The Present and Future of Insect Biodiversity Conservation in the Neotropics: Policy Gaps and Recommendations DOI Creative Commons
Natalie Duffus, Alejandra Echeverri,

Lena Dempewolf

et al.

Neotropical Entomology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 52(3), P. 407 - 421

Published: March 14, 2023

Abstract Emerging evidence suggests that insect populations may be declining at local and global scales, threatening the sustainability of ecosystem services insects provide. Insect declines are particular concern in Neotropics, which holds several world’s hotspots endemism diversity. Conservation policies one way to prevent mitigate declines, yet these usually biased toward vertebrate species. Here, we outline some key policy instruments for biodiversity conservation Neotropics discuss their potential contribution shortcomings conservation. These include species-specific action policies, protected areas Indigenous Community Conserved Areas (ICCAs), sectoral offsetting, market-based mechanisms, international underpin efforts. We highlight although can potentially benefit indirectly, there avenues could better incorporate specific needs into mentioned above. propose improvement. Firstly, evaluating extinction risk more Neotropical target at-risk species with conserve habitats within area-based interventions. Secondly, alternative pest control methods enhanced monitoring a range land-based production sectors. Thirdly, incorporating measurable achievable targets conventions. Finally, emphasise important roles community engagement public awareness achieving improvements policies.

Language: Английский

The Sixth Mass Extinction: fact, fiction or speculation? DOI Creative Commons
Robert H. Cowie, Philippe Bouchet, Benoît Fontaine

et al.

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 97(2), P. 640 - 663

Published: Jan. 10, 2022

ABSTRACT There have been five Mass Extinction events in the history of Earth's biodiversity, all caused by dramatic but natural phenomena. It has claimed that Sixth may be underway, this time entirely humans. Although considerable evidence indicates there is a biodiversity crisis increasing extinctions and plummeting abundances, some do not accept amounts to Extinction. Often, they use IUCN Red List support their stance, arguing rate species loss does differ from background rate. However, heavily biased: almost birds mammals only minute fraction invertebrates evaluated against conservation criteria. Incorporating estimates true number invertebrate leads conclusion vastly exceeds we indeed witnessing start As an example, focus on molluscs, second largest phylum numbers known species, and, extrapolating boldly, estimate that, since around AD 1500, possibly as many 7.5–13% (150,000–260,000) ~2 million already gone extinct, orders magnitude greater than 882 (0.04%) . We review differences extinction rates according realms: marine face significant threats but, although previous mass were largely defined invertebrates, no biota reached same non‐marine biota. Island suffered far continental ones. Plants similar biases are hints lower rates. also those who deny it new trajectory evolution, because humans part world; even embrace it, with desire manipulate for human benefit. take issue these stances. Humans able Earth grand scale, allowed current happen. Despite multiple initiatives at various levels, most oriented (certain charismatic vertebrates excepted) specific actions protect every living individually simply unfeasible tyranny numbers. systematic biologists, encourage nurturing innate appreciation reaffirm message makes our world so fascinating, beautiful functional vanishing unnoticed unprecedented In mounting crisis, scientists must adopt practices preventive archaeology, collect document possible before disappear. All depends reviving venerable study taxonomy. Denying accepting doing nothing, or embracing ostensible benefit humanity, appropriate options pave way continue its sad towards

Language: Английский

Citations

571
Research gaps in knowledge of the impact of urban growth on biodiversity DOI
Robert I. McDonald, Andressa V. Mansur, Fernando Ascensão

et al.

Nature Sustainability, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 3(1), P. 16 - 24

Published: Dec. 9, 2019

Language: Английский

Citations

433
Blind spots in global soil biodiversity and ecosystem function research DOI Creative Commons
Carlos A. Guerra, Anna Heintz‐Buschart, Johannes Sikorski

et al.

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

Published: Aug. 3, 2020

Soils harbor a substantial fraction of the world's biodiversity, contributing to many crucial ecosystem functions. It is thus essential identify general macroecological patterns related distribution and functioning soil organisms support their conservation consideration by governance. These analyses need represent diversity environmental conditions that can be found worldwide. Here we characterize existing gaps in taxa data across studies 17,186 sampling sites globe. include important spatial, environmental, taxonomic, functional gaps, an almost complete absence temporally explicit data. We also limitations explore biodiversity-ecosystem relationships, with only 0.3% all having both information about biodiversity function, although different taxonomic groups functions at each site. Based on this information, provide clear priorities expand research. Soil organism contributes but function have not been equivalently studied authors locations, environment types, for which there currently lack literature.

Language: Английский

Citations

283
Global Patterns and Drivers of Bee Distribution DOI Creative Commons
Michael C. Orr, Alice C. Hughes, Douglas Chesters

et al.

