Description
Book SynopsisThis is the first comprehensive synopsis of the biodiversity of Diptera, which with more than 150.000 described species contain more than one tenth of all described animal species. The first part is a review of what is already known, with treatments of all the major biogeographical regions and important archipelagoes; the second part contains case studies on open-ended taxa, Diptera as ecological indicators, and how to estimate the still unknown proportion of our fauna; and the third part discusses the digital and molecular tools needed to document the fauna. The book has an emphasis on principles and analytical approaches as well as on practical ‘how-to’ information and is intended for academicians and other professionals but with a significant outreach to students.
Trade ReviewThis book is one of those rare things: a multi-author, multi-editor collection of papers that comes together in a truly essential volume. It is a milestone in dipterology and will be a much-consulted volume for anyone interested in biodiversity and biogeography... It is essential reading for anybody interested in Diptera or global zoogeography, and would be of value to anyone with an interest in taxonomy and biodiversity S.A. Marshall, University of Guelph, in Bulletin de la Société d'entomologie du Canada volume 42(2), June 2010 The nine regional treatments are very thorough reviews, each written by a leading dipterist of the continent or region... The book is very well designed, and has lots of pretty very sharp colour photographs. Diptera Diversity certainly deserves to be read by more entomologists than just dipterists...In short, entomologists with an interest in biodiversity, I would advise to buy this book as well, and it should not be missing from any entomological library. Erik J. Van Nieukerken, Tijdschrift voor Entomologie, volume 152, 2009 [T]his book serves well to elucidate both the state of progress as well as still existing shortcomings and impediments of dipterological biodiversity research today. M. Kotrba, Mitteilungen der Muenchner Entomologischen Gesellschaft, Band 99, 2009 This publication is very clearly arranged and printed, and good evidence of the leading position of dipterology within entomology.... All the 21 contributors are worldwide authorities on Diptera and all the chapters are clearly written and represented in Q.D. Wheeler words a "singular important empirical and theoretical achievement". M. Chvála, Eur. J. Entomol., volume 106, 2009 The most important highlight of this contribution is the inclusion of all major biogeographical regions and their wide coverage. What sets this book apart from others is the logistics of taxonomic coverage, encompassing all the major faunistic groups along with simultaneous deliverations on their diversity...The views of the contributing authors suggesting that integrative taxonomy is the only logical and practicaql way forward for taxonomy is well apparent in this treatise. Such proficient attempt to specifiy exactly where more work is needed is commendable and important as it is reflected in all the reveiws of major taxa included here... The comprehensive extent of topic and issues raised is fairly remarkable for any single volume. The fact that these are raised in the background of empirically rich volume based on extremely diverse taxon of worldwide importance is simply exceptional. Shakti Kumar Singh & V.V. Ramamurthy, Oriental Insects, volume 43, 2009.
