Diptera Diversity: Status, Challenges and Tools

This is the first comprehensive synopsis of the biodiversity of Diptera, which with more than 150.000 described species contain more than one tenth of all described animal species. The first part is a review of what is already known, with treatments of all the major biogeographical regions and important archipelagoes; the second part contains case studies on open-ended taxa, Diptera as ecological indicators, and how to estimate the still unknown proportion of our fauna; and the third part discusses the digital and molecular tools needed to document the fauna. The book has an emphasis on principles and analytical approaches as well as on practical ‘how-to’ information and is intended for academicians and other professionals but with a significant outreach to students.

Dan Bickel, Ph.D. in Entomology (Cornell University), is Senior Research Scientist at the Australian Museum, Sydney. He has a wide interest in Diptera systematics and ecology, and has a research interest in empidoid Diptera (Empididae and Dolichopodidae).

Thomas Pape, Ph.D. in Entomology (University of Copenhagen), is associate professor at The Natural History Museum of Denmark. With a broad interest in Diptera systematics and zoological nomenclature, he has published extensively on the global fauna of flesh flies (Sarcophagidae), wood-louse flies (Rhinophoridae) and bot flies (Oestridae).

Rudolf Meier, Ph.D. in Entomology (Cornell University), is Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore. He is interested in the evolution and biology of Diptera. He furthermore uses quantitative techniques for studying the biodiversity and conservation of invertebrates.