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Contents:
1 - Sampling theory and practice; 2 - Sampling insects from roots; 3 - Pitfall trapping in ecological studies; 4 - Sampling methods for forest understory vegetation; 5 - Sampling insects from trees: shoots, stems and trunks.; 6 - Insects in flight; 7 - Techniques and methods for sampling canopy insects; 8 - Sampling methods for water-filled tree holes and their artificial analogues; 9 - Sampling devices and sampling design for aquatic insects; 10 - Methods for sampling termites; 11 - Parasitoids and predators.
Review:
One of the most crucial parts of any environmental education/science programme is that students get out into the field and experience that which they are studying at first hand. Modern trends away from this, especially at school level, are therefore to be regretted. Despite this (because of this?) there is a need for texts which gather sampling information especially for groups such as insects which are relatively easy to manage.
We start at the heart of the problem - sampling theory. From the key question, why sample, the reader is taken through sampling strategies and sampling sizes. Although this part can often be neglected it is crucial because it informs the methods that are available. The remainder of the text goes into specific insect gathering situations. Chapter two looks at insects from roots and considers the chemical, physical and behavioural options open to us (as well as being able to spot insects in the first place). One of the most common methods is the pitfall trap (chapter three). Originally this was little more than a jam jar for students but here we see a far more sophisticated system where every variable is considered from design to location. Chapter four looks at understory collection with another range of classic techniques including beating but updated in light of new ideas of insect behaviour. The next area under discussion is the tree. Here the first consideration is insect location and density to ensure that all parameters are considered. This then moves on to look at the range of techniques that can be used. In keeping with the other chapters there is a summary of techniques which makes decisions easier. Flying insects (the focus of chapter 6) are taken mainly by traps which use a variety of lures from light to sticky substances to pheromones. So far, the main issue has been selecting a method. In chapter 7 we see a main problem is reaching the sampling area in the first place. The canopy is not well researched primarily because of issues in getting there. Once there we have a few techniques available but the whole exercise is not easy. A different area is explored in chapter 8 with the unusual area of sampling water-filled holes. Chapter 9 has one of the larger chapters looking at the range of aquatic insects and the methods available to us. Termites are the next subject. Although quite a specialised field it does raise issues that are common elsewhere. Since they are major tropical and sub-tropical pests then this is clearly an area needing good sampling methodology A final chapter looks at sampling parasites and predators and measuring the rates of both. By their nature these are not easy to see or study which also means that their impact is not obvious.
This is a specific study but one with applications elsewhere. The chapters are concise but well illustrated and the index of methods is a real bonus. Coverage is excellent and there's enough material to plan sampling or to discuss it in a wider context. With a lot of coverage in a compact form this text would be an good addition to a field work library.