Springtails are the most numerous and wide-spread insects in terrestrial ecosystems. They are important ecotoxicological test organisms and have been used extensively to indicate the effects of environmental pollutants and different agricultural regimes on biodiversity in soils. This comprehensive work by the co-author of The biology of millipedes is the only single-volume review of the biology of springtails in the English language to appear this century. The book covers classification, behaviour, physiology, evolution, ecology, and ecotoxicology. An extensive reference section with more than 2500 entries is included together with a complete list of all Collembola genera, a list of studies on the effects of chemicals on springtails, and reference to species checklists for most countries of the world.

General introduction. Review of the literature on springtails. Evolution, systematics and biogeography. Ecomorphology and anatomy. Taxonomic methods and the species concept in collembola. Interactions between collembola and the abiotic environment. Interactions between collembola and the biotic environment. Reproduction, development and life histories. Ecology and conservation. Ecotoxicology. World genera of collembola. Regional checklists of collembola. Laboratory and field studies on the effects of chemicals on collembola.

The book provides an overview of detection and diagnosis of insect infestation, survey techniques, and principles of strategy and control."--BOOK JACKET.

Cutting across traditional subject boundaries, Principles of Ecotoxicology, Fourth Edition gives readers an integrated view of ecotoxicology, from molecules to ecosystems. This new edition of a bestselling textbook continues to emphasize principles rather than practice, providing the interdisciplinary perspective and grounding required for research. Organized into three sections, the book first describes the molecular structures, properties, and environmental fate of pollutants. It then deals with the effects of pollutants on living organisms at the molecular, cellular, and individual levels. Moving into population biology and population genetics, the third part of the book addresses a question of great interest to ecologists: What effects do pollutants have at the levels of population, community, and the whole ecosystem? The book also looks at how ecotoxicology is used in the biomonitoring of environmental pollution, the investigation of pollution problems, the conducting of field trials, the study of the development of resistance, and the growing area of environmental risk assessments. Throughout, examples and case studies illustrate the principles. This updated fourth edition includes new material on nanoparticle pollution, bioaccumulation, biomarkers, and chemical warfare in nature, as well as a new chapter on the future directions of ecotoxicology. A concise textbook that will also appeal to practicing ecotoxicologists, it provides a solid basis for understanding what happens to chemicals in the real world, where they go, how they ultimately degrade, and how they affect the individuals and populations that encounter them. What's New in This Edition Revised and updated material throughout A chapter on future directions of ecotoxicology New material on nanoparticle pollution and chemical warfare in nature Expanded coverage of bioaccumulation, biomarkers, and risk assessment for affected populations More case studies, many from the United States Discussion of neurotoxic and behavioral effects of pollutants Recent research on the decline of vultures and effects of neonicotinoids on bees Organic Pollutants: An Ecotoxicological Perspective, Second Edition(CRC Press, 2008), a companion volume to this book, covers the mechanistic aspects of ecotoxicology in more depth.

Man has had a complex relationship with inland drift sands through the ages. For some centuries these landscapes were seen as a threat, especially to agriculture and housing. This book considers the processes, origin, conservation and restoration of this very special but harsh biotope, one that is characterised by fields of lichens with sparse grasses and heather alongside a range of special animal, fungi and plant species. • Part 1 - Drift sand landscapes of NW Europe • Part 2 - Microclimate and soil development • Part 3 - Ecosystem succession on drift sands • Part 4 - Forestation of drift sands • Part 5 - Practical implications

Based on discussions at the 2007 SETAC Europe PERAS Workshop in Coimbra, Semi-Field Methods for the Environmental Risk Assessment of Pesticides in Soil presents a timely summary of state-of-the-art higher-tier terrestrial risk assessment of plant protection products (PPPs). Influential regulators, academics, and industry scientists provide a compre