Locusts and Grasshoppers: Behavior, Ecology, and Biogeography

Call for Papers

Locusts and grasshoppers (L&G) remain serious enemies of agriculturists in the twenty-first century. Outbreaks of these pests continue to occur on all continents except Antarctica. Besides the economic damage, L&G outbreaks may seriously alter ecological processes across landscapes (e.g., carbon and water cycles). They can cause rapid loss in vegetation cover resulting in soil erosion and increased runoff. L&G can also destroy food sources for many animals and thus affect biodiversity.

Despite decades of intensive research, the mechanisms underlying L&G population dynamics (and for locusts—phase transformation) are not fully elucidated. Only recently, significant advances were made in our understanding of L&G behavior and ecology, particularly individual and group movement as well as nutritional requirements.

The main focus of this special issue will be twofold: (i) recent advances in the studies on locust phase polyphenism and (ii) the use of new tools in research on L&G biology and ecology. The special issue is open for both research and review articles. We particularly welcome manuscripts dealing with L&G from Asia, Africa, and Central and South America. Main topics include, but are not limited to:

• L&G migratory behavior
• L&G foraging and nutritional ecology
• Molecular markers for locust phase polyphenism
• Molecular tools for L&G taxonomic and biogeographical studies
• Individual and social learning in L&G
• Grasshopper species in a habitat: a community or an assemblage?
• Robotics in L&G behavioral studies
• Geospatial tools in L&G ecology
• Locusts as models

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal's Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/psyche/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/ according to the following timetable:

Lead Guest Editor

• Alexandre Latchininsky, Department of Renewable Resources, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071-3354, USA

Guest Editors

• Gregory Sword, School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
• Michael Sergeev, Department of General Biology and Ecology, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
• Maria Marta Cigliano, Facultad de Ciencias Naurales y Museo, Universidad de la Plata del Bosque, La Plata, Argentina
• Michel Lecoq, Research Unit Locust Ecology and Control TA A-50 / D / CIRAD, Campus international de Baillarguet, Montpellier, France