Decline of the North American avifauna

Science, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 366(6461), P. 120 - 124

Published: Sept. 19, 2019

Species extinctions have defined the global biodiversity crisis, but extinction begins with loss in abundance of individuals that can result compositional and functional changes ecosystems. Using multiple independent monitoring networks, we report population losses across much North American avifauna over 48 years, including once-common species from most biomes. Integration range-wide trajectories size estimates indicates a net approaching 3 billion birds, or 29% 1970 abundance. A continent-wide weather radar network also reveals similarly steep decline biomass passage migrating birds recent 10-year period. This bird signals an urgent need to address threats avert future avifaunal collapse associated ecosystem integrity, function, services.

Language: Английский

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Insect decline in the Anthropocene: Death by a thousand cuts

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 118(2)

Published: Jan. 11, 2021

Nature is under siege. In the last 10,000 y human population has grown from 1 million to 7.8 billion. Much of Earth’s arable lands are already in agriculture (1), millions acres tropical forest cleared each year (2, 3), atmospheric CO2 levels at their highest concentrations more than 3 (4), and climates erratically steadily changing pole pole, triggering unprecedented droughts, fires, floods across continents. Indeed, most biologists agree that world entered its sixth mass extinction event, first since end Cretaceous Period 66 ago, when 80% all species, including nonavian dinosaurs, perished. Ongoing losses have been clearly demonstrated for better-studied groups organisms. Terrestrial vertebrate sizes ranges contracted by one-third, many mammals experienced range declines least over century (5). A 2019 assessment suggests half amphibians imperiled (2.5% which recently gone extinct) (6). Bird numbers North America fallen 2.9 billion 1970 (7). Prospects world’s coral reefs, beyond middle this century, could scarcely be dire (8). 2020 United Nations report estimated a species danger next few decades (9), but also see bridled assessments refs. 10 11. Although flurry reports drawn attention insect abundance, biomass, richness, (e.g., 12⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓–18; reviews 19 20), whether rates insects on par with or exceed those other remains unknown. There still too … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence may addressed. Email: david.wagner{at}uconn.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1

Language: Английский

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Insect Declines in the Anthropocene

Annual Review of Entomology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 65(1), P. 457 - 480

Published: Oct. 14, 2019

Insect declines are being reported worldwide for flying, ground, and aquatic lineages. Most reports come from western northern Europe, where the insect fauna is well-studied there considerable demographic data many taxonomically disparate Additional cases of faunal losses have been noted Asia, North America, Arctic, Neotropics, elsewhere. While this review addresses both species loss population declines, its emphasis on latter. Declines abundant can be especially worrisome, given that they anchor trophic interactions shoulder essential ecosystem services their respective communities. A factors believed to responsible observed collapses those perceived threatening insects form core treatment. In addition widely recognized threats biodiversity, e.g., habitat destruction, agricultural intensification (including pesticide use), climate change, invasive species, assessment highlights a few less commonly considered such as atmospheric nitrification burning fossil fuels effects droughts changing precipitation patterns. Because geographic extent magnitude largely unknown, an urgent need monitoring efforts, across ecological gradients, which will help identify important causal in declines. This also considers status vertebrate insectivores, reporting bias, challenges inherent collecting interpreting data, increasing abundance.

Language: Английский

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Vertebrates on the brink as indicators of biological annihilation and the sixth mass extinction

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 117(24), P. 13596 - 13602

Published: June 1, 2020

Significance The ongoing sixth mass extinction may be the most serious environmental threat to persistence of civilization, because it is irreversible. Thousands populations critically endangered vertebrate animal species have been lost in a century, indicating that human caused and accelerating. acceleration crisis certain still fast growth numbers consumption rates. In addition, are links ecosystems, and, as they fall out, interact with likely go also. regions where disappearing concentrated, regional biodiversity collapses occurring. Our results reemphasize extreme urgency taking massive global actions save humanity’s crucial life-support systems.

