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

• Geowissenschaften Umweltwissenschaften Nachhaltigkeit
• Naturwissenschaften Biowissenschaften Tierkunde / Zoologie Tierökologie
• Naturwissenschaften Biowissenschaften Biowissenschaften Ökologie
• Geowissenschaften Umweltwissenschaften Biodiversität
• Naturwissenschaften Biowissenschaften Biowissenschaften Naturschutzbiologie, Biodiversität
• 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