Insect Ecology: An Ecosystem Approach

by Timothy D. Schowalter

Overview

Dr. Timothy Schowalter has succeeded in creating a unique, updated treatment of insect ecology. This revised and expanded text looks at how insects adapt to environmental conditions while maintaining the ability to substantially alter their environment. It covers a range of topics- from individual insects that respond to local changes in the environment and affect resource distribution, to entire insect communities that have the capacity to modify ecosystem conditions.

Insect Ecology, Second Edition, synthesizes the latest research in the field and has been produced in full color throughout. It is ideal for students in both entomology and ecology-focused programs.

NEW TO THIS EDITION:

* New topics such as elemental defense by plants, chaotic models, molecular methods to measure disperson, food web relationships, and more

* Expanded sections on plant defenses, insect learning, evolutionary tradeoffs, conservation biology and more

* Includes more than 350 new references

* More than 40 new full-color figures

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780080508818
Publisher:	Elsevier Science
Publication date:	02/27/2006
Series:	Insect Ecology Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	576
File size:	9 MB

About the Author

Timothy D. Schowalter received his Ph.D. degree in Entomology from the University of Georgia in 1979. He is currently a Professor of Entomology at Louisiana State University, where he also served as the department head until 2015. Previously, he was a professor of entomology at Oregon State University, Corvallis. Dr. Schowalter served as Program Director for Integrative and Theoretical Ecology at the National Science Foundation, where he was involved in developing global change and terrestrial ecosystem research initiatives at the federal level. He also served as a U.S. delegate to international conventions to develop collaboration between U.S. Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) sites and long-term sites in Hungary and East Asia and the Pacific.

Table of Contents

	Preface	ix
1	Overview	1
I.	Scope of Insect Ecology	3
II.	Ecosystem Ecology	5
III.	Environmental Change and Disturbance	10
IV.	Ecosystem Approach to Insect Ecology	12
V.	Scope of This Book	12
Section I	Ecology of Individual Insects
2	Responses to Abiotic Conditions	17
I.	The Physical Template	18
II.	Surviving Variable Abiotic Conditions	33
III.	Factors Affecting Dispersal Behavior	41
IV.	Responses to Anthropogenic Changes	47
V.	Summary	47
3	Resource Acquisition	49
I.	Resource Suitability	50
II.	Resource Acceptability	68
III.	Resource Availability	72
IV.	Summary	82
4	Resource Allocation	85
I.	Resource Budget	85
II.	Allocation of Assimilated Resources	87
III.	Efficiency of Resource Use	104
IV.	Summary	108
Section II	Population Ecology
5	Population Systems	113
I.	Population Structure	113
II.	Population Processes	123
III.	Life History Characteristics	130
IV.	Parameter Estimation	132
V.	Summary	135
6	Population Dynamics	137
I.	Population Fluctuation	138
II.	Factors Affecting Population Size	141
III.	Models of Population Change	151
IV.	Summary	159
7	Biogeography	161
I.	Geographic Distribution	162
II.	Spatial Dynamics of Populations	167
III.	Anthropogenic Effects on Spatial Dynamics	175
IV.	Conservation Biology	181
V.	Models	183
VI.	Summary	185
Section III	Community Ecology
8	Species Interactions	189
I.	Classes of Interactions	190
II.	Factors Affecting Interactions	211
III.	Consequences of Interactions	217
IV.	Summary	219
9	Community Structure	221
I.	Approaches to Describing Communities	222
II.	Patterns of Community Structure	237
III.	Determinants of Community Structure	243
IV.	Summary	246
10	Community Dynamics	249
I.	Short-Term Change in Community Structure	250
II.	Successional Change in Community Structure	250
III.	Paleoecology	265
IV.	Diversity versus Stability	271
V.	Summary	274
Section IV	Ecosystem Level
11	Ecosystem Structure and Function	279
I.	Ecosystem Structure	280
II.	Energy Flow	283
III.	Biogeochemical Cycling	290
IV.	Climate Modification	300
V.	Modeling	303
VI.	Summary	309
12	Herbivory	311
I.	Types and Patterns of Herbivory	312
II.	Effects of Herbivory	322
III.	Summary	341
13	Pollination, Seed Predation, and Seed Dispersal	343
I.	Mechanisms and Patterns of Pollination	344
II.	Effects of Pollination	348
III.	Mechanisms and Patterns of Seed Predation and Dispersal	350
IV.	Effects of Seed Predation and Dispersal	357
V.	Summary	358
14	Decomposition and Pedogenesis	361
I.	Types and Patterns of Detritivory and Burrowing	362
II.	Effects of Detritivory and Burrowing	372
III.	Summary	387
15	Insects as Regulators of Ecosystem Processes	389
I.	Development of the Concept	390
II.	Properties of Cybernetic Systems	394
III.	Ecosystems as Cybernetic Systems	395
IV.	Summary	411
Section V	Synthesis
16	Synthesis	415
I.	Summary	416
II.	Synthesis	417
III.	Critical Issues	419
IV.	Conclusions	422
	Bibliography	423
	Author Index	463
	Taxonomic Index	469
	Subject Index	473

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

This valuable reference integrates evolutionary and ecosystem approaches to insect ecology – now with new applications to social and environmental issues

Editorial Reviews

Showalter (entomology, Oregon State U.) attempts to integrate insect ecology with ecosystem ecology, using a hierarchical model that focuses on linkages and feedbacks among individual, population, community, and ecosystem properties. The volume's 16 chapters are arranged into five sections: ecology of individual insects, population ecology, community ecology, ecosystem level, and synthesis. Suitable as a text and reference for graduate students as well as professional entomologists and ecologists. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

"Schowalter's 2nd edition of Insect Ecology: An Ecosystem Approach is a gem - a complete course in modern ecology from the vantage point of insects in ecological systems. Accessible and engaging, yet it treats the most complex ecological phenomena from individual behavior and population processes through landscape and regional-scale issues." —Dan Simberloff, University of Tennessee "Schowalter provides a well-illustrated, comprehensive integration of population, community, and ecosystem ecology that demonstrates the global importance of insects in terrestrial and aquatic domains. Examples from temperate and tropical studies are related to a wide range of fundamental ecological concepts. The synthesis of current literature is thoroughly developed and will be widely appreciated by beginning students and established professionals." —Alan Covich, Institute of Ecology, University of Georgia "This very stimulating book will interest entomologists and ecologists alike. Schowalter broadens the traditional scope of insect ecology to communities and ecosystems. He gives an excellent overview how insects shape ecosystem functioning, including their critical role in major trophic interactions such as decomposition, pollination, herbivory and biological control." —Teja Tscharntke, University of Göttingen, Germany

From the Publisher