The crab spider is an ideal species on which to test basic questions of lifetime fitness, but ecologists had previously lacked experimental data needed to comprehensively test individuals making foraging decisions. This book recounts Morse's influential experimental discoveries, moving from individuals to communities to ecosystems.

The crab spider is an ideal species on which to test basic questions of lifetime fitness, but ecologists had previously lacked experimental data needed to comprehensively test individuals making foraging decisions. This book recounts Morse's influential experimental discoveries, moving from individuals to communities to ecosystems.

The history of biological control of harmful organisms by mites is marked by outstanding achievements with a few premiere natural enemies. Early works concentrated on the use of predatory mites for the control of synanthropic flies, More recently, the focus has been mostly on mites of the family Phytoseiidae for the control of plant feeding mites. This is an important family of acarine predators of plant pest mites, which are effectively used in agriculture worldwide. Besides the vast knowledge in several species in this family, there are as well many opportunities for biological control, represented in an array of organisms and through the improvement of management techniques, which are constantly explored by researchers worldwide. This has resulted in an increasing interest in predatory mite species within the families Stigmaeidae, Ascidae, Laelapidae, Rhodacaroidea, Macrochelidae, Erythraeidae and Cheyletidae, among others. This book will compile important developments with predatory mite species within these families, which are emerging as important tools for integrated pest management. New developments with predatory insects and pathogenic organisms attacking mites will also be a subject of this book. Finally, the potential and gaps in knowledge in biological control of acarine plant pests will be addressed.

There is increasing evidence that the structure and functioning of ecological communities and ecosystems are strongly influenced by flexible traits of individuals within species. A deep understanding of how trait flexibility alters direct and indirect species interactions is crucial for addressing key issues in basic and applied ecology. This book provides an integrated perspective on the ecological and evolutionary consequences of interactions mediated by flexible species traits across a wide range of systems. It is the first volume synthesizing the rapidly expanding research field of trait-mediated indirect effects and highlights how the conceptual framework of these effects can aid the understanding of evolutionary processes, population dynamics, community structure and stability, and ecosystem function. It not only brings out the importance of this emerging field for basic ecological questions, but also explores the implications of trait-mediated interactions for the conservation of biodiversity and the response of ecosystems to anthropogenic environmental changes.

It is only recently that the immense economic value of pollination to agriculture has been appreciated. At the same time, the alarming collapse in populations of bees and other pollinators has highlighted the urgency of addressing this issue. This book focuses on the specific measures and practices that the emerging science of pollination ecology is identifying to conserve and promote animal pollinators in agroecosystems. It reviews the expanding knowledge base on pollination services, providing evidence to document the status, trends and importance of pollinators to sustainable agricultural production. It provides practical and specific measures that land managers can undertake to ensure that agroecosystems are supportive and friendly to pollinators. It draws on the Global Pollination Project, supported by UNEP/GEF and implemented by FAO and seven partner countries (Brazil, Ghana, India, Kenya, Nepal, Pakistan and South Africa), which serve to provide "lessons from the field".

Pests cause damage to the economic value of crops and stored products, while vectors are responsible for the transmission of disease-causing agents in human beings and livestock. Although application of synthetic pesticides in agriculture gives immediate relief, it also causes well-known side effects, leading to a consensus among entomologists and agriculturists to shift towards other ecofriendly pest management methods. Natural enemies of insects including their predators, parasitoids and pathogens have attracted the attention of scientists across the globe. These natural enemies exist in agroecosystems and suppress the populations of pests. Parasitoids are farmers’ friends and the most successful group of natural enemies. Highly specialized/generalized in their prey choice, active stages of predators search for a suitable prey, attack or kill the prey and consume prey within a short handling time. Predatory ability is known to increase with increase in prey density. A single predator may devour several prey individuals. Exploiting this potency of parasitoids may yield successful results in controlling notorious pests in an ecofriendly way. This book provides information on the important biocontrol agents that are effective in pest suppression. It starts with insect parasitic groups followed by specific group of parasitoids. It is hoped that the book presents a comprehensive account of beneficial parasitoids and will be useful to undergraduate and postgraduate students of Entomology, Biological Control, Plant Protection, Agricultural Zoology and Zoology, besides those involved in competitive examinations and policy planning. Features Each chapter has been authored by specialized senior professionals Every chapter contains Learning Objectives and Points to Remember This book offers comprehensive knowledge of parasitoids and their application in pest management in a lucid way