Schowalter Insects and Sustainability of Ecosystem Services

1. Auflage 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4665-5391-0
Verlag: Taylor & Francis
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 362 Seiten

Reihe: Social Environmental Sustainability

With few exceptions, insects are perceived in industrialized countries as undesirable pests. In reality, relatively few insects interfere with us or our resources. Most have benign or positive effects on ecosystem services, and many represent useful resources in non-industrialized countries. Challenging traditional perceptions of the value of insects, Insects and Sustainability of Ecosystem Services explores the ways insects affect the ecosystem services we depend upon. It also fosters an appreciation for the amazing diversity, adaptive ability, and natural roles of insects.

The book discusses how the ways in which we manage insects will determine an ecosystem’s capacity to continue to supply services. It reviews aspects of insect physiology, behavior, and ecology that affect their interactions with other ecosystem components and ecosystem services, emphasizing critical effects of insects on the sustainability of ecosystem processes and services. The author examines the integration of insect ecology with self-regulatory aspects of ecosystems that control primary production, energy and nutrient fluxes, and global climate—functions that underlie the sustainability of ecosystem services.

Clearly, we need environmental policies that meet needs for pest control where warranted, but do not undermine the important contributions of insects to sustaining ecosystem processes and services. With in-depth coverage of the multiple, often compensatory, effects of insects on various resources or ecosystem services and on the consequences of control tactics for those resources or services, Insects and Sustainability of Ecosystem Services recommends changes in perspectives and policies regarding insects that will contribute to sustainability of ecosystem services.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Schowalter, Timothy D.

Fachgebiete

• Naturwissenschaften Biowissenschaften Tierkunde / Zoologie Tierökologie
• Geowissenschaften Umweltwissenschaften Biodiversität
• Naturwissenschaften Biowissenschaften Biowissenschaften Ökologie
• Naturwissenschaften Biowissenschaften Biowissenschaften Naturschutzbiologie, Biodiversität
• Geowissenschaften Umweltwissenschaften Nachhaltigkeit
• Naturwissenschaften Biowissenschaften Tierkunde / Zoologie Wirbellose (Invertebrata) Insekten (Entomologie)

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Introduction
Ecosystem Services
Ecosystem Characteristics
Insects and Insect Control
Scope of This Book
References

Humans versus Insects: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Honey Bees (the "Good")
Other Insects Used as Food or Cosmetics
Medical Uses
Industrial Uses
Cultural Icons
Indicators of Environmental Change
Nuisances (the "Bad")
Venomous Insects and Other Arthropods
Vectors of Human and Livestock Diseases
Crop Pests
Instruments of Warfare (the "Ugly")
Summary
References

Insect Responses to Environmental Changes
Adaptive Attributes
Dispersal
Environmental Variation
Disturbance
Insect Responses
Activity
Rate of Adaptation by Insects
Summary
References

Changes in Insect Abundance and Distribution
Population Fluctuation through Time
Factors Affecting Population Size
Regulation of Population Size
Population Fluctuation in Space
Summary
References

How Do Ecosystems Provide Services?
Ecosystem Structure and Function
Interactions among Species
Climate Control
Regulation of Ecosystem Conditions
Ecosystem Development
Differences among Ecosystems
Predicting Change
Summary
References

Effects of Anthropogenic Changes and Management
How Humans Affect Ecosystems
Insecticide Effects
Alternative Control Options
Summary
References

Effects of Insects on Ecosystem Services
Effects on Provisioning Services
Effects on Cultural Services
Effects on Supporting Services
Effects on Regulating Services
Summary
References

Valuation of Insect and Management Effects
Valuation of Insect Effects on Provisioning Services
Valuation of Insect Effects on Cultural Services
Valuation of Insect Effects on Supporting Services
Valuation of Insect Effects on Regulating Services
Valuation of Insect Management Strategies
Summary

Conclusions and Recommendations
Why New Pest Management Approaches Are Needed
Management Goals
Deciding When to Control
Greater Emphasis on Ecological Principles
Use of a Broader Range of Tactics
Suitability and Availability
Implementation of Integrated Pest Management Strategy
Integrated Pest Management: A Case Study
Urban Responsibilities
Concluding Comments
References
Index