Arthropods of Tropical Forests

Arthropods of Tropical Forests
Author: Yves Basset
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 500
Release: 2003-01-23
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 9780521820004

Arthropods are the most diverse group of organisms on our planet and the tropical rainforests represent the most biologically diverse of all ecosystems. This book, written by 79 authors contributing to 35 chapters, aims to provide an overview of data collected during recent studies in Australia, Africa, Asia, and South America. The book focuses on the distribution of arthropods and their use of resources in the rainforest canopies, providing a basis for comparison between the forest ecosystems of the main biogeographical regions. Topics covered include the distribution of arthropods along vertical gradients and the relationship between the soil/litter habitat and the forest canopy. The temporal dynamics of arthropod communities, habitats and food selection are examined within and among tropical tree crowns, as are the effects of forest disturbance. This important book is a valuable addition to the literature used by community ecologists, conservation biologists entomologists, botanists and forestry experts.

Insects and Other Arthropods of Tropical America

Insects and Other Arthropods of Tropical America
Author: Paul E. Hanson
Publisher: Cornell University Press
Total Pages: 384
Release: 2016-06-15
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 150170429X

Visitors to tropical forests generally come to see the birds, mammals, and plants. Aside from butterflies, however, insects usually do not make it on the list of things to see. This is a shame. Insects are everywhere, they are often as beautiful as the showiest of birds, and they have a fascinating natural history. With their beautifully illustrated guide to insects and other arthropods, Paul E. Hanson and Kenji Nishida put the focus on readily observable insects that one encounters while strolling through a tropical forest in the Americas. It is a general belief that insects in the tropics are larger and more colorful than insects in temperate regions, but this simply reflects a greater diversity of nearly all types of insects in the tropics. On a single rainforest tree, for example, you will find more species of ant than in all of England.Though written for those who have no prior knowledge of insects, this book should also prove useful to those who study them. In addition to descriptions of the principal insect families, the reader will find a wealth of biological information that serves as an introduction to the natural history of insects and related classes. Sidebars on insect behavior and ecological factors enhance the descriptive accounts. Kenji Nishida's stunning photographs—many of which show insects in action in their natural settings—add appeal to every page. A final chapter provides a glimpse into the intriguing world of spiders, scorpions, crabs, and other arthropods.

Economic and Ecological Significance of Arthropods in Diversified Ecosystems

Economic and Ecological Significance of Arthropods in Diversified Ecosystems
Author: Akshay Kumar Chakravarthy
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 431
Release: 2016-10-20
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9811015244

Arthropods are invertebrates that constitute over 90% of the animal kingdom, and their bio-ecology is closely linked with global functioning and survival. Arthropods play an important role in maintaining the health of ecosystems, provide livelihoods and nutrition to human communities, and are important indicators of environmental change. Yet the population trends of several arthropods species show them to be in decline. Arthropods constitute a dominant group with 1.2 million species influencing earth’s biodiversity. Among arthropods, insects are predominant, with ca. 1 million species and having evolved some 350 million years ago. Arthropods are closely associated with living and non-living entities alike, making the ecosystem services they provide crucially important. In order to be effective, plans for the conservation of arthropods and ecosystems should include a mixture of strategies like protecting key habitats and genomic studies to formulate relevant policies for in situ and ex situ conservation. This two-volume book focuses on capturing the essentials of arthropod inventories, biology, and conservation. Further, it seeks to identify the mechanisms by which arthropod populations can be sustained in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and by means of which certain problematic species be managed without producing harmful environmental side-effects. This edited compilation includes chapters contributed by over 80 biologists on a wide range of topics embracing the diversity, distribution, utility and conservation of arthropods and select groups of insect taxa. More importantly, it describes in detail the mechanisms of sustaining arthropod ecosystems, services and populations. It addresses the contribution of modern biological tools such as molecular and genetic techniques regulating gene expression, as well as conventional, indigenous practices in arthropod conservation. The contributors reiterate the importance of documenting and understanding the biology of arthropods from a holistic perspective before addressing conservation issues at large. This book offers a valuable resource for all zoologists, entomologists, ecologists, conservation biologists, policy makers, teachers and students interested in the conservation of biological resources.

