Ecology, Systematics, and the Natural History of Predaceous Diving Beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae)

This 2nd edition of a comprehensive book provides an overview of the aquatic beetles in the Dytiscidae family, known as predaceous diving beetles. It covers anatomy, habitats, chemical and community ecology, phylogenies, larval morphology, sexual systems, predation, dispersal, conservation, and cultural and historical aspects. The book offers updates on the newest scientific findings and includes a new chapter on the subterranean fauna from Australia. It is valuable for anyone working in aquatic systems and as a model organism for investigations of ecological and evolutionary theory.

Format: Hardback
Length: 573 pages
Publication date: 02 January 2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This extensive book, now in its 2nd edition, presents one of the most comprehensive overviews of the aquatic beetles belonging to the Dytiscidae family, commonly referred to as predaceous diving beetles. Dytiscids constitute one of the largest families of freshwater insects, with approximately 4,650 named species that exhibit a wide range of sizes, colors, and habitat affinities. While dytiscid adults and larvae are widespread in various aquatic habitats and play crucial roles as predators on other aquatic invertebrates and vertebrates, there has been a lack of comprehensive compilations that focus on summarizing the knowledge on various aspects of their ecology, systematics, and biology.

The chapters in this book aim to consolidate previously scattered topics, encompassing their anatomy and habitats, chemical and community ecology, phylogenies and larval morphology, including chaetotaxy, sexual systems, predation, dispersal, conservation, and cultural and historical aspects. The 2nd edition provides updated information on the latest scientific discoveries regarding dytiscids and also includes a new chapter on the subterranean fauna from Australia. This new edition holds potential value for anyone working in aquatic systems where dytiscids are a significant component of the food web. Furthermore, readers will gain a deeper appreciation of dytiscids as model organisms for investigations of fundamental principles derived from ecological and evolutionary theory.

Contributing chapters have been authored by researchers actively engaged in studying dytiscids, and each chapter features color photographs and provides insights into future research directions.

Weight: 1039g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031012440
Edition number: 2nd ed. 2023