Download or read book Nourishment And Evolution In Insect Societies written by James H Hunt and published by Westview Press. This book was released on 1994-03-14 with total page 472 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Examines the structure and function of insect societies from a nutritional perspective in order to foster a fuller understanding of how their social systems evolved.
Download or read book Organization of Insect Societies written by Jürgen Gadau and published by Harvard University Press. This book was released on 2009-02-28 with total page 638 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this landmark volume, an international group of scientists has synthesized their collective expertise and insight into a newly unified vision of insect societies and what they can reveal about how sociality has arisen as an evolutionary strategy. Jürgen Gadau and Jennifer Fewell have assembled leading researchers from the fields of molecular biology, evolutionary genetics, neurophysiology, behavioral ecology, and evolutionary theory to reexamine the question of sociality in insects. Recent advances in social complexity theory and the sequencing of the honeybee genome ensure that this book will be valued by anyone working on sociality in insects. At the same time, the theoretical ideas presented will be of broad-ranging significance to those interested in social evolution and complex systems.
Download or read book The Evolution of Social Behavior in Insects and Arachnids written by Jae C. Choe and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 1997 with total page 556 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 'Social' insects and arachnids exhibit complex forms of behavior that involve cooperation in building a nest, defending against attackers or rearing offspring. This book is a comprehensive, up-to-date guide to sociality and its evolution in a wide range of taxa.
Download or read book The Biology of Hover Wasps written by Stefano Turillazzi and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-01-29 with total page 285 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book represents the culmination of the author’s lifetime work on a single fascinating group of insects, the hover wasps, Stenogastrinae. The author explores the biology of these little-known wasps at the threshold of sociality, presenting an ambitious survey of ideas about their evolution and an assessment of the current standing of controversial concepts. Following taxonomic and morphological descriptions, the behaviour, colonial dynamics, social communication and especially the remarkably diverse nests of wasps are discussed. Compared to the better-known species of paper wasps, hornets and yellow jackets, the hover wasps show various peculiarities, such as characteristics of immature brood rearing, nest defence and mating systems. The nest architecture probably presents the most variable solutions in social wasps and is characterized by an astonishing level of camouflage, making these insects an interesting example of special adaptation to forest environments.
Download or read book Insect Evolutionary Ecology written by Royal Entomological Society of London. Symposium and published by CABI. This book was released on 2005 with total page 568 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Insects provide excellent model systems for understanding evolutionary ecology. They are abundant, small, and relatively easy to rear, and these traits facilitate both field and laboratory experiments. This book has been developed from the Royal Entomological Society's 22nd international symposium, held in Reading in 2003. Topics include speciation and adaptation; life history, phenotype plasticity and genetics; sexual selection and reproductive biology; insect-plant interactions; insect-natural enemy interactions; and social insects.
Download or read book Forests and Insects written by Allan D. Watt and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 1997-09-30 with total page 440 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book covers the full breadth of forest entomology. It combines the work of forest entomologists working on the impact and management of forest pests with those involved in diversity assessment and conservation of insects in forests. Forests and Insects demonstrates that both these disciplines demand an understanding of population and community biology. The book covers such topics as colonization of trees by insects, population dynamics of forest insects, insect natural enemies, the effects of climate change and pollution on forest pests, spatial variation in the abundance of insects,the mineralization of carbon by termites, the impact of herbivorous insects, and the conservation of forest insect diversity, including the effects of forest fragmentation and deforestation. This Royal Entomological Society Symposium volume will be of great interest to all agricultural and forest entomologists, population and community biologists, pest management specialists and anyone concerned with the conservation of forest biodiversity.
