Insect Ecology: An Ecosystem Approach, Fourth Edition

Insect Ecology: An Ecosystem Approach, Fourth Edition, follows a hierarchical organization that begins with relatively easy-to-understand chapters on adaptive responses of insect populations to various environmental changes, disturbances, and anthropogenic activities, how insects find food and habitat resources, and how insects allocate available energy and nutrients. Chapters build on fundamental information to show how insect populations respond to changing environmental conditions, including spatial and temporal distribution of food and habitat. The next section integrates populations of interacting species within communities and how these interactions determine structure of communities over time and space. Other works in insect ecology stop there, essentially limiting presentation of insect ecology to evolutionary responses of insects to their environment, including the activities of other species. The unique aspect of this book is its four chapters on ecosystem structure and function, and how herbivores, pollinators, seed predators, and detritivores drive ecosystem dynamics and contribute to ecosystem stability. Provides the most advanced synthesis of insect ecology, with updated material throughout and new chapters Presents the roles of insects in delivery of ecosystem services and applications to pest management and conservation Features full coverage of ecosystem structure and function balanced with essential background on evolutionary aspects Includes case studies highlighting practical and theoretical applications for topics covered in each chapter Content: Front matter,Copyright,PrefaceEntitled to full textChapter 1 - Overview, Pages 1-17 Introduction, Pages 19-20 Chapter 2 - Responses to Abiotic Conditions, Pages 21-59 Chapter 3 - Resource Acquisition, Pages 61-106 Chapter 4 - Resource Allocation, Pages 107-137 Introduction, Pages 139-140 Chapter 5 - Population Systems, Pages 141-175 Chapter 6 - Population Dynamics, Pages 177-209 Chapter 7 - Biogeography, Pages 211-245 Introduction, Pages 247-248 Chapter 8 - Species Interactions, Pages 249-290 Chapter 9 - Community Structure, Pages 291-325 Chapter 10 - Community Dynamics, Pages 327-364 Introduction, Pages 365-366 Chapter 11 - Ecosystem Structure and Function, Pages 367-404 Chapter 12 - Herbivory, Pages 405-443 Chapter 13 - Pollination, Seed Predation, and Seed Dispersal, Pages 445-476 Chapter 14 - Decomposition and Pedogenesis, Pages 477-510 Chapter 15 - Insects as Regulators of Ecosystem Processes, Pages 511-537 Introduction, Page 539 Chapter 16 - Application to Sustainability of Ecosystem Services, Pages 541-563 Chapter 17 - Management of Insect Populations, Pages 565-595 Chapter 18 - Summary and Synthesis, Pages 597-608 Bibliography, Pages 609-702 Author Index, Pages 703-725 Taxonomic Index (Arthropods only), Pages 727-735 Subject Index, Pages 737-762 Timothy D. Schowalter. Previous ed.: 2011. Includes bibliographical references (pages 609-702) and indexes.