Language: Английский

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Scientists’ warning to humanity on the freshwater biodiversity crisis

AMBIO, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 50(1), P. 85 - 94

Published: Feb. 10, 2020

Language: Английский

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Designing optimal human‐modified landscapes for forest biodiversity conservation

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 23(9), P. 1404 - 1420

Published: June 15, 2020

Agriculture and development transform forest ecosystems to human-modified landscapes. Decades of research in ecology have generated myriad concepts for the appropriate management these Yet, are often contradictory apply at different spatial scales, making design biodiversity-friendly landscapes challenging. Here, we combine with empirical support optimal landscape scenarios forest-dwelling species. The supported indicate that appropriately sized should contain ≥ 40% cover, although higher percentages likely needed tropics. Forest cover be configured c. 10% a very large patch, remaining 30% many evenly dispersed smaller patches semi-natural treed elements (e.g. vegetation corridors). Importantly, embedded high-quality matrix. proposed represent an compromise between delivery goods services humans preserving most wildlife, can therefore guide preservation restoration strategies.

Language: Английский

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Meta-analysis of multidecadal biodiversity trends in Europe

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 11(1)

Published: July 13, 2020

Abstract Local biodiversity trends over time are likely to be decoupled from global trends, as local processes may compensate or counteract change. We analyze 161 long-term biological series (15–91 years) collected across Europe, using a comprehensive dataset comprising ~6,200 marine, freshwater and terrestrial taxa. test whether (i) consistent among biogeoregions, realms taxonomic groups, (ii) changes in correlate with regional climate conditions. Our results reveal that of abundance, richness diversity differ demonstrating at scale often complex cannot easily generalized. However, we find increases abundance increasing temperature naturalness well clear spatial pattern community composition (i.e. temporal turnover) most biogeoregions Northern Eastern Europe.

Language: Английский

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Worldwide occurrence records suggest a global decline in bee species richness

One Earth, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 4(1), P. 114 - 123

Published: Jan. 1, 2021

Language: Английский

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Beyond organic farming – harnessing biodiversity-friendly landscapes

