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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Scientists' warning on climate change and insects

Ecological Monographs, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 93(1)

Published: Nov. 7, 2022

Abstract Climate warming is considered to be among the most serious of anthropogenic stresses environment, because it not only has direct effects on biodiversity, but also exacerbates harmful other human‐mediated threats. The associated consequences are potentially severe, particularly in terms threats species preservation, as well preservation an array ecosystem services provided by biodiversity. Among affected groups animals insects—central components many ecosystems—for which climate change pervasive from individuals communities. In this contribution scientists' warning series, we summarize effect gradual global surface temperature increase insects, physiology, behavior, phenology, distribution, and interactions, increased frequency duration extreme events such hot cold spells, fires, droughts, floods these parameters. We warn that, if no action taken better understand reduce will drastically our ability build a sustainable future based healthy, functional ecosystems. discuss perspectives relevant ways conserve insects face change, offer several key recommendations management approaches that can adopted, policies should pursued, involvement general public protection effort.

Language: Английский

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Agriculture and climate change are reshaping insect biodiversity worldwide

Nature, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 605(7908), P. 97 - 102

Published: April 20, 2022

Language: Английский

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Climate change effects on animal ecology: butterflies and moths as a case study

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 96(5), P. 2113 - 2126

Published: May 30, 2021

ABSTRACT Butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera) are one of the most studied, diverse, widespread animal groups, making them an ideal model for climate change research. They a particularly informative studying effects on species ecology because they ectotherms that thermoregulate with suite physiological, behavioural, phenotypic traits. While some have been negatively impacted by climatic disturbances, others prospered, largely in accordance their diversity life‐history Here we take advantage large repertoire studies butterflies to provide review many ways which is impacting insects, animals, ecosystems. By these climate‐based impacts ecological processes Lepidoptera, propose appropriate strategies conservation habitat management broadly across animals.

Language: Английский

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Relationship of insect biomass and richness with land use along a climate gradient

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 12(1)

Published: Oct. 12, 2021

Abstract Recently reported insect declines have raised both political and social concern. Although the been attributed to land use climate change, supporting evidence suffers from low taxonomic resolution, short time series, a focus on local scales, collinearity of identified drivers. In this study, we conducted systematic assessment populations in southern Germany, which showed that differences biomass richness are highly context dependent. We found largest difference between semi-natural urban environments (−42%), whereas total (−29%) threatened species (−56%) were agricultural environments. These results point urbanization agriculture as major drivers decline. also increase monotonously with increasing temperature, independent habitat. The contrasting patterns question these indicators mutual surrogates. Our study provides support for implementation more comprehensive measures aimed at habitat restoration order halt declines.

Language: Английский

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Protected areas and the future of insect conservation

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 38(1), P. 85 - 95

Published: Oct. 5, 2022

Anthropogenic pressures are driving insect declines across the world. Although protected areas (PAs) play a prominent role in safeguarding many vertebrate species from human-induced threats, insects not widely considered when designing PA systems or building strategies for management. We review effectiveness of PAs conservation and find substantial taxonomic geographic gaps knowledge. Most research focuses on representation species, few studies assess threats to that effective management can conservation. propose four-step agenda help ensure central efforts expand global network under Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.

Language: Английский

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The effect of climate change on invasive crop pests across biomes

Current Opinion in Insect Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 50, P. 100895 - 100895

Published: Feb. 28, 2022

Climate change has various and complex effects on crop pests worldwide. In this review, we detail the role of main climatic parameters related to temperature precipitation changes that might have direct or indirect impacts pest species. Changes in these are likely favour limit species, depending their ecological context. On a global scale, expected benefit from current future climate change. However, substantial differences appear across biomes Temperate regions generally more face an increase attacks compared with tropical regions. Therefore, should be studied context local interactions biomes.

Language: Английский

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Weather explains the decline and rise of insect biomass over 34 years

Nature, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 628(8007), P. 349 - 354

Published: Sept. 27, 2023

Language: Английский

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Rising water temperature in rivers: Ecological impacts and future resilience

Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Water, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 11(4)

Published: March 5, 2024

Abstract Rising water temperatures in rivers due to climate change are already having observable impacts on river ecosystems. Warming has both direct and indirect aquatic life, further aggravates pervasive issues such as eutrophication, pollution, the spread of disease. Animals can survive higher through physiological and/or genetic acclimation, behavioral phenological change, range shifts more suitable locations. As such, those animals that adapted cool‐water regions typically found high altitudes latitudes where there fewer dispersal opportunities most at risk future extinction. However, sub‐lethal animal physiology phenology, body‐size, trophic interactions could have significant population‐level effects elsewhere. Rivers vulnerable warming because historic management left them exposed solar radiation removal riparian shade, hydrologically disconnected longitudinally, laterally, vertically. The resilience riverine ecosystems is also limited by anthropogenic simplification habitats, with implications for resource use resident organisms. Due complex ecosystems, species‐specific response organisms warming, predicting how will challenging. Restoring provide connectivity heterogeneity conditions would a expected co‐occurring pressures, including should be considered priority part global strategies adaptation mitigation. This article categorized under: Science Water > Environmental Change Life Nature Freshwater Ecosystems Stresses Pressures

Language: Английский

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Global Trends in Climate Suitability of Bees: Ups and Downs in a Warming World

Insects, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(2), P. 127 - 127

Published: Feb. 11, 2024

Bees represent vital natural assets contributing significantly to global food production and the maintenance of ecosystems. While studies on climate change effects impacting major pollinators like honeybees bumblebees raise concerns about diversity crop productivity, comprehensive global-scale analyses remain limited. This study explores repercussions warming 1365 bees across seven families worldwide. To compile a robust bee occurrence dataset, we utilized innovative ‘BeeBDC’ R package that amalgamated over 18.3 million records sourced from various repositories. Through species distribution models under SSP585 scenario in year 2070, assessed how influences suitability scale, examining impacts continents. Our findings suggested approximately 65% are likely witness decrease their distribution, with reductions averaging between 28% Australia 56% Europe. Moreover, our analysis indicated change’s impact is projected be more severe Africa Europe, while North America expected higher number (336) expanding distribution. Climate anticipated distributions could potentially disrupt existing pollinator–plant networks, posing ecological challenges emphasize importance pollinator diversity, synchrony plants bees, necessity for focused conservation efforts.

Language: Английский

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