Overview

This work examines the ecology of aphids, some of which are serious pests of agricultural crops and forest trees. It also considers the relationships of aphids with their host plants, natural environments and the physical environment in relation to certain of the features that aphids developed early in their evolutionary history. In particular, the book explains how the modes of feeding and reproduction of aphids have led to a close and specific association with their host plants and affected the size of individuals and their population structure. Influences on life history patterns, dispersal, population dynamics, species diversity and world-wide distribution are also considered. The book should be of interest to specialists and postgraduates in entomology, ecology, animal reproduction, animal behaviour, pest biology and population biology.

Full Product Details

Author:   A.F.G. Dixon
Publisher:   Chapman and Hall
Imprint:   Chapman and Hall
Edition:   2nd ed. 1985
Dimensions:   Width: 15.50cm , Height: 1.90cm , Length: 23.50cm
Weight:   1.370kg
ISBN:  

9780412741807

ISBN 10:   0412741806
Pages:   300
Publication Date:   30 November 1997
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Undergraduate ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

1 Introduction.- 1.1 Distinguishing features of aphids.- 1.2 Origin of aphids.- 1.3 Host plant associations.- 1.4 Classification.- 1.5 Distribution.- 2 Feeding behaviour and food quality.- 2.1 Feeding behaviour.- 2.2 Food quality.- 2.3 Nitrogen metabolism.- 2.4 Symbionts.- 3 Host specificity and speciation.- 3.1 Proximate factors in host selection.- 3.2 Food quality.- 3.3 Evolution of host specificity.- 3.4 Speciation.- 4 Size.- 4.1 Size within a species.- 4.2 Optimum body size.- 4.3 Species size diversity.- 4.4 Geometrical similarity.- 4.5 Size of migrants.- 4.6 Reproduction.- 5 Resource tracking: mechanism — cyclical parthenogenesis.- 5.1 Telescoping of generations.- 5.2 Intra-clonal variation.- 5.3 Adaptability of aphid clones.- 5.4 Genetic structure.- 5.5 Sex.- 5.6 Why reproduce sexually?.- 5.7 Timing of sex.- 5.8 Sex ratios.- 5.9 Mate guarding.- 5.10 Why lay eggs?.- 6 Resource tracking: mechanism — polyphenism.- 6.1 Defence.- 6.2 Dispersal.- 6.3 Reproduction.- 6.4 Parthenogenetic reproduction.- 6.5 Sexual reproduction.- 6.6 Aestivation and hibernation.- 6.7 Ecological patterns.- 7 Resource tracking in time.- 7.1 Host alternation.- 7.2 The historical debate.- 7.3 Experimental evidence.- 7.4 Autoecious way of life.- 7.5 Generation-specific strategies.- 7.6 Habitat predictability and tactical diversity.- 7.7 Response to habitat quality.- 8 Resource tracking in space.- 8.1 Mechanisms.- 8.2 Timing.- 8.3 Distance travelled.- 8.4 Adaptive significance.- 9 Population dynamics.- 9.1 Dynamics of aerial populations.- 9.2 Intensive studies.- 9.3 Patterns.- 9.4 Processes.- 9.5 Natural enemies.- 9.6 Intraspecific differences in abundance.- 9.7 Interspecific differences in abundance.- 9.8 Abundance and global warming.- 9.9 Forecasting of pest aphid outbreaks.- 9.10 Spatialdynamics.- 10 Community structure and species diversity.- 10.1 Mutualism between plants and aphids.- 10.2 Aphids and plant growth.- 10.3 Aphids and the seeding of plants.- 10.4 Ants and plant fitness.- 10.5 Mutualism between aphids and ants.- 10.6 Endophyte-enhanced plant resistance to aphids.- 10.7 Energy and nutrient flow.- 10.8 Competition.- 10.9 Species diversity and plant architectural complexity.- 10.10 Size diversity.- 10.11 Distribution, abundance and variability.- 10.12 Rarity.- 10.13 Why are there so few species of aphids, especially in the tropics?.- 11 Epilogue.- References.

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