Current Biology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 31(3), P. 451 - 458.e4

Published: Nov. 20, 2020

Insects are the focus of many recent studies suggesting population declines, but even invaluable pollination service providers such as bees lack a modern distributional synthesis. Here, we combine uniquely comprehensive checklist bee species distributions and >5,800,000 public occurrence records to describe global patterns biodiversity. Publicly accessible sparse, especially from developing countries, frequently inaccurate throughout much world, consequently different biodiversity data. Global analyses reveal hotspots richness, together generating rare bimodal latitudinal richness gradient, further suggest that xeric areas, solar radiation, non-forest plant productivity among most important drivers Together, our results provide new baseline best practices for on other understudied invertebrates.

Language: Английский

Citations

277
Is the insect apocalypse upon us? How to find out DOI
Graham A. Montgomery, Robert R. Dunn, Richard Fox

et al.

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 241, P. 108327 - 108327

Published: Nov. 22, 2019

Language: Английский

Citations

237
Protecting Biodiversity (in All Its Complexity): New Models and Methods DOI Creative Commons
Laura J. Pollock, Louise O’Connor, Karel Mokany

et al.

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 35(12), P. 1119 - 1128

Published: Sept. 22, 2020

Language: Английский

Citations

167
Minds without spines: Evolutionarily inclusive animal ethics DOI Creative Commons
Irina Mikhalevich, Russell Powell

Animal Sentience, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 5(29)

Published: Jan. 1, 2020

Invertebrate animals are frequently lumped into a single category and denied welfare protections despite their considerable cognitive, behavioral, evolutionary diversity. Some ethical policy inroads have been made for cephalopod molluscs crustaceans, but the vast majority of arthropods, including insects, remain excluded from moral consideration. We argue that this exclusion is unwarranted given existing evidence. Anachronistic readings evolution, which view invertebrates as lower in scala naturae, continue to influence public common morality. The assumption small brains unlikely support cognition or sentience likewise persists, growing evidence arthropods converged on cognitive functions comparable those found vertebrates. also motivated by cognitive-affective biases covertly judgment, well flawed balancing scientific uncertainty against risk. All these factors shape attitudes toward basal vertebrates too, they particularly acute arthropod context. Moral consistency dictates same standards risk management justify extending consideration certain invertebrates. Moving beyond vertebrate-centered conception can clarify foundational concepts own right.

Language: Английский

Citations

163
Expert perspectives on global biodiversity loss and its drivers and impacts on people DOI Creative Commons
Forest Isbell, Patricia Balvanera, Akira Mori

et al.

Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 21(2), P. 94 - 103

Published: July 18, 2022

Despite substantial progress in understanding global biodiversity loss, major taxonomic and geographic knowledge gaps remain. Decision makers often rely on expert judgement to fill gaps, but are rarely able engage with sufficiently large diverse groups of specialists. To improve the perspectives thousands experts worldwide, we conducted a survey asked focus taxa freshwater, terrestrial, or marine ecosystem which they most familiar. We found several points overwhelming consensus (for instance, multiple drivers loss interact synergistically) important demographic differences specialists’ estimates. Experts from that underrepresented science, including women those Global South, recommended different priorities for conservation solutions, less emphasis acquiring new protected areas, provided higher estimates its impacts. This may part be because disproportionately study highly threatened habitats. Front Ecol Environ 2022;

Language: Английский

Citations

153
The abundance, biomass, and distribution of ants on Earth DOI Creative Commons
Patrick Schultheiss, Sabine S. Nooten, Runxi Wang

et al.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 119(40)

Published: Sept. 19, 2022

Knowledge on the distribution and abundance of organisms is fundamental to understanding their roles within ecosystems ecological importance for other taxa. Such knowledge currently lacking insects, which have long been regarded as “little things that run world”. Even ubiquitous such ants, are tremendous significance, there neither a reliable estimate total number Earth nor in particular biomes or habitats. We compile data ground-dwelling arboreal ants obtain an empirical global ant abundance. Our analysis based 489 studies, spanning all continents, major biomes, conservatively at over 3 × 10 15 be almost 20 individuals. The latter corresponds biomass ∼12 megatons dry carbon. This exceeds combined wild birds mammals equivalent ∼20% human biomass. Abundances strongly concentrated tropical subtropical regions but vary substantially across density leaf-litter highest forests, while numbers actively ground-foraging arid regions. study highlights central role play terrestrial also geographic gaps our current knowledge. results provide crucial baseline exploring environmental drivers ant-abundance patterns tracking responses insects change.

Language: Английский

Citations

141
Bridging the research-implementation gap in IUCN Red List assessments DOI
Victor Cazalis, Moreno Di Marco, Stuart H. M. Butchart

et al.

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 37(4), P. 359 - 370

Published: Jan. 19, 2022

Language: Английский

Citations

95