Description
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 in harmony 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. 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. 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 Ecological patterns References 8. Saproxylic insects and the dilemmas of dead wood 8.1 Introduction: the conservation significance of dead wood 8.2 Coarse woody debris 8.3 Tree stumps 8.4 Salvage logging 8.5 Fine woody debris References 9. Forest management for insects: issues and Approaches 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Fire and management 9.3 Ecological traps 9.4 Forest reserves and landscape structure 9.5 Corridors and connectivity 9.6 Retention forestry 9.7 Scattered and Veteran trees 9.8 Urban forests 9.9 Riparian vegetation 9.10 Implications of climate change References 10. Forest management for insect conservation in Australia 10.1 Introduction: perspective 10.2 Forest protection 10.3 Forest regeneration and landscape design 10.4 Gaps 10.5 Modifyng forest management 10.6 Needs and prospects References