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 36(10), P. 919 - 930

Published: Aug. 3, 2021

Biodiversity continues to decline rapidly, despite decades of repeated national and international policy efforts. Agricultural intensification is a major driver biodiversity losses, while conversion organic farming has been suggested as key technique halt or reverse this trend.In contrast widespread view, certified agriculture raises local richness species by just third when compared conventional farming. This achieved through waiving synthetic agrochemicals, but leads considerable yield requiring the more land obtain similar yields.Diversifying cropland reducing field size on landscape level can multiply in both without productivity.Complementing such increases heterogeneity with at least 20% seminatural habitat per should be recommendation current frameworks. We challenge appraisal that fundamental alternative for harnessing agricultural landscapes. Certification production largely restricted banning resulting limited benefits high losses ongoing specialisation. In contrast, successful measures enhance include diversifying size, which sustaining yields systems. Achieving landscape-level mosaic natural patches fine-grained diversification promoting large-scale biodiversity. needs urgently acknowledged makers an paradigm shift. decline, implementation conservation conventions, Convention Biological Diversity (1992), UN Decade (2011–2020), many other schemes, had little success [1.Kleijn D. et al.Does farmland contribute halting decline?.Trends Ecol. Evol. 2011; 26: 474-481Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar,2.Pe'er G. al.Adding some green greening: improving EU's ecological focus areas farmers.Conserv. Lett. 2017; 10: 517-530Crossref Scholar]. Agriculture considered main cause global [3.Sánchez-Bayo F. Wyckhuys K.A.G. Worldwide entomofauna: A review its drivers.Biol. Conserv. 2019; 232: 8-27Crossref (919) Scholar, 4.Seibold S. al.Arthropod grasslands forests associated drivers.Nature. 574: 671-674Crossref (306) 5.Lichtenberg E.M. al.A synthesis effects diversified systems arthropod diversity within fields across landscapes.Glob. Chang. Biol. 23: 4946-4957Crossref (123) Scholar], objectives still collide FAO calls higher crop feed world [6.Tscharntke T. al.Global food security, future intensification.Biol. 2012; 151: 53-59Crossref (1050) The model intensification, based agrochemical inputs, large monocultures homogenisation, successfully increased yields, severe ecosystem services, even neighbouring nature reserves Scholar,5.Lichtenberg 6.Tscharntke 7.Kormann U. al.Local management drive trait-mediated nine taxa small grassland fragments.Divers. Distrib. 2015; 21: 1204-1217Crossref (62) Current trends only reversed concerted effort fundamentally redesign landscapes [8.Landis D.A. Designing biodiversity-based services.Basic Appl. 18: 1-12Crossref (262) 9.Grass I. al.Land-sharing/-sparing connectivity services conservation.People Nat. 1: 262-272Google 10.Grass al.Combining land-sparing land-sharing European landscapes.Adv. Res. 2021; 64: 251-303Crossref (14) Scholar]; is, shift agriculture. Certified farming, agrochemicals [11.Seufert V. Ramankutty N. Many shades gray – context-dependent performance agriculture.Sci. Adv. 3e1602638Crossref Scholar] achieve sustainability general particular, often claimed [12.Niggli Sustainability production: challenges innovations.Proc. Nutr. Soc. 74: 83-88Crossref (39) 13.Bosshard A. International Federation Organic Movements IFOAM Guide Landscape Quality Agriculture. IFOAM, 2009Google 14.Geiger al.Persistent negative pesticides biological control potential farmland.Basic 2010; 11: 97-105Crossref (724) However, contribution stop appears exaggerated public perception [15.Hole D.G. benefit biodiversity?.Biol. 2005; 122: 113-130Crossref Scholar,16.Schneider M.K. al.Gains organically farmed are not propagated farm level.Nat. Commun. 2014; 5: 4151Crossref (64) fact, switching from practices [17.Tuck S.L. al.Land-use intensity biodiversity: hierarchical meta-analysis.J. 51: 746-755Crossref (367) so needed produce same amount Scholar,18.Meemken E.-M. Qaim M. agriculture, environment.Annu. Rev. Resour. Econ. 2018; 39-63Crossref (82) Surprisingly, wealth biodiversity-friendly implemented have far poorly adopted [19.Kleijn al.Ecological intensification: bridging gap between science practice.Trends 34: 154-166Abstract (147) 20.Sirami C. al.Increasing enhances multitrophic regions.Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 116: 16442-16447Crossref 21.Batary P. al.Landscape-moderated importance hedges conserving bird vs. croplands grasslands.Biol. 143: 2020-2027Crossref (102) 22.Haan N.L. al.Designing arthropod-based North America.Adv. 191-250Crossref (1) 23.Boetzl F.A. multitaxa assessment effectiveness agri-environmental schemes management.Proc. 118: 1-9Crossref (3) Here, we restoring After considering essential propose effective solutions towards friendly ways integrate scales existing well policies. On average, world's crops ~34% abundance ~50% Scholar,24.Bengtsson J. al.The abundance: 42: 261-269Crossref Scholar,25.Smith O.M. al.Landscape context affects systems.Proc. 2020; 117: 2870-2878Crossref (12) plants bees benefitting most arthropods birds smaller degree Benefits also vary type strives environmental benefits, soil fertility biodiversity, prohibits fertilisers, pesticides, genetically modified organisms Scholar,12.Niggli Scholar,26.Mäder al.Soil farming.Science. 2002; 296: 1694-1697Crossref (1744) replacement herbicides mechanical weeding important conservation, because weed cover [27.Roschewitz complexity arable farming.J. 873-882Crossref (283) 28.Clough Y. al.Alpha beta conventionally managed wheat fields.J. 2007; 44: 804-812Crossref (143) 29.Holzschuh al.Agricultural support pollinator diversity.Oikos. 