Insect Diversity, Declines and Conservation in Australia

✍ Scribed by Tim R. New

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 2022
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 240
• Series: Fascinating Life Sciences
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Problems of insect enumeration and assessment of needs are addressed in the contexts of rapid and substantial losses and changes to all key Australian terrestrial and freshwater environments and promoting awarenesss of the importance of insects. Further definition of the insect fauna and its peculiarities can aid threat alleviation and practical management to protect and conserve this unique and largely endemic biodiversity. Written for the many environmental managers and naturalists who are not primarily entomologists, the ten chapters expand from considerations of insect decline and diversity to the unique features of the Australian fauna and its characterisation. Cases and examples from throughout the world illustrate the major needs, approaches and priorities to sustaining a poorly known, diverse and ecologically varied insect heritage of global significance.

✦ Table of Contents

Preface
References
Acknowledgements
Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction: The Reality of Insect Declines
1.1 Reasons for Concern
1.2 Assessing Insect Declines
References
Chapter 2: The Problems of Interpreting Changes
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Scientific Shortfalls
2.3 Societal Dilemmas
2.4 Recognition of Threatened Insect Species
References
Chapter 3: Assessing and Understanding Insect Diversity
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Taxonomic Approximation
3.3 Surrogate Taxa
3.4 Ecological Diversity
References
Chapter 4: Improving Understanding of Insect Diversity
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Understanding Species
References
Chapter 5: Drivers of Decline
5.1 Introduction: Categorising Threats
5.2 Understanding Habitat Change
5.3 Understanding Threats
5.4 A Geographical Pattern?
References
Chapter 6: Insect Conservation Need in the Southern Hemisphere
6.1 Insects of the Temperate Southern Hemisphere
6.2 Australia´s Insects and Conservation Need
6.3 Understanding Australia´s Insect Richness
6.4 Endemism
References
Chapter 7: Levels of Concern and Approach
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Listing for Priority
7.3 Extending Ecological Coverage
7.3.1 Bioregions
7.3.2 Ecological Communities
7.3.3 Protected Areas
References
Chapter 8: Defining and Countering Threats
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Pesticides and Pollution
8.3 Alien Species
8.4 Fire
8.5 Climate Change
8.5.1 Habitat Offsets
8.6 Overexploitation
References
Chapter 9: Facilitating Conservation Progress
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Increasing the Profile of Insect Conservation
9.3 Citizen Science in Australian Insect Conservation
9.4 Flagship Species
References
Chapter 10: A Future for Australia´s Insects
10.1 Introduction
10.2 Integrating Insect Conservation in Australia
10.2.1 Protective Legislation
10.2.2 Conservation in Practice
10.3 Species Conservation: Lessons from Experience
10.3.1 Some Examples
Odonata
Ancient Greenling Damselfly (Hemiphlebia mirabilis) (p. 100)
Giant Petaltail Dragonfly (Petalura gigantea)
Plecoptera
Mount Donna Buang Wingless Stonefly (Riekoperla darlingtoni)
Orthoptera
Key´s Matchstick Grasshopper (Keyacris scurra)
Phasmatodea
Lord Howe Island Stick Insect (Dryococelus australis) (p. 106)
Lepidoptera
Golden Sun-Moth (Synemon plana) (p. 91)
Eltham Copper Butterfly (Paralucia pyrodiscus lucida)
Bulloak Jewel Butterfly (Hypochrysops piceatus) (p. 132)
Richmond Birdwing Butterfly (Ornithoptera richmondia) (p. 146)
Hymenoptera
Green or Golden Green Carpenter Bee (p. 156)
10.4 A Wider Agenda
References
Appendix
Considerations for Insect Species Conservation
Considerations for Wider Insect Conservation
Considerations for Habitat Management and Threat Mitigation
References
Index