Biological Control Ecology and Applications

Biological control is the suppression of populations of pests and weeds by living organisms. These organisms can provide important protection from invasive species and protect our environment by reducing the need for pesticides. However, they also pose possible environmental risks, so biological control interventions must be undertaken with great care. This book enhances our understanding of biological control interactions by combining theory and practical application. Using a combination of historical analyses, theoretical models and case studies, with explicit links to invasion biology, the authors cover biological control of insects, weeds, plant pathogens and vertebrate animals. The book reflects increasing recognition of risks over the past 20 years, and incorporates the latest technological advances and theoretical developments. It is ideal for researchers and students of biological control and invasion biology.

Foreword Jacques Brodeur; Preface; 1. Definitions and interactions; 2. Biological control and invasion biology; 3. Importation biological control – the scope of success; 4. Negative consequences of biological control; 5. Ecological risk analysis in biological control; 6. Population dynamics in biological control; 7. Biological control and evolution; 8. Augmentation: orchestrating local invasions; 9. Conservation biological control I: orchestrating natural control through habitat manipulation; 10. Conservation biological control II: orchestrating natural control through pesticide reduction or selection.

George Heimpel is a Distinguished McKnight University Professor of Entomology at the University of Minnesota. His research is focused on parasitoid biology and the use of parasitoids as biological control agents.
Nicholas Mills is a Professor of Entomology in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management at the University of California, Berkeley. His research focuses on biological control of arthropod pests using parasitoids and predatory insects in agricultural, urban and forest settings.