Microorganism biodiversity

It is only recently that the implications of declining biodiversity for sustainable agricultural production and environmental protection have been recognized. However, while justifiable concern is expressed at the need to conserve and prevent from extinction the larger flora and fauna of the world, the importance of microorganisms and invertebrates in the stable functioning of ecosystems has attracted less overt attention. Nevertheless, the subject is now recognized as of major significance for a number of issues such as maintenance of soil fertility and the provision of natural enemies for the biological control of pests and pathogens. The biodiversity of microorganisms and invertebrates seeks to address a number of these key issues and is based on a workshop organized by CAB International in association with the Committee on the Application of Science to Agriculture Foresty and Aquaculture (CASAFA) of the International Council of Scientific Unions, the Commonwealth Science Council, and the Third World Academy of Sciences. Four main subject areas are covered: the importance of invertebrates and microorganisms as components of biodiversity; the importance of biodiversity in sustaining soil productivity, the importance of biodiversity to pest occurrence and management, and biotechnology and biodiversity among invertebrates and microorganisms. The biodiversity of microorganisms and invertebrates: its role in sustainable agriculture edited by D L Hawksworth 1991 302pp ISBN 0 85198 722 2 Hbk UKL40.00 CAB International, Wallingford Oxon OX10 ODE, UK