Ecological Entomology

One of the principal aims in writing this book pertains to the increasing impact of human influence on natural habitats in recent years, more notably to the loss of habitat quality. Increased urbanization, considerable reduction in natural forest areas, changing ecology of fresh water ecosystems, lakes and wet lands, besides changing microhabitats, have had their impact on insect populations. A wide range of responses exist among several species of insects living in these changing environments, more especially landscape dynamics creating a shifting mosaic of habitats. Further, loss of habitat quality decreases population growth rate, in course of time resulting in a reduction or extinction of species. As such, a basic understanding of the nature of habitat loss and fragmentation and their impact on insect species dynamics become important.