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About this book
About this book
An exploration of the environmental and economic costs and benefits of acridids (grasshoppers and locusts) both as essential ecological components and as serious grassland pests. Using a risk analysis approach to examine the ecological role of acridids and the effect of controlling these insects, the authors assess our current understanding of the grasshopper-grassland relationship. They also propose new directions for research and management in acridology and ecology that are consistent with developing a more economically productive and environmentally sustainable human presence on the world's grasslands. The integration of ecological, agricultural, economic, political and cultural perspectives brings into focus the enormous complexity of managing native insect populations in natural ecosystems. This general survey is supported by individual chapters devoted to particularly relevant and contemporary studies of grasshopper and locust ecology, pest management and conservation.
Introduction: a novel approach to solving complex ecological problems - an international polylogue on the art and science of applied acridology, J.A. Lockwood, et al. Part 1 Grasshoppers as integral elements of grasslands: do grasshoppers diminish grassland productivity? a new perspective for control based on conservation, G.E. Belovsky; what are the consequences of ecosystem disruption on acridid diversity and abundance?, F.A. Gapparov, A.V. Latchininsky; what is the role of grassland vegetation in grasshopper population dynamics?, O. Olfert. Part 2 Grasshopper population ecology and management: how do spatial population structures affect acridid management? M.G. Sergeev, et al; can micropopulation management protect rare grasshoppers? M.E. Chernyakhovskiy; what factors govern orthopteran community structure and species prevalence?, T. Kisbenedek, A. Baldi. Part 3 Grasshopper and locust control strategies and tools; how can acridid population ecology be used to refine pest management strategies?, M. Lecoq; what are the consequences of non-linear ecological interactions for grasshopper control strategies, A. Joern; what tools have potential for grasshopper pest management? a North American perspective, J.A. Onsager, O. Olfert. Part 4 Grasshopper control and grassland health: how can acridid outbreaks be managed in dryland agricultural landscapes?, V.E. Kambulin; can locust control be compatible with conserving biodiversity. (Part contents).