Download or read book Encyclopedia of Insects written by Vincent H. Resh and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2003-04-04 with total page 1296 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Encyclopedia of Insects is a comprehensive work devoted to all aspects of insects, including their anatomy, physiology, evolution, behavior, reproduction, ecology, and disease, as well as issues of exploitation, conservation, and management. Articles provide definitive facts about all insects from aphids, beetles and butterflies to weevils and yellowjackets. Insects are beautiful and dreadful, ravenous pests and devastating disease vectors, resilient and resistant to eradication, and the source of great benefit and great loss for civilization. Important for ecosystem health, they have influenced the evolution of other life forms on our planet including humans. Anyone interested in insects, from university professors and researchers to high school students preparing a report, will find The Encyclopedia of Insects an indispensable volume for insect information.* An unprecedented collection in 1,276 pages covering every important aspect of insects * Presents 270 original articles, thoroughly peer reviewed and edited for consistency * Features 1,000 figures and tables, including 500 full-color photographs* Includes the latest information contributed by 250 experts in 17 countries * Designed to save research time with a full glossary, 1,700 cross-references, and 3,000 bibliographic entries
Download or read book Soil Ecology written by P. Lavelle and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2007-05-08 with total page 678 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A number of excellent textbooks on general ecology are currently available but‚ to date‚ none have been dedicated to the study of soil ecology. This is important because the soil‚ as the ‘epidermis’ of our planet‚ is the major component of the terrestrial biosphere. In the present age‚ it is difficult to understand how one could be interested in general ecology without having some knowledge of the soil and further‚ to study the soil without taking into account its biological components and ecological setting. It is this deficiency that the two authors‚ Patrick Lavelle and Alister Spain‚ have wished to address in writing their text. A reading of this work‚ entitled ‘Soil Ecology’‚ shows it to be very complete and extremely innovative in its conceptual plan. In addition‚ it follows straightforwardly through a development which unfolds over four substantial chapters. Firstly‚ the authors consider the soil as a porous and finely divided medium of b- organomineral origin‚ whose physical structure and organisation foster the development of a multitude of specifically adapted organisms (microbial communities‚ roots of higher plants‚ macro-invertebrates).
Download or read book Social Insects and the Environment written by Viraktamath and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2023-10-09 with total page 797 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume includes 370 papers presented by leading scientists at the 11th International Congress of IUSSI at Bangalore, from August 5-11, 1990. The papers which have been classified into 30 sections relate to the symposia papers of the Congress. These cover various frontiers of research on social insects such as evolution of sociality, polygyny, social polymorphism, kin-recognition, kin- selection, foraging strategies, reproductive strategies, biogeography and phylogenetics of bees and ants pollination ecology and management of pestiferous social insects. The most important feature about these papers in this publication is that the results are presented in a crisp, brief and precise manner. Because of the brevity it has been possible to bring together, in one publication, almost all aspects of research on social insects from all parts of the world. The time between presentation of papers at a Congress and publication has been avoided by publishing this volume on the eve of the Congress and this enables scientists to refer to the results immediately.
Download or read book TEXTBOOK OF ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR THIRD EDITION written by MANDAL, FATIK BARAN and published by PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd.. This book was released on 2015-09-18 with total page 410 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This well-accepted book, now in its Third Edition, is an extension of the previous edition. The text has further enriched with more information to understand animal behaviour coherently and scientifically. The book attempts to provide a reasonably suitable account of animal behaviour for undergraduate as well as postgraduate students. Although behaviour of animals has fascinated people for a long, behavioural biology has been incorporated in the syllabi very recently. The study of behaviour received its important boost from the work of Charles Darwin who used the term ‘instinct’, to refer to the natural behaviour of animals. In the 1930s, a comprehensive theory of animal behaviour emerged through the work of Konrad Lorenz and, later of Niko Tinbergen. Biological study of behaviour, in fact came of age as a science when Lorenz, Tinbergen and Karl von Frisch received the Nobel Prize for their contribution to science. Observing and describing exactly what animals do is fascinating and scientific analysis of their behaviour is significant for several reasons. Each species tends to have an array of stereotyped behaviours, some of which are shared with related species, but others are unique. Ecology, natural selection, macroevolution, microevolution, and gene constitute the foundation of animal behaviour. Various animal groups exhibit diverse strategies for their survival and reproduction which are discussed in this book. The book is primarily intended for the students of B.Sc./M.Sc. (Zoology/Life Science) for their courses. It would be useful for the researchers in the field of animal behaviour, and conservation biologists. It would also attract students who are pursuing courses in Sociology and Anthropology. Key features • Presents a well-balanced view of ethology. • Discusses the current development in the field. • Includes a glossary of important terms. • Offers chapter-end questions to check the students’ understanding of the concept.
