Plant-Insect Interactions in Forests
A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Ecology and Management".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 July 2024 | Viewed by 151
Special Issue Editors
Interests: conservation biology; forest ecology; invasive species; IPM; sawflies; pathogens of bark beetles
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: biology; ecology and distribution of bark- and ambrosia beetles; valorization of forest ecosystems using community of saproxylic beetles and epigeic staphylinids
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Forest ecosystems constitute complex and dynamic environments where interactions between plants and insects are crucial for maintaining ecological balance. Research on the relationships between plants and insects in forests is not only fascinating from a biological standpoint, it is also of fundamental importance for understanding the functioning of forest ecosystems.
This Special Issue focuses on analysing the dependencies between plants and insects in the context of forests, citing the current research and key aspects of these interactions. Forest plants have evolved to develop intricate defence mechanisms against herbivores, and in response to these strategies, insects adapt to feed and survive. Analysing processes such as the production of defensive substances or symbiosis with microorganisms allows us to delve into the mysteries of these complex relationships. Understanding these adaptations becomes crucial in the context of environmental changes and threats to forest biodiversity.
Trees provide a habitat for the life and development of many ecological groups of insects, including predatory species and parasitoids. The presence and activity of these insects can influence the population dynamics of phytophages, thus indirectly impacting woody plants. Vectors, including pathogenic fungi, viruses and nematodes, also play a significant role in the functioning of forest ecosystems.
Furthermore, research on plant and insect interactions becomes even more critical in the context of global climate change. Predicted changes in temperature, precipitation and the structure of forest communities can affect the dynamics of these interactions, with significant consequences for the stability of forest ecosystems worldwide.
Through the synthesis of the latest research on interactions between plants and insects in forests, this Special Issue aims to expand our knowledge of these processes and their impact on forest ecology. Understanding these relationships is crucial for scientists and practitioners involved in environmental protection and sustainable forest management.
Prof. Dr. Jaroslav Holuša
Dr. Andrzej Mazur
Dr. Radoslaw Witkowski
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- phytophagous insects
- insect–plant relationships
- defence mechanisms of woody plants
- stability of forest ecosystems
- tree–phytophagous–antagonist trophic chains
- phytophagous outbreaks
