Bücher von Heimo Mikkola

Bats are widely distributed and vary enormously in their ecology, sociality, and behavior. They offer diverse cultural and economic contributions to human populations, such as ecotourism, guano, medicinal products, religious significance, and vector control, to name a few. Insectivorous bats consume massive quantities of insects and other arthropods, controlling important agricultural pests and potential disease vectors. Bats feeding on nectar help to maintain diversity in forests through the dispersal of seeds and pollen, essential to many plant species with high economic, biological, and cultural value. At the same time, bats are often associated with zoonotic disease risks, a trend that has been magnified by the global COVID-19 pandemic, although no direct infection from bat to human has been demonstrated. Rapid deforestation is also a major contributing factor to new viral emergences. This book suggests that education is a suitable tool to minimize prejudice against bats and a key step to creating a harmonious coexistence between humans and bats. Chapters address such topics as bats in folklore and culture, bat dispersal patterns, bats in ecosystem management, pesticide exposure risks, roost-tier preference, diversity and conservation, and ecology of white-nose syndrome.

It is anticipated that by 2050 we will have nine billion people to feed-how can we manage? As scarcities of agricultural land, water, forest, fishery and biodiversity resources, as well as nutrients and nonrenewable energy are foreseen, insect rearing is one solution for food and feed security in the future. In this book, we have nine chapters ranging from mushroom, insect, and earthworm farming to smart packaging and 3D printing of future foods. However, because of their biological composition, several issues should be considered, such as microbial safety, toxicity, palatability, and the presence of inorganic compounds. Specific health implications ought to be kept in mind especially if mushrooms, earthworms, or insects are reared on waste products. Allergies induced through insects' ingestion also deserve attention. A possible HACCP plan has been described considering pre-requirements in insect production and transformation.