2008; 354-361Crossref 30.Batáry former Iron Curtain drives biodiversity-profit trade-offs German agriculture.Nat. 1279-1284Crossref (69) Practices diversification, fields, manure, low fertiliser input, restoration elements recommended organisations prevalent than farms [31.Fuller R.J. al.Benefits among taxa.Biol. 431-434Crossref (209) Scholar,32.Holzschuh al.Diversity flower-visiting cereal fields: system, composition regional context.J. 41-49Crossref they formal part certification regulations [33.Tscharntke al.Conserving tropical agroforestry scales.Conserv. 8: 14-23Crossref Mainstreaming public, pushed policies NGO activities, play role success, empathy trust schemes. Lastly, products profitable farmers, consumers, governments, pay premium prices Scholar,30.Batáry Scholar,34.Reganold J.P. Wachter J.M. twenty-first century.Nat. Plants. 2016; 2: 1-8Crossref (464) there limitations reduced misconceptions about pesticide use, taxon-specific commercial production. While waste meat consumption security lower additional obstacles [35.Gabriel al.Food comparing agriculture.J. 2013; 50: 355-364Crossref (134) When measured unit necessary defined output (e.g., number kilograms produced) simply hectare wheat), disappear [10.Grass Scholar,36.Kremen Reframing land-sparing/land-sharing debate conservation.Ann. 1355: 52-76Crossref (207) Globally all crops, 19–25% [18.Meemken Vegetables cereals show highest gaps [37.Seufert al.Comparing agriculture.Nature. 485: 229-232Crossref (1006) up 50% decrease [30.Batáry Scholar,35.Gabriel however, fruits oilseed Moreover, it myth principally waive pesticides. Pesticides allowed under labels long derived substances rather ones Widespread insecticides used pyrethrin, chrysanthemum, azadirachtin Asian neem tree. Copper sulfate applied cope fungal bacterial diseases, example, vineyards, orchards, vegetables [38.Nascimbene al.Organic plant vineyard located intensive landscapes.Environ. Manag. 49: 1054-1060Crossref (38) persistent accumulates soils [39.Tamm L. al.Reduktion von Pflanzenschutzmitteln der Schweiz: Beitrag des Biolandbaus.Agrarforschung Schweiz. 52–59Google Natural do much damage [40.Biondi al.Using organic-certified may safer agents: selectivity side 14 predator Orius laevigatus.Chemosphere. 87: 803-812Crossref (305) vast majority rarely treated potatoes, vegetables, hops, grapes, regularly heavily For instance, spraying grapes apples shown less Scholar,39.Tamm Overall, suggests smart application strategies use Integrated Pest Pollinator Management techniques) regardless [14.Geiger Scholar,41.Tscharntke al.When fails pest Five hypotheses.Biol. 204: 449-458Crossref (241) Scholar,42.Müller Impacts sublethal insecticide exposure insects facts knowledge gaps.Basic 30: 1-10Crossref (56) Similarly, harmful overfertilisation occurs mineral manure [43.Klimek al.Additive partitioning respect regime, fertilisation abiotic factors.Basic 9: 626-634Crossref (45) Importantly, spectrum [5.Lichtenberg Scholar,44.Forrest J.R.K. al.Contrasting patterns functional-trait landscape.J. 52: 706-715Crossref noncrop due missing herbicides, whereas mobile, landscape-dependent insect populations Furthermore, applications common great habitats. These habitats hedges, herbaceous boundaries, traditional, uneconomic agroecosystems calcareous orchard meadows [21.Batary Scholar,45.Weibull A.-C. butterflies landscape: system heterogeneity.Ecography. 2000; 743-750Crossref meta-analysis agrienvironment found off-field measures, margins hedgerows, twice in-field [46.Batáry agri-environment management.Conserv. 29: 1006-1016Crossref (419) diversity, butterfly [45.Weibull Increasing hedge length 250 m one 12 species, increasingly intensified, specialised, away idealism enthusiasm original movement (Figure 1). family characterised beginning movement, modern huge monocultures, resembling fields. come sterile greenhouse blocks cultures plastic sheets, covering entire Almeria Province (Spain) heart Europe's where >50% grown proportion increasing over last decade 1.4% 10.3% [47.Dundas Farming "Supersized": An Imperfect Solution Planet?.2019Google Further examples landscape-damaging produced blocks, favourably doubling extending growing seasons, cost [48.Chang greenhouses beyond supply?.Front. Environ. 43-49Crossref above suggest silver bullet Diversifying pollination, Scholar,49.Rosa-Schleich al.Ecological-economic Diversified Systems review.Ecol. 160: 251-263Crossref (41) Scholar,50.Tamburini promotes multiple compromising yield.Sci. 6eaba1715Crossref (Table 1 Table 2). land, particular Europe America, shaped short rotations simplify techniques specialise best-selling products. Diverse dominated after maize maize), three standard sequences wheat, barley, rape [51.Steinmann H.-H. Dobers E.S. Spatio-temporal analysis sequence Northern Germany: implications health protection.J. Plant Dis. Prot. 120: 85-94Crossref (37) Scholar,52.Bennett A.J. al.Meeting demand rotations.Biol. 52-71Crossref (247) Scholar]). simplified deplete soils, promote infestations, resistance applications, risk resource bottlenecks pollinators biocontrol agents [53.Schellhorn N.A. al.Time will tell: continuity bolsters services.Trends 524-530Abstract (133) increase declines [52.Bennett provided mixed pattern alone combined practices, wildflower strips, effectively stability pollination 54.Rundlöf al.Late-season mass-flowering red clover bumble bee queen male densities.Biol. 172: 138-145Crossref 55.Westphal al.Mass flowering improves early colony growth sexual reproduction bumblebees.J. 2009; 46: 187-193Crossref Globally, 15% longer (4.5 instead 3.8 years). Still, average 48% [56.Barbieri farming.Sci. Rep. 7: Diversification multicropping reduce 8–9% [57.Ponisio L.C. al.Diversification gap.Proc. R. B 282: 20141396Crossref could longer, 7-year period [26.Mäder uptake [58.Seufert al.Current contributions system.Agroecosyst. Divers. 2019: 435-452Crossref (7) Instead, trend intensify Scholar,59.Garibaldi L.A. Pérez-Méndez Positive outcomes employment worldwide.Ecol. 164: 106358Crossref (18) Scholar].Table 1Biodiversity scales, illustrated meta-analyses syntheses showing quantified estimatesMeasuresQuantified findingsRefsLocal scaleOff-field vs measuresMeasures areas, roughly enhancing richnes