The Conservation of Insects and Their Habitats

The Conservation of Insects and Their Habitats
Author: N.M. Collins
Publisher: Academic Press
Total Pages: 469
Release: 2012-12-02
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0323149308

The Conservation of Insects and their Habitats is a compilation of papers presented in the 15th Symposium of the Royal Entomological Society of London held at the Department of Physics Lecture Theatre Imperial College, London, on September 14-15, 1989. The papers cover topics on the diversity of entomological habitats and ecologicalroles around the world, and highlight the value of insects to humanity. Some practical proposals for conservation, especially in tropical forests and on islands, where their diversity is greatest, are also given. This book will add to the continuing force for the conservation and protection of biological diversity of the Earth.

Tropical Forest Canopies: Ecology and Management

Tropical Forest Canopies: Ecology and Management
Author: K.E. Linsenmair
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 361
Release: 2013-03-14
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9401736065

Almost half of all life on earth may exist in the world's forest canopies. They may also play a vital role in maintaining the planet's climate, yet they remain largely unexplored owing to difficulties of access. They are renowned for their great diversity and role in forest functioning, yet there are still great gaps in the understanding of this `last biological frontier'. This seminal book shows how canopy science is now in a position to answer many of the outstanding questions, among which are some of the most pressing environmental issues society is presently facing. It represents a major summary of the current understanding of canopy ecology, and maps a path forward into a greater understanding of tropical forest ecology and management at a time when the very future of this ecosystem is threatened by humanity's actions.

Forests and Insects

Forests and Insects
Author: Allan D. Watt
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 440
Release: 1997-09-30
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 9780412791109

This book covers the full breadth of forest entomology. It combines the work of forest entomologists working on the impact and management of forest pests with those involved in diversity assessment and conservation of insects in forests. Forests and Insects demonstrates that both these disciplines demand an understanding of population and community biology. The book covers such topics as colonization of trees by insects, population dynamics of forest insects, insect natural enemies, the effects of climate change and pollution on forest pests, spatial variation in the abundance of insects,the mineralization of carbon by termites, the impact of herbivorous insects, and the conservation of forest insect diversity, including the effects of forest fragmentation and deforestation. This Royal Entomological Society Symposium volume will be of great interest to all agricultural and forest entomologists, population and community biologists, pest management specialists and anyone concerned with the conservation of forest biodiversity.

Forest Canopies

Forest Canopies
Author: Margaret Lowman
Publisher: Academic Press
Total Pages: 543
Release: 2004-09
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 0124575536

The treetops of the world's forests are where discovery and opportunity abound, however they have been relatively inaccessible until recently. This book represents an authoritative synthesis of data, anecdotes, case studies, observations, and recommendations from researchers and educators who have risked life and limb in their advocacy of the High Frontier. With innovative rope techniques, cranes, walkways, dirigibles, and towers, they finally gained access to the rich biodiversity that lives far above the forest floor and the emerging science of canopy ecology. In this new edition of Forest Canopies, nearly 60 scientists and educators from around the world look at the biodiversity, ecology, evolution, and conservation of forest canopy ecosystems. Comprehensive literature list State-of-the-art results and data sets from current field work Foremost scientists in the field of canopy ecology Expanded collaboration of researchers and international projects User-friendly format with sidebars and case studies Keywords and outlines for each chapter

Biological Control of Tropical Weeds Using Arthropods

Biological Control of Tropical Weeds Using Arthropods
Author: Rangaswamy Muniappan
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 509
Release: 2009-03-05
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0521877911

This book discusses the biological control of weeds using arthropods, providing ecological management models for use across the tropical world.

Planet of the Bugs

Planet of the Bugs
Author: Scott Richard Shaw
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Total Pages: 263
Release: 2014-09-11
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 022616361X

Chronicles the evolution of insects and explains how evolutionary innovations have enabled them to disperse widely, occupy narrow niches, and survive global catastrophes. --Publisher's description.