Environmental impact of invertebrates for biological control of arthropods
Methods and risk assessment

This book provides an invaluable review of the current methodologies used for assessing the environmental impacts of invertebrate biological agents used to control pests in agriculture and forestry. It explores methods to evaluate post-release effects and the environmental impact of dispersal, displacement and establishment of invertebrate biological control agents. It covers methodology on screening for contaminants, the use of molecular methods for species identification and the determination of interbreeding. The book also discusses the use and application of information on zoogeographical zones, statistical methods and risk-benefit analysis. It gives practical advice on how to perform science-based risk assessments and on how to use new technology and information.

Current status and constraints in the assessment of non-target effects. Selection of Non-Target Species for Host Specificity Testing. Host Specificity in Arthropod Biological Control, Methods for Testing and Interpretation of the Data. Measuring and Predicting Indirect Impacts of Biological control: Competition, displacement, and secondary interactions. Risks of Interbreeding between species used in biological control and native species, and methods for evaluating its occurrence and impact. Assessing the establishment potential of inundative biological control agents. Methods for Monitoring the Dispersal of Natural Enemies from Point Source Releases Associated with Augmentative Biological Control. Risks of plant damage caused by natural enemies introduced for arthropod biological control. methods for assessment of contaminants of invertebrate biological control agents and Associated Risks. Post-Release Evaluation of Non-Target Effects of Biological Control Agents. Molecular Methods for the Identification of biological control Agents at the species and strain level. The usefulness of the Ecoregion Concept for safer import of Invertebrate biological control Agents. Statistical tools to improve the quality of experiments and Data Analysis for assessing non-target effects. Principles of environmental risk assessment with Emphasis on the New Zealand Perspective. Environmental risk assessment: methods for comprehensive evaluation and quick scan . Balancing environmental risks and benefits: a Basic Approach.