Evidence, causes, and consequences of declining nitrogen availability in terrestrial ecosystems

Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 376(6590)

Published: April 14, 2022

The productivity of ecosystems and their capacity to support life depends on access reactive nitrogen (N). Over the past century, humans have more than doubled global supply N through industrial agricultural activities. However, long-term records demonstrate that availability is declining in many regions world. Reactive inputs are not evenly distributed, changes-including elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels rising temperatures-are affecting ecosystem relative demand. Declining constraining primary productivity, contributing lower leaf concentrations, reducing quality herbivore diets ecosystems. We outline current state knowledge about propose actions aimed at characterizing responding this emerging challenge.

Language: Английский

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Butterfly abundance declines over 20 years of systematic monitoring in Ohio, USA

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 14(7), P. e0216270 - e0216270

Published: July 9, 2019

Severe insect declines make headlines, but they are rarely based on systematic monitoring outside of Europe. We estimate the rate change in total butterfly abundance and population trends for 81 species using 21 years Ohio, USA. Total is declining at 2% per year, resulting a cumulative 33% reduction abundance. Three times as many have negative compared to positive trends. The decline proportion mirror those documented three comparable long-term European programs. Multiple environmental changes such climate change, habitat degradation, agricultural practices may contribute these Ohio shift makeup community by benefiting some over others. Our analysis life-history traits associated with shows an impact northern distributions fewer annual generations declined more rapidly. However, even common invasive human-dominated landscapes declining, suggesting widespread causes Declines species, although not be close extinction, will outsized ecosystem services provided insects. These results from most extensive, program North America demonstrate ongoing defaunation butterflies that scale might imperceptible, cumulatively has reduced numbers third 20 years.

Language: Английский

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No net insect abundance and diversity declines across US Long Term Ecological Research sites

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 4(10), P. 1368 - 1376

Published: Aug. 10, 2020

Language: Английский

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Insects as bioindicator: A hidden gem for environmental monitoring

Frontiers in Environmental Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 11

Published: March 2, 2023

Environmental contamination research has been quite interesting in bioindicators recently. The basic objective of bioindicator is to find species that can reliably detect environmental disturbances and demonstrate how those affect other or biodiversity as a whole. Since they frequently come into contact with the harmful substances found soil, water, air, insects are particularly valuable for evaluating human activities terrestrial ecosystem, aquatic system, atmosphere. In this review article, we’ve emphasized use resource assessing contaminants monitoring contamination. Insects have our main focus since key indicators changes air quality. majority insects, including beetles, ants, honey bees, butterflies employed study biological sensitive even slightest also used monitor different toxins.

Language: Английский

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Disproportionate declines of formerly abundant species underlie insect loss

Nature, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 628(8007), P. 359 - 364

Published: Dec. 20, 2023

Abstract Studies have reported widespread declines in terrestrial insect abundances recent years 1–4 , but trends other biodiversity metrics are less clear-cut 5–7 . Here we examined long-term 923 assemblages monitored 106 studies, and found concomitant abundance species richness. For studies that were resolved to level (551 sites 57 studies), observed a decline the number of initially abundant through time, not very rare species. At population level, most at start time series showed strongest average (corrected for regression-to-the-mean effects). Rarer were, on average, also declining, these offset by increases Our results suggest decreases total 2 can mostly be explained formerly This counters common narrative loss is characterized 8,9 Although our fundamental changes occurring assemblages, it important recognize they represent only from those locations which sufficient data available. Nevertheless, given importance ecosystems 10 their general likely broad repercussions food webs ecosystem functioning.

Language: Английский

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Insect decline in forests depends on species’ traits and may be mitigated by management

Communications Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 6(1)

Published: April 4, 2023

Abstract Insects are declining, but the underlying drivers and differences in responses between species still largely unclear. Despite importance of forests, insect trends therein have received little attention. Using 10 years standardized data (120,996 individuals; 1,805 species) from 140 sites Germany, we show that declines occurred most across trophic groups. In particular, (quantified as correlation year respective community response) were more consistent with many non-native trees or a large amount timber harvested before onset sampling. Correlations at level depended on species’ life-history. Larger species, abundant higher declined most, while herbivores increased. This suggests potential shifts food webs possibly affecting ecosystem functioning. A targeted management, including promoting natural tree composition partially reduced harvesting, can contribute to mitigating declines.