Download or read book Biodiversity written by Takuya Abe and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 291 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Despite acknowledgment that loss of living diversity is an international biological crisis, the ecological causes and consequences of extinction have not yet been widely addressed. In honor of Edward O. Wilson, winner of the 1993 International Prize for Biology, an international group of distinguished biologists bring ecological, evolutionary, and management perspectives to the issue of biodiversity. The roles of ecosystem processes, community structure and population dynamics are considered in this book. The goal, as Wilson writes in his introduction, is "to assemble concepts that unite the disciplines of systematics and ecology, and in so doing to create a sound scientific basis for the future management of biodiversity."
Download or read book Ecological and Environmental Physiology of Insects written by Jon F. Harrison and published by OUP Oxford. This book was released on 2012-01-26 with total page 392 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Insects are the most ecologically important multicellular heterotrophs in terrestrial systems. They play critical roles in ecological food webs, remain devastating agricultural and medical pests, and represent the most diverse group of eukaryotes in terms of species numbers. Their dominant role among terrestrial heterotrophs arises from a number of key physiological traits, and in particular by the developmental and evolutionary plasticity of these traits. Ecological and Environmental Physiology of Insects presents a current and comprehensive overview of how the key physiological traits of insects respond to environmental variation. It forges conceptual links from molecular biology through organismal function to population and community ecology. As with other books in the Series, the emphasis is on the unique physiological characteristics of the insects, but with applications to questions of broad relevance in physiological ecology. As an aid to new researchers on insects, it also includes introductory chapters on the basics and techniques of insect physiology ecology.
Download or read book Evolutionary Perspectives on Pregnancy written by John C. Avise and published by Columbia University Press. This book was released on 2013-01-15 with total page 522 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Covering both the internal and external incubation of offspring, this book provides a biology-rich survey of the natural history, ecology, genetics, and evolution of pregnancy-like phenomena. From mammals and other live-bearing organisms to viviparous reptiles, male-pregnant fishes, larval-brooding worms, crabs, sea cucumbers, and corals, the world's various species display pregnancy and other forms of parental devotion in surprisingly multifaceted ways. An adult female (or male) can incubate its offspring in a womb, stomach, mouth, vocal sac, gill chamber, epithelial pouch, backpack, leg pocket, nest, or an encasing of embryos, and by studying these diverse examples from a comparative vantage point, the ecological and evolutionary-genetic outcomes of different reproductive models become fascinatingly clear. John C. Avise discusses each mode of pregnancy and the decipherable genetic signatures it has left on the reproductive structures, physiologies, and innate sexual behaviors of extant species. By considering the many biological aspects of gestation from different evolutionary angles, Avise offers captivating new insights into the significance of "heavy" parental investment in progeny.
Download or read book The Mechanistic Benefits of Microbial Symbionts written by Christon J. Hurst and published by Springer. This book was released on 2016-05-24 with total page 319 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume summarizes recent advances in our understanding of the mechanisms that produce successful symbiotic partnerships involving microorganisms. It begins with a basic introduction to the nature of and mechanistic benefits derived from symbiotic associations. Taking that background knowledge as the starting point, the next sections include chapters that examine representative examples of coevolutionary associations that have developed between species of microbes, as well as associations between microbes and plants. The authors conclude with a section covering a broad range of associations between microbes and invertebrate animals, in which they discuss the spectrum of hosts, with examples ranging from bryozoans and corals to nematodes, arthropods, and cephalopods. Join the authors on this journey of understanding!
