Seasonal Adaptations of Insects

by Maurice J. and Catherine A. Tauber, Sinzo Masaki

Overview

This balanced, comprehensive account traces the alterations in body form that insects undergo as they adapt to seasonal change, exploring both theoretical aspects and practical issues, such as the impact of seasonality on insect pest management. The authors provide a critical interpretation of the voluminous scientific literature on the natural history, genetics, evolution, and management of insect adaptations. As the only current study of this important topic, this monograph will be essential reading for most entomologists, as well as many ecologists, invertebrate zoologists, and evolutionary biologists.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195036350
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	12/05/1985
Pages:	426
Product dimensions:	6.38(w) x 9.50(h) x 1.15(d)

About the Author

Cornell University

Hirosaki University

Table of Contents

1. Introduction2. Insect Adaptations to Environmental Changes3. The Course of Diapause4. The Diapause Syndrome5. Environmental Regulation of Seasonal Cycles6. Seasonal Adaptations - Special Cases7. Variability and Genetics of Seasonal Adaptations8. Evolution of Seasonal Cycles9. Seasonality, the Evolution of Life History, and Speciation10. Seasonality and Insect Pest ManagementBibliographyAuthor IndexSpecies IndexSubject Index

Editorial Reviews

"The great contribution of this volume is that it makes available a vast and esoteric literature to researchers, especially students, who are seeking interesting questions to investigate. Any reader familiar with the general field of life history evolution will discover in this book a gold mine of research opportunities."—Science

"A valuable addition for college libraries."—Choice

"The information presented about the seasonal synchronization and survival of insect populations provides a foundation for an increased understanding of insect population biology....The book is especially effective in presenting diapause as a syndrome that is often the key physiological and behavioral adaptation to which seasonal migration and polyphenism are coupled. This concept unifies much of the existing literature....This scholarly and well-indexed book should provide an important resource for many years for students, teachers and researchers seeking information about insect seasonality." —Quarterly Review of Biology

"Well organized and solidly documented... Carefully written and produced...Admirable for its clarity...Each chapter section is clearly summarized and this is very handy for both preview and review. The bibliography is immense...The indicies are superb...Valuable as a reference...Perfect basis for graduate seminar courses...Highly successful and entomologists of all persuasions will profit from reading it. I hope that it will be widely read..." —Quaest. Ent.

"...No summarizing work comparable to the author's present book has so far been published in the world of literature. University teachers, research workers, and last but not least university students can make much use of it." —Journal of Applied Entomology

"The text is rich with examples documenting the major points ....I used the book as a text for a graduate seminar. It was excellent: information was presented clearly, literature was well organized, the use of summaries helped underscore key issues, and—most significantly—the book was an effective catalyst for stimulating many lively and provocative discussions on the subject matter. This is a book that deserves to be pulled of the shelf frequently." —David L. Denlinger, Ohio State University, in American Scientist

"There is something for everyone in Tauber, Tauber, and Masaki. The teacher of biology/ecology will profit from the updated synthesis of seasonality. Research ecologists or physiologists can find numerous topics worthy of their pursuit, and the applied ecologist/pest manager can clarify his or her understanding of the most diverse and most influential class of organisms on earth. If you work even peripherally with insects, consider the price of this book forty dollars well spent." —Ecology

"A valuable addition to existing volumes in behavioral ecology and physiological ecology....The book is easy to read and to use for a reference, because of the many sections and subsections and because of three excellent indices. The definitions are well conceived and are stated in clear English....This volume is absolutely packed with information." —BioScience

From the Publisher