Language: Английский

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Climate drives the long-term ant male production in a tropical community

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: Jan. 2, 2025

Forecasting insect responses to environmental variables at local and global spatial scales remains a crucial task in Ecology. However, predicting future requires long-term datasets, which are rarely available for insects, especially the tropics. From 2002 2017, we recorded male ant incidence of 155 species ten malaise traps on 50-ha ForestGEO plot Barro Colorado Island. In this Panamanian tropical rainforest, were deployed two weeks during wet dry seasons. Short-term changes timing flying activity pronounced, compositionally distinct assemblages flew Notably, composition these oscillated consistent 4-year cycles but did not change 16-year study period. Across time, Seasonal Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average model explained 75% variability production (i.e., summed across traps), responded negatively monthly maximum temperature, positively sea surface surrogate El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events. Establishing relationships allowed us forecast until 2022 when year-long climate available. Consistent with data, indicated no significant temporal trends production. simulations different scenarios found that strong ENSO events temperature impacted negatively, respectively. Our results highlight dependence both short- changes, is critical under current warming.

Language: Английский

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The seventh macronutrient: how sodium shortfall ramifies through populations, food webs and ecosystems

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 23(7), P. 1153 - 1168

Published: May 7, 2020

Abstract Of the 25 elements required to build most organisms, sodium has a unique set of characteristics that ramify through terrestrial ecology. In plants, is found in low concentrations and little metabolic function; plant consumers, particularly animals, essential running costly Na‐K ATPases. Here I synthesise diverse literature from physiology, agronomy ecology, towards identifying sodium’s place as ‘7th macronutrient’, one whose shortfall targets two trophic levels – herbivores detritivores. propose also plays central, though unheralded role herbivore digestion, via its importance maintaining microbiomes denaturing tannins. highlight how availability key determinant consumer abundance geography herbivory detritivory. And re‐appraisal assumption that, because metabolically unimportant it use. Instead, suggest critical limiting performance makes commodity used by plants manipulate their mutualists, consumers like bison elephants generate grazing lawns: dependable sources sodium.

Language: Английский

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Insect responses to global change offer signposts for biodiversity and conservation

Ecological Entomology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 46(4), P. 699 - 717

Published: Nov. 11, 2020

1. Insects have emerged as causes célèbres for widespread concern about human effects on global biodiversity. Here, we consider how insects provide opportunities both to understand the ecological of change and enhance environmental conservation. 2. Despite a limited time frame geographic extent quantitative evidence, recent studies changes abundance, distribution, diversity indicate temporally heterogeneous trends which vary among taxa, regions, biotopes. These results suggest a) that insect numbers are responding multiple stressors in wider context fitness, distributions, biotic interactions result from habitat climate change; b) specialists with narrow ranges may be particularly at risk. 3. Predictions based macroecology ecophysiology can tested by combining approaches, including experiments observations over gradients latitude, elevation, urbanization; well innovative analyses data standardised monitoring schemes opportunistic historical collections citizen science. Linking these complementary approaches helps detect mechanisms influencing responses interacting drivers inform 4. The impetus debate provoked high profile reports declines promote conservation, but also obtain comprehensive evidence biodiversity thus develop communicate measures mitigate threats ecosystems change.

Language: Английский

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Potential ecological impacts of climate intervention by reflecting sunlight to cool Earth

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 118(15)

Published: April 5, 2021

As the effects of anthropogenic climate change become more severe, several approaches for deliberate intervention to reduce or stabilize Earth’s surface temperature have been proposed. Solar radiation modification (SRM) is one potential approach partially counteract warming by reflecting a small proportion incoming solar increase albedo. While science research has focused on predicted SRM, almost no studies investigated impacts that SRM would ecological systems. The and risks posed vary implementation scenario, effects, geographic region, ecosystem, community, population, organism. Complex interactions among system living systems further affect risks. We focus here stratospheric aerosol (SAI), well-studied relatively feasible scheme likely large impact temperature. outline current gaps in knowledge about both helpful harmful SAI Desired outcomes might also inform development future scenarios. In addition filling these gaps, increased collaboration between ecologists scientists identify common set goals improve communication with public. Without this collaboration, forecasts will overlook biodiversity ecosystem services humanity.

Language: Английский

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