Insect Ecology - An Ecosystem Approach (2nd edition)

Hardback  576 pages  ISBN 012088772X      £50.00

Of interest to natural resource managers and environmental policy-makers, as well as students and instructors of insect ecology.

Contents

• Chapter 1. Overview I. Scope of Insect Ecology II. Ecosystem Ecology A. Ecosystem Complexity B. The Hierarchy of Subsystems C. Regulation III. Environmental Change and Disturbance IV. Ecosystem Approach to Insect Ecology V. Scope of This Book

SECTION I: Ecology of Individual Insects

• Chapter 2. Responses to Abiotic Conditions I. The Physical Template A. Biomes B. Environmental Variation C. Disturbances II. Surviving Variable Abiotic Conditions A. Thermoregulation B. Water Balance C. Air and Water Chemistry D. Other Abiotic Factors III. Factors Affecting Dispersal Behavior A. Life History Strategy B. Crowding C. Nutritional Status D. Habitat and Resource Conditions E. Mechanism of Dispersal IV. Responses to Anthropogenic Changes V. Summary
• Chapter 3. Resource Acquisition I. Resource Quality A. Resource Requirements B. Variation in Food Quality C. Plant Chemical Defenses D. Arthropod Defenses E. Factors Affecting Expression of Defenses F. Mechanisms for Exploiting Variable Resources II. Resource Acceptability III. Resource Availability A. Foraging Strategies B. Orientation C. Learning IV. Summary
• Chapter 4. Resource Allocation I. Resource Budget II. Allocation of Assimilated Resources A. Resource Acquisition B. Mating Activity C. Reproductive and Social Behavior D. Competitive, Defensive and Mutualistic Behavior III. Efficiency of Resource Use A. Factors Affecting Efficiency B. Tradeoffs IV. Summary

SECTION II: Population Ecology

• Chapter 5. Population Systems I. Population Structure A. Density B. Dispersion C. Metapopulation Structure D. Age Structure E. Sex Ratio F. Genetic Composition II. Population Processes A. Natality B. Mortality C. Dispersal III. Life History Characteristics IV. Parameter Estimation V. Summary
• Chapter 6. Population Dynamics I. Population Fluctuation II. Factors Affecting Population Size A. Density Independent Factors B. Density Dependent Factors C. Regulatory Mechanisms III. Models of Population Change A. Exponential and Geometric Models B. Logistic Model C. Complex Models D. Computerized Models E. Model Evaluation IV. Summary
• Chapter 7. Biogeography I. Geographic Distribution A. Global Patterns B. Regional Patterns C. Island Biogeography D. Landscape and Stream Continuum Patterns II. Spatial Dynamics of Populations A. Expanding Populations B. Metapopulation Dynamics III. Anthropogenic Effects on Spatial Dynamics A. Fragmentation B. Disturbances to Aquatic Ecosystems C. Species Introductions IV. Conservation Biology V. Models VI. Summary

SECTION III: Community Ecology

• Chapter 8. Species Interactions I. Classes of Interactions A. Competition B. Predation C. Symbiosis II. Factors Affecting Interactions A. Abiotic Conditions B. Resource Availability and Distribution C. Indirect Effects of Other Species III. Consequences of Interactions A. Population Regulation B. Community Regulation IV. Summary
• Chapter 9. Community Structure I. Approaches to Describing Communities A. Species Diversity B. Species Interactions C. Functional Organization II. Patterns of Community Structure A. Global Patterns B. Biome and Landscape Patterns III. Determinants of Community Structure A. Habitat Area and Complexity B. Habitat Stability C. Resource Availability D. Species Interactions IV. Summary
• Chapter 10. Community Dynamics I. Short-term Change in Community Structure II. Successional Change in Community Structure A. Patterns of Succession B. Factors Affecting Succession C. Models of Succession III. Paleoecology IV. Diversity vs. Stability A. Components of Stability B. Stability of Community Variables V. Summary

Section IV: Ecosystem Level

• Chapter 11. Ecosystem Structure and Function I. Ecosystem Structure A. Trophic Structure B. Spatial Variability II. Energy Flow A. Primary Productivity B. Secondary Productivity C. Energy Budets III. Biogeochemical Cycling A. Abiotic and Biotic Pools B. Major Cycles C. Factors Influencing Cycling Processes IV. Climate Modification V. Modeling VI. Summary
• Chapter 12. Herbivory I. Types and Patterns of Herbivory A. Herbivory Functional Groups B. Measurement of Herbivory C. Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Herbivory II. Effects of Herbivory A. Plant Productivity, Survival and Growth Form B. Community Dynamics C. Water and Nutrient Fluxes D. Effects on Climate and Disturbance Regime III. Summary
• Chapter 13. Pollination, Seed Predation and Seed Dispersal I. Mechanisms and Patterns of Pollination A. Mechanisms of Pollination B. Pollination Efficiency C. Patterns of Insect Pollination Among Ecosystems II. Effects of Pollination III. Mechanisms and Patterns of Seed Predation and Dispersal A. Mechanisms of Seed Predation and Dispersal B. Efficiency of Seed Production and Dispersal C. Patterns of Seed Mortality and Dispersal Among Ecosystems IV. Effects of Seed Predation and Dispersal V. Summary
• Chapter 14. Decomposition and Pedogenesis I. Types and Patterns of Detritivory and Burrowing A. Detritivore and Burrower Functional Groups B. Measurement of Detritivory, Burrowing and Decomposition Rates C. Spatial and Temporal Patterns in Processing of Organic Matter II. Effects of Detritivory and Burrowing A. Decomposition and Mineralization B. Soil Structure and Infiltration C. Primary Production and Vegetation Dynamics III. Summary
• Chapter 15. Insects as Regulators of Ecosystem Processes I. Development of the Concept II. Ecosystems as Cybernetic Systems A. Properties of Cybernetic Systems B. Ecosystem Homeostasis C. Definition of Stability D. Regulation of NPP by Biodiversity E. Regulation of NPP by Insects IV. Summary Section V: Synthesis
• Chapter 16. Synthesis I. Summary II. Synthesis III. Applications A. Management of Crop, Forest, and Urban Pests B. Conservation/restoration Ecology C. Indicators of Environmental Conditions IV. Critical Issues V. Conclusions Bibliography I. Summary II. Synthesis III. Applications A. Management of Crop, Forest, and Urban Pests B. Conservation/restoration Ecology C. Indicators of Environmental Conditions IV. Critical Issues V. Conclusions Bibliography