Description
Many of the world's most serious agricultural pests are highly migratory. Through the use of special-purpose radars we are provided with insights into their movement and how they learn about and navigate through their environment. This text examines the behaviour and regional variations of these species, as well as the altitude of migration, concentration of insects in layers and how they respond to large and small-scale wind systems. The book relates radar observation of insect movement to complementary and competing methodologies and surveys its capabilities and limitations. It also deals with the applications of these findings in the management and forecasting of both pest and beneficial insects, and is an essential reference for those working in agricultural entomology and pest management.
Table of contents
- 1: Introduction
- 2: Remote Sensing and Insect Observation
- 3: Radar Principles
- 4: Insects as Radar Targets
- 5: Entomological Radar Designs
- 6: Observing Insects with Radar: I. Performance, Surveillance and Target Characterization
- 7: Observing Insects with Radar: II. Quantitative Estimation and Parameter Retrieval
- 8: Additional Radar, Radar-Like and Radio Technologies for Insect Observation
- 9: Insect Migration, its Quantification and the Role of the Atmosphere
- 10: Insect Migratory Flight I. Principal Features
- 11: Insect Migratory Flight II. Concentrations and Disturbances
- 12: Insect Migration, Population Movements and Pest Management
- 13: Migrations of Pest and Beneficial Insects
- 14: Insect Foraging Movements
- 15: Insect Echo on Meteorological Radars
- 16: Radar Entomology: Perspectives and Prospects
- Appendix A: Performance Monitoring and Calibration
- Appendix B: Regulatory and Safety Issues
Reviews
'... the volume has much to offer anyone interested in radar studies of the atmosphere and its inhabitants. Drake & Reynolds have done a brilliant job of detailing the technical aspects of
different types of radar and summarizing nearly 40 years of findings from studies using radar techniques. Future researchers in radar
biology will need to read carefully the more technical chapters and sections in the volume, and the general reader will enjoy the coverage of the biological discoveries that have been made using the technology.' – Animal Behaviour
'In conclusion, this thorough review of the contributions of radar entomology to our understanding of insect behaviour and ecology is to be recommended.' – Dr. Rebecca Nesbit, The Biologist
