The idea that changes in biodiversity can impact how ecosystems function has, over the last quarter century, gone from being a controversial notion to an accepted part of science and policy. As the field matures, it is high time to review progress, explore the links between this new research area and fundamental ecological concepts, and look ahead to the implementation of this knowledge. This book is designed to both provide an up-to-date overview of research in the area and to serve as a useful textbook for those studying the relationship between biodiversity and the functioning, stability and services of ecosystems. The Ecological and Societal Consequences of Biodiversity Loss is aimed at a wide audience of upper undergraduate students, postgraduate students, and academic and research staff.

The Carabidae (including ground and tiger presented at the 8th European Carabidologists' beetles) form one of the largest families of in- Meeting - 2nd International Symposium of Cara- sects, with no less than an estimated 40,000 de- bidology, which took place at the Catholic Uni- scribed species, occurring in nearly any terrestrial versity of Louvain (U. c. L. ) in Louvain-Ia-Neuve and at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sci- habitat on all continents (except Antarctica) as well as on most islands. This extreme diversity ences (R. B. I. N. S. ) in Brussels, Belgium, Septem- and distribution, along with the high abundance ber 1-4, 1992. The manuscripts were peer-re- of these beetles in a large variety of habitats has viewed prior to acceptance. resulted a considerable interest in many aspects of European Carabidologists' Meetings were their study, including systematics, biogeography, started in the late 1960s by ecologists, mostly ecology and evolution. A large number of ground from the Netherlands, Scandinavia and Germany, beetles are known as polyphagous predatory who were investigating various aspects of the bi- arthropods and therefore have been recognized ology of carabid beetles. Since that time the as beneficial insects in integrated pest manage- number of participants to that meeting as well as ment of cultures. This has stimulated ecological its content have expanded considerably.