Insect Diversity Conservation

It addresses the threats insect populations face and explores ways insects and their habitats are prioritised, mapped, monitored and conserved.

Michael J. Samways (Author)

9780521789479, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 20 January 2005

356 pages, 134 b/w illus.
24.7 x 17.4 x 2.6 cm, 0.72 kg

'Samways is a true expert with a comprehensive, even encyclopaedic, knowledge of the emotional literature,and an impressive publication record in insect conservation. All insect conservation scientists should buy this book,…the wealth of science in such short space is impressive.' Oryx

This groundbreaking book is a contemporary global synthesis of the rapidly developing and important field of insect conservation biology. Insects play important roles in terrestrial ecological processes and in maintaining the world as we know it. They present particular conservation challenges, especially as a quarter face extinction within the next few decades. This textbook addresses the ethical foundation of insect conservation, and asks why should we concern ourselves with conservation of a butterfly, beetle or bug? The success of insects and their diversity, which have survived glaciers, is now facing a more formidable obstacle: the meteoric impact of humans. After addressing threats, from invasive alien plants to climate change, the book explores ways insects and their habitats are prioritised, mapped, monitored and conserved. Landscape and species approaches are considered. This book is for undergraduates, postgraduates, researchers and managers in conservation biology or entomology, and the wider biological and environmental sciences.

Preface
Part I. The Need for Insect Diversity Conservation: 1. Ethical foundation for insect conservation
2. The special case of insects in conservation biology
3. Insects and the conservation of ecosystem processes
Part II. Insects and the Changing World: 4. Degradation and fragmentation of ecosystems
5. Responses by insects to the changing land mosaic
6. Threats from invasive aliens, biological control, and genetic engineering
7. Global climate change and synergistic impacts
Part III. Conserving and Managing Insect Diversity: 8. Methods, approaches, and prioritization criteria
9. Mapping, inventorying, and monitoring
10. Managing for insect diversity
11. Restoration of insect diversity
12. Conventions and social issues in insect diversity conservation
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Conservation of the environment [RNK], Insects [entomology PSVT7]