Also See:  Editor's Note, Endorsements, and Purchase Information

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE

CHAPTER 1: Introduction
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
        Provisioning Services
        Cultural Services
        Supporting Services
        Regulating Services
ECOSYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS
INSECTS AND INSECT CONTROL
SCOPE oF THIS BOOK
REFERENCES

CHAPTER 2: HUMANS VS. INSECTS: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
        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

CHAPTER 3: INSECT RESPONSES TO ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES
ADAPTIVE ATTRIBUTES
DISPERSAL
        Life History Strategy
        Crowding
        Nutritional Status
        Mechanism Of Dispersal
        Habitat and Resource Conditions
ENVIRONMENTAL VARIATION
DISTURBANCE
        Type
        Magnitude
        Frequency
        Extent
INSECT RESPONSES
        Direct Effects Of Abiotic Changes
        Indirect Effects Of Post-Disturbance Changes
RATE OF ADAPTATION BY INSECTS
SUMMARY
REFERENCES

CHAPTER 4: CHANGES IN INSECT ABUNDANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
POPULATION FLUCTUATION THROUGH TIME
FACTORS AFFECTING POPULATION SIZE
        Abiotic Factors
        Biotic Factors
        Resource Suitability
        Resource Availability
        Predation
REGULATION OF POPULATION SIZE
POPULATION FLUCTUATION IN SPACE
        Population Expansion
        Metapopulation Dynamics
        Habitat Connectivity
SUMMARY
REFERENCES

CHAPTER 5: HOW DO ECOSYSTEM PROVIDE SERVICES?
ECOSYSTEM STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
DIRECT AND INDIRECT INTERACTIONS AMONG SPECIES
        Direct Interactions
        Indirect Interactions
CLIMATE CONTROL
REGULATION OF ECOSYSTEM CONDITIONS
        Evidence For Self-Regulation
        Biodiversity
        Herbivory
        Predation
ECOSYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
DIFFERENCES AMONG ECOSYSTEMS
PREDICTING CHANGE
SUMMARY
REFERENCES

CHAPTER 6: EFFECTS OF ANTHROPOGENIC CHANGES AND MANAGEMENT
HOW HUMANS AFFECT ECOSYSTEMS
        Disturbances
        Global Change
        Pollution and Invasive Species
        Ecosystem Fragmentation and Conversion
        Induction Of Insect Problems
INSECTICIDE EFFECTS
ALTERNATIVE CONTROL OPTIONS
SUMMARY
REFERENCES

CHAPTER 7: EFFECTS OF INSECTS ON ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
EFFECTS ON PROVISIONING SERVICES
EFFECTS ON CULTURAL SERVICES
EFFECTS ON SUPPORTING SERVICES
        Primary Production
        Pollination
        Decomposition and Soil Formation
EFFECTS ON REGULATING SERVICES
        Primary Production
        Biological Control
        Disease Cycles
        Nutrient Cycling
        Climate And Disturbance
SUMMARY
REFERENCES

CHAPTER 8: 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 MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
SUMMARY
REFERENCES

CHAPTER 9: 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
        Preventative Tactics
        Control Tactics
        Marketing Insects As Food
IMPLEMENTATION OF IPM STRATEGY
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT: A CASE STUDY
URBAN RESPONSIBILITIES
CONCLUDING COMMENTS
REFERENCES
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Editor's Note for the "CRC Press" Book Series, Social-Environmental Sustainability:

In this book about the role of insects as components of the biophysical services of nature that we humans rely on, Dr. Schowalter examines not only the various ecosystem functions provided by insects but also our human perceptions of their respective values. In the context of general human perceptions, it needs to be understood that, since biblical times, most insects that interfere in one way or another with the plants we humans value for our own uses have been considered to have only negative effects on the resource, and so are thought of as "pests." On the other hand, insects are not considered pests—if they are noticed at all by the lay populous—when they feed on plants for which we find no social or economic value.

The term pest reflects this traditional bias and the perceived necessity of always having to battle insects for control of the resources we humans value as commodities or for the maintenance of our physical health. Only within the past three of decades or so has evidence become sufficiently available to show that many of the so-called "insect pests"—like all other species—enrich the world, and in the process provide largely unrecognized benefits. Dr. Schowalter has been a pioneer and leader in raising the level of consciousness in science, forestry, and agricultural with respect to the beneficial contributions insects make to our overall social-environmental well-being.

As Dr. Schowalter points out in this book, insects are critical pollinators of our food crops and medicinal plants, as well as being essential in their role of breaking down and recycling the nutrient resources in dead plants and animal waste, thereby allowing them to be reused in the ecosystem. In addition, insects are important sources of food in many cultures, as well being the primary food for numerous commercial fisheries and game animals. And, this says nothing of their significance as cultural icons, such as Egyptian scarabs and oriental crickets, or their vital nature as regulatory instruments in ecosystems wherein plant production is nearing the environmental carrying capacity. Finally, some medicinal and industrial products benefit from the existence of certain insects as part of their ingredients—all of which are elucidated within the pages of the book you are holding.

Chris Maser, Series Editor
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Endorsements:

"Although some effects of various insects will continue to be viewed as undesirable, the idea that insects should, or can, be 'managed,' this book explores reasons that may be unrealistic. It explores an approach to suppressing insect populations, considers information on the multiple, often compensatory, effects of insects on particular resources or ecosystem services and on the consequences of control tactics on those resources or services. It emphasize critical effects of insects on the sustainability of ecosystem processes and services and recommend changes in our management practices and policies to promote sustainability."—Publisher's description.

"As the most diverse taxon on earth, insects have complex roles in ecosystems and hence affect provisioning services, regulating services, cultural services and supporting services provided by ecosystems. This new synthesis enhances our understanding of the important functional roles of insects in ecosystem services, which will help us manage our natural resources in a better way to reach the goal of sustainability."

Dr. Jung-Tai Chao
Senior Scientist, Division of Forest Protection
Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, Taipei

"Understanding how insects sustain ecosystem services is a most topical focus for a review. Insects affect ecosystem functioning in a highly complex and diverse way, so the chapters of Schowalter's interesting new book range from insect ecology to the valuation and management of their benefits. He does not forget the important fact that insects provide not just services, but also disservices, addressed in his chapter on 'the good, the bad and the ugly.' This timely book is an important source for everybody interested in sustainable management of insects driving ecosystem functioning."

Dr. Teja Tscharntke
Professor, Dept. of Crop Sciences
Georg-August-University
Göttingen, Germany

"Insects: you can't live with them and you can't live without them. With current world debates on water and land availability, the relationship between insects and their cumulative effects on the environment have never been more important to understand. Dr. Schowalter brings forth many important topics within this realm as he ultimately leads the reader to a strong understanding of the important interplay between humans, insects, and the shaping of environments throughout the world.

"The chapters within this book are well written and designed to allow the reader to quickly grasp and understand even the most difficult concepts. I have little doubt that this will become a 'must have' reference for anyone interested insects and their role in the sustainability of ecosystem services."

Dr. Matthew Camper
Professor, Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management
Colorado State University,
Fort Collins, CO.
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Purchase Information: