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Oral Presentation

Poster Display

Student Competition

Ticketed Event

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Student Poster Display Competition

Plant-Insect Ecosystems

Student Competition

Student

Grad Poster Competition: P-IE, Parasitoids, Parasites, and Predators

Pastured poultry impacts on the arthropod and weed community

Monday, November 10, 2025

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Pacific

Location: Exhibit Hall A-A1, OCC

Presenting Author(s)

AR

Avery Ryan

University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia

Co-Author(s)

SV

Sofia Varriano

University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia
KC

Kariana Colon

University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia
PA

Pedro Augusto Da Pos Rodrigues

University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia
WS

William Snyder

Professor
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia

Growing public interest in non-conventional poultry production is fueling “novel” types of poultry management like pastured poultry. Pastured chickens feed on a variety of arthropods, weeds, and weed seeds – potentially impacting plant and insect pest communities. Could foraging pastured poultry be utilized as a biological control method? We collected insect and weed community data from 14 non-conventionally managed poultry farms across the Southeast, in areas with and without chickens. So far over 55 families of insects and 20 families of plants have been identified. We also collected chicken feces and through DNA meta-barcoding determined the exact identity of prey items. We have identified 92 arthropod species, and 157 plants species found in chicken feces. Many of these species are common pests are farms, but some may be considered beneficial. The objective of this research is to elucidate the relationship between pastured poultry and the surrounding arthropod and weed communities and to determine if this influence benefits or harms growers.