Insect Ecology

About this book

Combining breadth of coverage with detail, this logical and cohesive introduction to insect ecology couples concepts with a broad range of examples and practical applications. It explores cutting-edge topics in the field, drawing on and highlighting the links between theory and the latest empirical studies. The sections are structured around a series of key topics, including behavioral ecology; species interactions; population ecology; food webs, communities and ecosystems; and broad patterns in nature.

Chapters progress logically from the small scale to the large; from individual species through to species interactions, populations and communities. Application sections at the end of each chapter outline the practicality of ecological concepts and show how ecological information and concepts can be useful in agriculture, horticulture and forestry. Each chapter ends with a summary, providing a brief recap, followed by a set of questions and discussion topics designed to encourage independent and creative thinking.

Contents

Preface

Part I. Introduction
1. The scope of insect ecology

Part II. Behavioral Ecology
2. Behavior, mating systems, and sexual selection
3. Social insects: the evolution and ecological consequences of sociality

Part III. Species Interactions
4. Plant and herbivore interactions
5. Lateral interactions: competition, amensalism, and facilitation
6. Mutualisms
7. Prey and predator interactions
8. Host and parasite interactions

Part IV. Population Ecology
9. Demography, population growth and life tables
10. Life histories
11. Population dynamics

Part V. Food Webs and Communities
12. Community structure
13. Multi-trophic interactions

Part VI. Broad Patterns in Nature
14. Biological diversity
15. Planet Earth: patterns and processes

Glossary
References
Taxonomic index
Author index
Subject index

Biography

Peter W. Price is Regents’ Professor Emeritus in the Department of Biological Sciences at Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff. Robert F. Denno (1945-2008) was Professor in the Entomology Department at the University of Maryland for more than 20 years. Micky D. Eubanks is Associate Professor of Insect Ecology in the Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University. Deborah L. Finke is Assistant Professor of Entomology in the Division of Plant Sciences at the University of Missouri. Ian Kaplan is Assistant Professor in the Department of Entomology at Purdue University, Indiana.