Encyclopedia of South American Aquatic Insects: Collembola

This work was begun to provide keys to the aquatic insect species known from Brazil. The original goal was to include all genera known from South America and all species from Brazil, but for most groups, the scope was expanded to encompass all species in South America, and, in many cases, to include terrestrial species of orders that include both terrestrial and aquatic taxa. In no case is a taxonomic reVlSlon of any group undertaken, although recommendations for such revisions are included, and the probable synonymy of nominal species still treated as valid in the literature is noted. Two different approaches are employed according to the taxon being treated. For phylogenetic groups encompassing overwhelmingly or exclusively aquatic species, such as the orders Odonata and Ephemeroptera or the families Dytiscidae and Culicidae, keys are provided to distinguish all genera and species known to occur in South America. An effort has been made to include every identifiable species so that the user of the key can determine with reasonable certainty whether or not his specimen belongs to a species that has already been described or whether it is one that is not yet known to science.

From the reviews:

"This book, already issued in 2001, is the first in a series of identification keys of South American insects limited to continental South America and the offshore islands found in a variety of 'aquatic habitats' (in, on, near water etc) treating the Collembola. The series is obviously directed to the practician. we have to thank the author for this compilation. Its usefulness has to be proved by practice." (Hartmut Greven, Entomologia Generalis, Vol. 30 (1), 2007)

Auteur
The author, Dr. Charles W. Heckman, has performed ecological research in Laos, Thailand, Germany, Brazil, and the United States. His publications include books on rice field ecology in Thailand and the Pantanal wetland in western Brazil, as well as many monographs and shorter publications on various aspects of biology and environmental sciences.

Contenu
Introduction. An appeal for quality in taxonomic work. Acknowledgements. Literature. Section 1: Collembola. 1.1. Morphology. 1.2. Ecology. 1.3. Preservation and examination. 1.4. Taxonomic problems. 1.5. Suggestions for improvement. 1.6. Key to the families. Onychiuridae. Hypogastruridae. Odentillidae. Neanuridae. Isotomidae. Entomobryidae. Tomoceridae. Cyphoderidae. Oncopoduridae. Neelidae. Dicyrtomidae. Sminthurididae. Arrhopalitidae. Katiannidae. Bourletiellidae. Spinothecidae. Sminthuridae. Literature. Index.