for studies on the impacts of global change. An SQL SERVER database is being developed which will comprise daily or weekly records of aphids at all sites throughout Europe for all years of trap operation. Over 1000 site-years of data are available. The database will be interfaced to an US (Internet Information Server) via ASP (Active Server Pages). Participants will be able to access the database via the World Wide Web and be able to export data, plot graphs, maps etc. and enter new data. Data on climate, pollutant concentrations and land use will be incorporated into the database and general linear models will be used to examine relationships between these and the aphid data. Where significant relationships are found, these will be extrapolated to show the likely impact on the aphid variables of environmental conditions expected up to fifty years hence. The project will produce a lasting infrastructure for validating predictions of the impacts of global change on European agroecosystems and will facilitate a wide range of basic and applied studies on aphid dynamics. The project participants will welcome approaches from other aphidologists who wish to contribute to or use the database for scientific study.