Plants and insects have engaged in a long evolutionary battle, leading to the development of sophisticated defense mechanisms and counter-adaptations. The intricate interplay between these two groups shapes ecosystems, agricultural productivity, and pest management strategies. In recent years, advances in molecular biology, chemical ecology, and genomics have unveiled the underlying mechanisms governing insect-plant interactions, offering novel insights for sustainable agriculture and pest...

Plants and insects have engaged in a long evolutionary battle, leading to the development of sophisticated defense mechanisms and counter-adaptations. The intricate interplay between these two groups shapes ecosystems, agricultural productivity, and pest management strategies. In recent years, advances in molecular biology, chemical ecology, and genomics have unveiled the underlying mechanisms governing insect-plant interactions, offering novel insights for sustainable agriculture and pest...

A CHOICE Recommended title 2025This textbook provides a comprehensive overview of the principles, methods and applications of chemical ecology, covering such topics as chemical signalling, predator–prey interactions, host plant selection and chemical defence. The book takes the reader through the historical development of the discipline to current state-of-the-art research, delving into recent findings on the role of chemical ecology in conservation and management and expl...

Considered as economically significant pests with worldwide distribution, aphids feed on hundreds of cultivated and ornamental plants and cause considerable economic loss on a global scale.The peach-potato aphid, Myzus persicae, is one of the most severe model aphid pests and successfully colonizes hundreds of plant species from 40 different families. It is a complex aphid pest known for its high reproductive rate, biotype formation, suppression of plant defenses, and wide...

The news that a flowering weed—mousear cress ( Arabidopsis thaliana)—can sense the particular chewing noise of its most common caterpillar predator and adjust its chemical defenses in response led to headlines announcing the discovery of the first "hearing" plant. As plants lack central nervous systems (and, indeed, ears), the mechanisms behind this "hearing" are unquestionably very different from those of our own acoustic sense, but the misleading headlines point to an overlooked...

This fully revised and expanded edition of Fundamentals of Soil Ecology continues its holistic approach to soil biology and ecosystem function. Students and ecosystem researchers will gain a greater understanding of the central roles that soils play in ecosystem development and function. The authors emphasize the increasing importance of soils as the organizing center for all terrestrial ecosystems and provide an overview of theory and practice of soil ecology, both from an ecosystem and e...

This multi-contributor, international volume synthesizes contributions from the world's leading soil scientists and ecologists, describing cutting-edge research that provides a basis for the maintenance of soil health and sustainability. The book covers these advances from a unique perspective of examining the ecosystem services produced by soil biota across different scales - from biotic interactions at microscales to communities functioning at regional and global scales. The book leads t...

Combining breadth of coverage with detail, this logical and cohesive introduction to insect ecology couples concepts with a broad range of examples and practical applications. It explores cutting-edge topics in the field, drawing on and highlighting the links between theory and the latest empirical studies. The sections are structured around a series of key topics, including behavioral ecology; species interactions; population ecology; food webs, communities and ecosystems; and broad patte...

Integrated Pest Management: Current Concepts and Ecological Perspective presents an overview of alternative measures to traditional pest management practices using biological control and biotechnology. The removal of some highly effective broad-spectrum chemicals, caused by concerns over environmental health and public safety, has resulted in the development of alternative, reduced risk crop protection products. These products, less toxic to the environment and easily integrated into biolo...

The third edition of Insect Ecology: An Ecosystem Approach provides a modern perspective of insect ecology that integrates two approaches traditionally used to study insect ecology: evolutionary and ecosystem. This integration substantially broadens the scope of insect ecology and contributes to prediction and resolution of the effects of current environmental changes, as these affect and are affected by insects. The third edition includes an updated and expanded synthesis of feedback and ...

Insects have evolved very unique and interesting tactics using chemical signals to survive. Chemical ecology illustrates the working of the biological network by means of chemical analyses. Recent advances in analytical technology have opened the way to a better understanding of the more complicated and abyssal interactions of insects with other organisms including plants and microbes. This book covers recent research on insects and chemical communications and presents the current status a...

Never before has a holistic approach to sustainable agriculture and plant physiology been presented in one source. This book compiles a multi-authored and international perspective on the ways in which crop physiology could be integrated with other disciplines. With a focus on genetic improvement and agronomy, this book addresses the challenges of environmentally sound production of bulk and quality food, fodder, fiber and energy, which are of ongoing international concern. - Provides a vi...