W.J. Bell - Böcker

This volume explores recent advances in the chemically-based interactions between insects and plants, with an emphasis on mechanistic approaches, in an ecological and evolutionary context. In recent years, the number of identified semiochemicals has increased greatly and identifications have been made in many new taxonomic groups. In many cases many physiological processes and behavioural reactions have been documented, and new principles have emerged. Orientation mechanisms, the benefits of experience, plant-insect interactions, and interspecific interactions are included. The book is aimed at a graduate student and professional readership.

During the past decade, the study of the chemical structures used by insects has advanced from a subject that could be reviewed in a single volume to a vastly more advanced level. This important new volume brings together a focused group of reviews that offer perspective on the most interesting advances in insect chemical ecology. Chemical Ecology of Insects 2 brings together an internationally respected group of experts covering such topics as chemoreception and integration, orientation mechanisms, plant-insect interactions and insect-insect interactions. An important benefit of these reviews lies in the identification of the boundaries of our current knowledge and the most profitable areas in which we should expect these areas to develop. This important work will appeal to entomologists and ecologists working directly with insects. In addition, plant scientists interested in the interaction of plants and insects will find much valuable information. The book is intended to benefit both field and laboratory researchers as well as advanced students.

This is a book about proximate mechanisms. Although some theoretical structure is used to introduce the subject, the intent is to offer a view of searching (or foraging) so as to balance the current emphasis of books on mathematical and functional models. The book includes examples which aim to provide a picture of the kind of animals used, the experimental set-up, the kinds of data yielded and how the data were analyzed. The book discusses the different methods animals have for scanning for resources such as vision, chemoreception, mechanoreception and olfaction and also how animals assess the suitability of potential habitats. The text considers both the internal and external factors that must be considered when animals are searching for new habitats, when foraging and when exploring. The final section of the book includes an explanation of how to analyze search tracks, including analysis of data and comparison of data sets and how to use and manipulate computers in the simulation of locomotory patterns in searching.