Long description:

Insect Ecomorphology: Linking Functional Insect Morphology to Ecology and Evolution offers up-to-date knowledge and understanding of the morphology of insects and the functional basis of their diversity. This book covers the form and function of insect body structures in relation to their physiological performance capabilities, biological roles, and evolutionary histories. Written by international experts, the book explores the ecomorphology of functional systems such as insect feeding, locomotion, sensing, and egg laying. The combination of conceptual and review chapters, methodological approaches, and case studies enables readers to delve into active research fields and to gain an understanding of the form-function-performance paradigm.

This book uncovers key structures of the various regions of the insect body, elucidates their function, and investigates their ecological and evolutionary implications. Insect Ecomorphology is thus a vital resource for entomologists, biologists, and zoologists, especially those seeking to understand more fully the morphology and physiological impacts of insects in correlation to their environments and to evolution.

• Integrates traditionally separate fields of research with the aim of understanding insect morphology, ecology, and evolution
• Considers the impacts of insect ecomorphology on biomimetic applications
• Includes conceptual and methodological chapters to help readers appreciate the ways in which ecomorphological studies are performed

Table of Contents:

Part I: Conceptual Issues
1. Introduction
2. Conceptual and methodological issues in insect ecomorphology

Part II: Ecomorphology of the Insect Body
3. Ecomorphology of the insect head with a focus on the mouthparts of adults
4. Reflections of an insect's lifestyle and habitat: Morphological and ultrastructural adaptations involving the eyes of insects
5. Ecomorphology of insect flight
6. Ecomorphology of polypedal locomotion
7. Ecomorphology and evolution of tarsal and pretarsal attachment organs in insects
8. Ecomorphology of insect ovipositors
9. Insect antennae and olfactory sensilla - aspects of odorant capture and water conservation
10. Ecomorphology of insect mechanosensilla

Part III: Methodological Approaches
11. Methods for biomechanical characterization of insect cuticle
12. Shaping up: morphometric approaches to understanding insect behavioral ecology and ecomorphology

Part IV: Case Studies
13. Morphological adaptations of beetles to changing living conditions in the Permian and the Mesozoic
14. Ecomorphology of microinsects
15. Nectar-feeding ecology, ecomorphological adaptations, and variation of proboscis length in a long-proboscid fly (Diptera: Nemestrinidae: Prosoeca)
16. Ecomorphology of ants

Part V: Biomimetics
17. Ways in which insect biomimetics can benefit from ecomorphological research and vice versa