Insects and Sustainability of Ecosystem Services

Timothy D. Schowalter is Professor or Entomology at the Entomology Department at LSU, College of Agriculture.

"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."—Jung-Tai Chao, Taiwan Forestry Research Institute"… the chapters of Schowalter's interesting new book range from insect ecology to the valuation and management of their benefits. … an important source for everybody interested in sustainable management of insects driving ecosystem functioning."—Teja Tscharntke, Georg-August-University"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. … 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."—Mathew A. Camper Affiliation: Instructor/Entomologist Colorado State University

• Introduction. History of Human Interactions with Insects. Insect Ecology/What Attributes Make Insects Successful. Changes in Insect Abundance and Distribution. Insect Effects on Humans, Resources and Ecosystem Services. Effects of Anthropogenic Activity and "Management" on Insect Roles. Value of Insect Services. Conservation and Sustainability. Conclusions and Recommendations. Bibliography.