Trophic Interactions of Insects and Amphibians
A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 January 2012) | Viewed by 36314
Special Issue Editor
Interests: behavioral and chemical ecology of natural enemies; biological control; insect colonization; insect-amphibian interactions
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The purpose of this special issue is to highlight the trophic interactions of insects and amphibians. The most commonly known interaction between these two classes of animals involves predator-prey, with insects serving as prey of amphibians. In light of the global decline of amphibians, there is an urgent need to devise methods of rearing insects as food for endangered or threatened species in captive propagation. Insects also function as natural enemies of amphibians. Although there are some published studies that document insect predation or parasitism, few if any of these studies indicate whether insects can significantly affect the population dynamics of their prey (or hosts). Competition for limited resources between insects and amphibians can occur in some habitats. Research on this interaction is necessary to determine what abiotic or biotic variables we can manipulate to influence the outcome of competition. Finally, insects serve as dietary sources of toxins found in the skin secretions of amphibians. Can we extract these toxins and formulate them into repellents against biting insects, such as mosquitoes? Articles in this special issue will address a diversity of topics dealing with trophic interactions of insects and amphibians from both a basic and applied framework. The submission of high quality articles on any trophic interaction of these two classes of animals is encouraged.
Dr. Eric W. Riddick
Guest Editor
Keywords
- competition
- frogs
- insects
- natural enemies
- parasitism
- predation
- repellents
- toxins
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