The Biodiversity of Microorganisms and Invertebrates

It is only recently that the implications of declining biodiversity for sustainable agricultural production and environmental protection have been recognized. However, while justifiable concern is expressed at the need to conserve and prevent from extinction the larger flora and fauna of the world, the importance of micro-organisms and invertebrates in the stable functioning of ecosystems has attracted less overt attention. Nevertheless, this subject is now recognized as of major significance for a number of issues, such as maintenance of soil fertility and provision of natural enemies for the biological control of pests and pathogens. This book addresses a number of these key issues and is based on a workshop organized by CAB International in association with the Commission on the Application of Science to Agriculture, Forestry and Aquaculture (CASAFA) of the International Council of Scientific Unions, the Commonwealth Science Council, and the Third World Academy of Sciences.
Four main subject areas are covered: the importance of invertebrates and micro-organisms as components of biodiversity; the importance of biodiversity in sustaining soil productivity; the importance of biodiversity to pest occurrence and management; and biotechnology and biodiversity among invertebrates and micro-organisms.