Language: Английский

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Integrated pest management: good intentions, hard realities. A review

Agronomy for Sustainable Development, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 41(3)

Published: May 11, 2021

Abstract Integrated Pest Management (IPM) provides an illustration of how crop protection has (or not) evolved over the past six decades. Throughout this period, IPM endeavored to promote sustainable forms agriculture, pursued sharp reductions in synthetic pesticide use, and thereby resolved myriad socio-economic, environmental, human health challenges. Global use has, however, largely continued unabated, with negative implications for farmer livelihoods, biodiversity conservation, right food. In review, we examine developed time assess whether concept remains suited present-day We believe that despite many good intentions, hard realities need be faced. 1) identify following major weaknesses: i) a multitude definitions generate unnecessary confusion; ii) inconsistencies between concepts, practice, policies; iii) insufficient engagement farmers technology development frequent lack basic understanding its underlying ecological concepts. 2) By diverting from fundamental principles, integration practices proceeded along serendipitous routes, proven ineffective, yielded unacceptable outcomes. 3) show majority cases, chemical control still basis plant programs. 4) Furthermore, research is often lagging, tends misguided, pays attention ecology functioning agroecosystems. 5) Since 1960s, rules have been twisted, foundational concepts degraded serious (farm-level) implementation not advanced. To remedy this, are proposing Agroecological Crop Protection as captures agroecology can optimally put service protection. constitutes interdisciplinary scientific field comprises orderly strategy (and clear prioritization) at field, farm, agricultural landscape level dimension social organizational ecology.

Language: Английский

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