Natural enemies : the population biology of predators, parasites, and diseases

This book is about disease and death. It is an ecologist's view of Darwin's vivid evocation of Nature, red in tooth and claw. An international team of authors examines broad patterns in the population biology of natural enemies, and addresses general questions about the role of natural enemies in the population dynamics and evolution of their prey. For instance, how do large natural enemies like wolves differ from small natural enemies like bacterial diseases in their effects on prey abundance? Is it better to chase after prey, or sit and wait for it to come to you? How should prey behave in order to minimize the risk of being eaten? The answers are all in this fascinating senior undergraduate/postgraduate text.Content: Chapter 1 Evolution of Exploiter–Victim Relationships (pages 1–25): Jon Seger Chapter 2 Correlates of Carnivory: Approaches and Answers (pages 26–39): Paul H. Harvey and John L. Gittleman Chapter 3 Population Dynamics of Natural Enemies and their Prey (pages 40–89): Michael J. Crawley Chapter 4 Foraging Theory (pages 90–114): Michael J. Crawley and John R. Krebs Chapter 5 Large Carnivores and their Prey: the Quick and the Dead (pages 115–142): T. M. Caro and Clare D. Fitzgibbon Chapter 6 Birds of Prey (pages 143–162): Ian Newton Chapter 7 Insectivorous Mammals (pages 163–187): Ilkka Hanski Chapter 8 Marine Mammals (pages 188–204): Simon Northridge and John Beddington Chapter 9 Marine Invertebrates (pages 205–224): A. J. Underwood and P. G. Fairweather Chapter 10 Predatory Arthropods (pages 225–264): Maurice W. Sabelis Chapter 11 The Population Biology of Insect Parasitoids (pages 265–292): Michael P. Hassell and H. Charles J. Godfray Chapter 12 Bloodsucking Arthropods (pages 293–312): Christopher Dye Chapter 13 Spiders as Representative ‘Sit?and?wait’ Predators (pages 313–328): Susan E. Riechert Chapter 14 Macroparasites: Worms and Others (pages 329–348): Andrew P. Dobson, Peter J. Hudson and Annarie M. Lyles Chapter 15 Microparasites: Viruses and Bacteria (pages 349–374): D. James Nokes Chapter 16 Predator Psychology and the Evolution of Prey Coloration (pages 375–394): Tim Guilford Chapter 17 Natural Enemies and Community Dynamics (pages 395–411): Andrew Redfearn and Stuart L. Pimm Chapter 18 Biological Control (pages 412–430): Jeff K. Waage and Nick J. Mills Chapter 19 The Dynamics of Predator–Prey and Resource–Harvester Systems (pages 431–457): Robert M. May and Charlotte H. Watts Chapter 20 Prey Defence and Predator Foraging (pages 458–475): Stephen B. Malcolm Chapter 21 Overview (pages 476–489): Michael J. Crawley

This book is about disease and death! An international team of experts has been gathered together from the very best names in Zoology, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology to present a complete description of the evolution and ecology of all carnivorous organisms from whales and lions, down to virus and bacteria. This is the first volume to to give a complete description of all carnivorous organisms and the first synthesis of the population biology of this diverse group of organisms to tackle the following questions: How do natural enemies affect the distribution and abundance of their prey, and how have natural enemies functioned as agents of natural selection effecting the evolution of behaviour and morphology in their prey?

Booknews

Begins with background on evolution, morphology, and population dynamics, and general themes in the biology of predator-prey interactions, followed by description of how different taxonomic groups affect and are affected by their prey. The final section examines conclusions on predator-prey co-evolution, on natural enemies within the community, and on humans as predators or as managers of natural enemies in biological pest control. Not for the squeamish--predator-prey interactions are not a pretty sight. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Following an examination of the biology and population dynamics of natural enemies, this work look in more detail at large carnivores, birds of prey, insectivorous mammals, insect parasitoids, arthropod predators, spiders, marine invertebrates, fish, cretaceous species, and others. Almost every TV nature show has at least one scene in which the potential victim of predation pricks up its ears and looks about nervously for the predator.