Forests and Insect Conservation in Australia

Losses of forests and their insect inhabitants are a major global conservation concern, spanning tropical and temperate forest regions throughout the world. This broad overview of Australian forest insect conservation draws on studies from many places to demonstrate the diversity and vulnerability of forest insects and how their conservation may be pursued through combinations of increased understanding, forest protection and silvicultural management in both natural and plantation forests. The relatively recent history of severe human disturbance to Australian forests ensures that reasonably natural forest patches remain and serve as 'models' for many forest categories. They are also refuges for many forest biota extirpated from the wider landscapes as forests are lost, and merit strenuous protection from further changes, and wider efforts to promote connectivity between otherwise isolated remnant patches. In parallel, the recent attention to improving forest insect conservation inharmony with insect pest management continues to benefit from perspectives generated from better-documented faunas elsewhere. Lessons from the northern hemisphere, in particular, have led to revelations of the ecological importance and vulnerability of many insect taxa in forests, together with clear evidence that 'conservation can work' in concert with wider forest uses. A brief outline of the variety of Australian tropical and temperate forests and woodlands, and of the multitude of endemic and, often, highly localised insects that depend on them highlights needs for conservation (both of single focal species and wider forest-dependent radiations and assemblages). The ways in which insects contribute to sustained ecological integrity of these complex ecosystems provide numerous opportunities for practical conservation.

Auteur
Emeritus Professor Tim New is an entomologist with broad interests in insect systematics, ecology and conservation. For long based at LaTrobe University, Melbourne, he has traveled widely to collect and study insects in many parts of the world, and his extensive publications on these topics include about 45 books. He is recognized globally as one of the leading advocates for insect conservation.

Contenu

1. Forests and their insect inhabitants

1.1 Introduction: the ecological milieu

1.2 Deforestation

1.3 Fragmentation

1.4 Selective logging

1.5 Losses of insects

References

2. Australia's forest ecosystems: conservation perspective for invertebrates

2.1 Introduction: extent and variety of Australia's forests

2.2 Impetus for management

References

3. Changes and threats to Australia's forests

3.1 Introduction: needs for management

3.2 Management priorities

3.3 Plantation forestry

3.4 Agricultural conversion

3.5 Agroforestry

References

4. Insects in native and alien forests in Australia

4.1 Introduction: the diversity and ecological roles of Australia's forest insects

4.2 Major forest pests

4.3 Alien insects on native trees

4.4 Development of conservation concern for insects in Australia's forests

References

5. Studying insects for conservation in forests

5.1 Introduction: problems of access and enumeration

5.2 Assessing diversity

5.3 Insects and forest edges

5.4 Some key groups and concerns

References

6. Insect flagships and indicators in forests

6.1 Conservation and flagship insect species in forests

6.2 Conservation and indicator taxa

References 7 .Conservation versus pest suppression: finding the balance

7.1 Introduction: key concerns and resources

7.2 Alien species 7.3 Ecolog...