Download or read book Ant Architecture written by Walter R. Tschinkel and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2021-06-22 with total page 244 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An unprecedented look at the complex and beautiful world of underground ant architecture Walter Tschinkel has spent much of his career investigating the hidden subterranean realm of ant nests. This wonderfully illustrated book takes you inside an unseen world where thousands of ants build intricate homes in the soil beneath our feet. Tschinkel describes the ingenious methods he has devised to study ant nests, showing how he fills a nest with plaster, molten metal, or wax and painstakingly excavates the cast. He guides you through living ant nests chamber by chamber, revealing how nests are created and how colonies function. How does nest architecture vary across species? Do ants have "architectural plans"? How do nests affect our environment? As he delves into these and other questions, Tschinkel provides a one-of-a-kind natural history of the planet's most successful creatures and a compelling firsthand account of a life of scientific discovery. Offering a unique look at how simple methods can lead to pioneering science, Ant Architecture addresses the unsolved mysteries of underground ant nests while charting new directions for tomorrow’s research, and reflects on the role of beauty in nature and the joys of shoestring science.
Download or read book Saproxylic Insects written by Michael D. Ulyshen and published by Springer. This book was released on 2018-05-21 with total page 896 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume offers extensive information on insect life in dying and dead wood. Written and reviewed by leading experts from around the world, the twenty-five chapters included here provide the most global coverage possible and specifically address less-studied taxa and topics. An overarching goal of this work is to unite literature that has become fragmented along taxonomic and geographic lines. A particular effort was made to recognize the dominant roles that social insects (e.g., termites, ants and passalid beetles) play in saproxylic assemblages in many parts of the world without overlooking the non-social members of these communities. The book is divided into four parts: · Part I “Diversity” includes chapters addressing the major orders of saproxylic insects (Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, Hemiptera, Lepidoptera and Blattodea), broadly organized in decreasing order of estimated global saproxylic diversity. In addition to order-level treatments, some chapters in this part discuss groups of particular interest, including pollinators, hymenopteran parasitoids, ants, stag and passalid beetles, and wood-feeding termites. · Part II “Ecology” discusses insect-fungal and insect-insect interactions, nutritional ecology, dispersal, seasonality, and vertical stratification. · Part III “Conservation” focuses on the importance of primary forests for saproxylic insects, offers recommendations for conserving these organisms in managed forests, discusses the relationships between saproxylic insects and fire, and addresses the value of tree hollows and highly-decomposed wood for saproxylic insects. Utilization of non-native wood by saproxylic insects and the suitability of urban environments for these organisms are also covered. · Lastly, Part IV “Methodological Advancements” highlights molecular tools for assessing saproxylic diversity. The book offers an accessible and insightful resource for natural historians of all kinds and will especially appeal to entomologists, ecologists, conservationists and foresters.
Download or read book The Nature of Nutrition written by Stephen J. Simpson and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2012-07-22 with total page 260 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The first book to address nutrition's complex role in biology Nutrition has long been considered more the domain of medicine and agriculture than of the biological sciences, yet it touches and shapes all aspects of the natural world. The need for nutrients determines whether wild animals thrive, how populations evolve and decline, and how ecological communities are structured. The Nature of Nutrition is the first book to address nutrition's enormously complex role in biology, both at the level of individual organisms and in their broader ecological interactions. Stephen Simpson and David Raubenheimer provide a comprehensive theoretical approach to the analysis of nutrition—the Geometric Framework. They show how it can help us to understand the links between nutrition and the biology of individual animals, including the physiological mechanisms that determine the nutritional interactions of the animal with its environment, and the consequences of these interactions in terms of health, immune responses, and lifespan. Simpson and Raubenheimer explain how these effects translate into the collective behavior of groups and societies, and in turn influence food webs and the structure of ecosystems. Then they demonstrate how the Geometric Framework can be used to tackle issues in applied nutrition, such as the problem of optimizing diets for livestock and endangered species, and how it can also help to address the epidemic of human obesity and metabolic disease. Drawing on a wealth of examples from slime molds to humans, The Nature of Nutrition has important applications in ecology, evolution, and physiology, and offers promising solutions for human health, conservation, and agriculture.
