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A unique and critical analysis of the wealth of research conducted on the biology, biochemistry and chemical ecology of the rapidly growing field of insect cuticular hydrocarbons. Authored by leading experts in their respective fields, the twenty chapters show the complexity that has been discovered in the nature and role of hydrocarbons in entomology. Covers, in great depth, aspects of chemistry (structures, qualitative and quantitative analysis), biochemistry (biosynthesis, molecular biology, genetics, evolution), physiology, taxonomy, and ecology. Clearly presents to the reader the array of data, ideas, insights and historical disagreements that have been accumulated during the past half century. An emphasis is placed on the role of insect hydrocarbons in chemical communication, especially among the social insects. Includes the first review on the chemical synthesis of insect hydrocarbons. The material presented is a major resource for current researchers and a source of ideas for new researchers.
The book features comparative perspectives on the field of chemical ecology, present and future, offered by scientists from a wide variety of disciplines. The scientists contributing to this book –biologists, ecologists, biochemists, chemists, biostatisticians – are interested in marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems and work on life forms ranging from micro-organisms to mammals, including humans, living in areas from the tropics to polar regions. Here, they cross their analyses of the present state of chemical ecology and its perspectives for the future. Those presented here include complex, multispecies communities and cover a wide range both of organisms and of the types of molecules that mediate the interactions between them. Up to now, no book has presented a solid scientific treatment of a wide range of examples. This book illustrates a diverse panel of the most advanced aspects of this rapidly expanding field.
21st Century Homestead: Biological Pest Control contains everything you need to stay up to date on biological pest control
For many of us, the buzzing of a bee elicits panic. But the next time you hear that low droning sound, look closer: the bee has navigated to this particular spot for a reason using a fascinating set of tools. She may be using her sensitive olfactory organs, which provide a 3D scent map of her surroundings. She may be following visual landmarks or instructions relayed by a hive-mate. She may even be tracking electrostatic traces left on flowers by other bees. What a Bee Knows: Exploring the Thoughts, Memories, and Personalities of Bees invites us to follow bees’ mysterious paths and experience their alien world. Although their brains are incredibly small—just one million neurons compared ...
This book uses a wide range of case studies from different invertebrate taxa to describe the numerous forms of social recognition occurring in this large group of animals and traces the evolution of this cognitive ability. The authors provide several examples of direct (i.e. the target of recognition is a conspecific) and indirect recognition (i.e. recognition of a reliable proxy rather than an individual, such as a den or a substrate) and discuss cases of familiar recognition (i.e. an animal remembers a conspecific but cannot tell what class it comes from or recognize its identity). Class-level recognition (i.e. an animal assigns a conspecific to an appropriate class of animals), and true individual recognition (i.e. an animal both identifies and recognizes a conspecific on an individual basis) are also addressed.
Advances in underwater exploration, in situ observation of fish populations, as well as the development of cutting-edge technologies, provide modern insights into behaviors and strategies of fish, whose cognitive abilities have long been underestimated and undervalued. Fish Behavior 2 presents current knowledge about fish biology, ecology and ethology. In light of the most recent scientific work, this book examines topics such as their reproductive behavior and the expression of their personalities. It also addresses issues associated with neurophysiological conditioning of behaviors, in relation to the structural and functional complexity of their brains. This book is intended for researchers, teachers, masters and doctoral students in biology and biogeography, engineers and technicians responsible for the development and protection of natural environments and public aquariums, in addition to aquaculturists, fishermen, environmentalists and ecologists.
The wild beauty of deserts has always been a source of fascination the world over. Mankind and Deserts 1 the first of three volumes describes their location and geographic variety. There are both hot and cold deserts, those at high altitude or those at sea level, differing in climate but sharing the scarcity of water, extreme temperatures and often violent winds. According to paleoclimate evidence, however, deserts have not always been as arid as they are today. Deserts were a source of inspiration for many spiritual leaders, among them, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad; as well as conquerors, from Alexander the Great to Genghis Khan. Some avoided these deserts, or crossed them as fast as they could. Others adapted to them and developed vibrant civilizations and cities. From ancient, almost mythical, exploration to modern scientific studies, deserts have come to be better known yet still hold great appeal. This book traces the history of their knowledge while providing a basis for understanding their features and the tools needed for their protection, in an ever-changing world.
Where the environment is concerned, regardless of scale, the logic of the Native American hummingbird which does its part should prevail. To act independently of others is indeed the sine qua non of the global shift towards a regenerative economy of humanity and ecosystems, expurgating the pervading pollution (particularly from oil use). Small- and medium-sized enterprises, which this book especially targets, do not need disproportionately-sized study facilities in order to reduce their impact on global warming. Climatic Impact of Activities provides valuable methodological and practical support for establishing a complete and reliable diagnosis of the greenhouse effect, and for planning the corresponding corrective actions. This book guides the reader step by step in developing an informed emissions assessment with realistic and advanced case studies, in full compliance with official methodological recommendations.
The detection of marine pollution requires a scientific and operational response to identify contaminants, chemicals and hydrocarbons, and to support contrasting observations. Remote Detection and Maritime Pollution originates from the proceedings of CEDRE Information Day, held on October 13, 2016 in Brest, France. Containing four parts encompassing 13 chapters, this book explores remote detection channels for the multiform marine pollutions of today and of the future. With a focus on transatlantic cooperation, it covers remote detection sensors, the state of the art of maritime surveillance with regard to the interests of national and international authorities, the benefits of response strategy, and geophysical exploration. Future vectors (airplanes, drones, satellites, among others) and sensors (radar, optical, hyperspectral and so on) are also studied. This book is a valuable resource for practical solutions for marine authorities, industries (chemical, energy, aerospace, petroleum, shipping), lawyers and scientists.
The marine environment, in addition to a not insignificant background of "natural" radioactivity, has continued to receive inputs of radionuclides directly or indirectly through atomic fallout, discharges from the nuclear industry or from nuclear accidents. After their introduction, the fate of these radionuclides is complex with modifications of physicochemical forms, dispersion in marine water masses and adsorption onto sedimentary particles. Marine organisms then bioaccumulate these radionuclides to a greater or lesser extent, dispersing them via their burrowing activities, horizontal and vertical migrations or through food webs. All of these phenomena lead to very variable radioactive co...