Insects and Ecosystem Function

Weisser W. W. Siemann Evan

ISBN 10: 3540216723 / ISBN 13: 9783540216728

Published by Springer, 2004

About this Item

PRINT ON DEMAND pp. 440.

Seller Inventory # 18294307

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Insects and Ecosystem Function
• Publisher: Springer
• Publication Date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3540216723
• ISBN 13: 9783540216728
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

In the past two decades, an increasing number of ecologists have started to investigate the importance of biodiversity for ecological processes such as energy flow and nutrient cycling, often referred to as 'ecosystem functioning'. Insects are a dominant component of biodiversity in terrestrial ecosystems and play a key role in mediating the relationship between plants and ecosystem processes. This volume is the first to summarize their effects on ecosystem functioning, focusing mainly, but not exclusively, on herbivorous insects. Renowned authors with extensive experience in the field of plant-insect interactions, contribute to the volume using examples from their own work. In addition to providing concise reviews of the field, this volume discusses in detail the advantages and disadvantages of various techniques of manipulating insect herbivory. Thus, the text provides both a theoretical basis as well as practical advice for future manipulative studies of biodiversity-ecosystem functioning.

Review

From the reviews:

"The authors of this book have identified an important and novel area of research ... . I would recommend this book for students and researchers who wish to be introduced to the current research and future ideas regarding above and below ground insect herbivory, and the effect on plant community ecology, plant productivity and nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems." (Riccardo Bommmarco, Basic and Applied Ecology, Issue 8, 2007)