Pattern and Process in Host-Parasitoid Interactions

Parasitoids are insects that parasitize and eventually kill other insects. Between one and two million species of parasitoid insect exist on the earth today. This book explores how this staggering diversity is maintained and documents patterns in host-parasitoid interactions, including parasitoid community richness, the importance of parasitoids as mortality factors, and their impact on host densities as determined by the outcomes of parasitoid introductions for biological control. It documents general patterns using data sets generated from the global literature and evaluates potential underlying biological, ecological, and evolutionary mechanisms. A theme running throughout the book is the importance of host refuges as a major constraint on host-parasitoid interactions. Multitrophic Level Interactions: An Introduction / Teja Tscharntke And Bradford A. Hawkins -- Plant Genetic Variation In Tritrophic Interactions / J. Daniel Hare -- Multitrophic/multispecies Mutualistic Interactions: The Role Of Non-mutualists In Shaping And Mediating Mutualisms / Judith L. Bronstein And Pedro Barbosa -- Tritrophic Interactions In Tropical Versus Temperate Communities / Lee A. Dyer And Phyllis D. Coley -- Endophytic Fungi And Interactions Among Host Plants, Herbivores, And Natural Enemies / Stanley H. Faeth And Thomas L. Bultman -- Multitrophic Interactions In Space: Metacommunity Dynamics In Fragmented Landscapes / Saskya Van Nouhuys And Ilkka Hanski -- The Chemical Ecology Of Plant-caterpillar-parasitoid Interactions / Ted. C.j. Turlings [and Others] -- Canopy Architecture And Multitrophic Interactions / Jérôme Casas And Imen Djemai -- Tritrophic Below- And Above-ground Interactions In Succession / Valerie K. Brown And Alan C. Gange -- Multitrophic Interactions In Decomposer Food-webs / Stefan Scheu And Heikki Setälä. Edited By Teja Tscharntke And Bradford A. Hawkins. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The multitrophic level approach to ecology addresses the complexity of food webs much more realistically than the traditional focus on simple systems and interactions. Only in the last few decades have ecologists become interested in the nature of more complex systems including tritrophic interactions between plants, herbivores and natural enemies. Plants may directly influence the behaviour of their herbivores'natural enemies, ecological interactions between two species are often indirectly mediated by a third species, landscape structure directly affects local tritrophic interactions and below-ground food webs are vital to above-ground organisms. The relative importance of top-down effects (control by predators) and bottom-up effects (control by resources) must also be determined. These interactions are explored in this exciting volume by expert researchers from a variety of ecological fields. This book provides a much-needed synthesis of multitrophic level interactions and serves as a guide for future research for ecologists of all descriptions. "How is the staggering biodiversity of the parasitoid insects maintained? This book, first published in 1994, explores patterns in host-parasitoid interactions, including parasitoid community richness, the importance of parasitoids as mortality factors, and their impact on host densities as determined by the outcomes of parasitoid introductions for biological control. It documents general patterns using data sets generated from the global literature and evaluates potential underlying biological, ecological and evolutionary mechanisms. A theme running throughout the book is the importance of host refuges as a major constraint on host-parasitoid interactions. Much can be learnt from the analysis of broad patterns; a few simple rules can go a long way in explaining the major components of these interactions. This book will be an invaluable resource for researchers interested in community ecology, population biology, entomology and biological control." -- Publisher's description Data And Methodology -- Parasitoid Species Richness -- Host Mortality -- Parasitoid Impact -- Independent Variables -- Dependent Variables -- Statistical Analysis -- Parasitoid Species Richness -- Host Feeding Niche -- Food Plant/habitat -- Lattitude/climate -- Explained Variance Models -- Taxonomic Composition And Generalist Versus Specialist Parasitoids -- Host Feeding Niche -- Food Plant/habitat -- Lattitude/climate -- Host Mortality And Parasitoid Impact -- Host Feeding Niche -- Food Plant/habitat -- Lattitude/climate -- Parasitoid Impact On Host Densities. Hyperparasitoids -- Primary Parasitoid Species Richness -- Herbivore Feeding Niche -- Food Plant/habitat -- Lattitude/climate -- Synthesis. Bradford A. Hawkins. Cover Title: Pattern & Process In Host-parasitoid Interactions. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 169-182) And Index. Pt. I. Biological Control Theory: Past And Present. 1. The Theoretical Foundations Of Biological Control / Alan A. Berryman. 2. Recent Developments In Theory For Biological Control Of Insect Pests By Parasitoids / Cheryl J. Briggs, William W. Murdock And Roger M. Nisbet. 3. Models In Biological Control: A Field Guide / Nigel D. Barlow -- Pt. Ii. Ecological Considerations. 4. The Uniformity And Density Of Pest Exploitation As Guides To Success In Biological Control / Michael E. Hochberg And Robert D. Holt. 5. Biological Control Of Insect Pests: A Tritrophic Perspective / Nick J. Mills And Andrew P. Gutierrez. 6. The Case For Indigenous Generalists In Biological Control / Gary C. Chang And Peter Kareiva. Edited By Bradford A. Hawkins And Howard V. Cornell. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Biological control is the suppression of pest populations by using predators, parasitoids, and pathogens. Historically, biological control has largely been used on a trial-and-error basis, and has failed more often than it has succeeded. However, by developing theories based on fundamental population principles and the biological characteristics of the pest and agent, we can gain a much better understanding of when and how to use biological control. This volume gathers recent theoretical developments and provides a balanced guide to the important issues that need to be considered when applying ecological theory to biological control. The book will be a source of productive and stimulating thought for all those interested in pest management, theoretical ecology, and population biology. Biological control is the suppression of pest populations using predators, parasitoids and pathogens. Historically, biological control has largely been on a trial-and-error basis, and has failed more often than it has succeeded. However by developing theories based upon fundamental population principles and the biological characteristics of the pest and agent, we can gain a much better understanding of when and how to use biological control. This book gathers together recent theoretical developments and provides a balanced guide to the important issues that need to be considered in applying ecological theory to biological control. It will be a source of productive and stimulating thought for all those interested in pest management, theoretical ecology and population biology. "Biological control is the suppression of pest populations by using predators, parasitoids, and pathogens. Historically, biological control has largely been used on a trial-and-error basis, and has failed more often than it has succeeded. However, by developing theories based on fundamental population principles and the biological characteristics of the pest and agent, we can gain a much better understanding of when and how to use biological control. This volume gathers recent theoretical developments and provides a balanced guide to the important issues that need to be considered when applying ecological theory to biological control."--Publisher's website Multitrophic Level Interactions explores the complex interactions between plants, their herbivores, and the herbivores' natural enemies. Determining the relative importance of top-down effects (control by predators) and bottom-up effects (control by resources), it will be an important guide to future research for all ecologists Terrestrial ecosystems are characterized by a huge diversity of species and a corresponding diversity of interactions between these species, but community ecology has historically been dominated by interactions between two trophic levels: in particular, plant-herbivore and predator-prey interactions.