Parasitoid Community Ecology

Book excerpt: The study of parasitoid communities has direct relevance to general ecological theory and to the applied practice of biological control. Yet, despite the existence of a large and active international research community involved in the study of parasitoids, until now no books devoted to the theme of parasitoid community ecology have been available. Here, with a healthy mix of general discussions and specific examples such as tortricids and weevils, the authors constructively review and evaluate our understanding of these often very complex systems. The book emphasizes basic science, linking the discussion to wider areas such as population dynamics, food webs, competition, and community structure. The more applied end of the subject is covered in a section exclusively devoted to biological control. This book, the first to deal entirely with ecological aspects of parasitoid biology, offers summaries of the state of the field by leading researchers and identifies critical areas in need of further investigation. Students, researchers, and teachers in the field of ecology, animal behavior, entomology, forestry, and agriculture will all want to have a copy of the book on their shelves.