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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Agricultural intensification and climate change are rapidly decreasing insect biodiversity

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

Published: Jan. 11, 2021

Major declines in insect biomass and diversity, reviewed here, have become obvious well documented since the end of World War II. Here, we conclude that spread intensification agriculture during past half century is directly related to these losses. In addition, many areas, including tropical mountains, are suffering serious losses because climate change as well. Crops currently occupy about 11% world's land surface, with active grazing taking place over an additional 30%. The industrialization second 20th involved farming on greatly expanded scales, monoculturing, application increasing amounts pesticides fertilizers, elimination interspersed hedgerows other wildlife habitat fragments, all practices destructive biodiversity near fields. Some insects destroying, pollinators predators crop pests, beneficial crops. tropics generally, natural vegetation being destroyed rapidly often replaced export crops such oil palm soybeans. To mitigate effects Sixth Mass Extinction event caused experiencing now, following will be necessary: a stable (and almost certainly lower) human population, sustainable levels consumption, social justice empowers less wealthy people nations world, where vast majority us live, necessary.

Language: Английский

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Insects and recent climate change

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

Published: Jan. 11, 2021

Insects have diversified through more than 450 million y of Earth’s changeable climate, yet rapidly shifting patterns temperature and precipitation now pose novel challenges as they combine with decades other anthropogenic stressors including the conversion degradation land. Here, we consider how insects are responding to recent climate change while summarizing literature on long-term monitoring insect populations in context climatic fluctuations. Results date suggest that impacts potential be considerable, even when compared changes land use. The importance is illustrated a case study from butterflies Northern California, where find population declines been severe high-elevation areas removed most immediate effects habitat loss. These results shed light complexity montane-adapted changing abiotic conditions. We also methodological issues would improve syntheses across datasets highlight directions for future empirical work.

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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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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Looking back on biodiversity change: lessons for the road ahead

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 378(1881)

Published: May 29, 2023

Estimating biodiversity change across the planet in context of widespread human modification is a critical challenge. Here, we review how has changed recent decades scales and taxonomic groups, focusing on four diversity metrics: species richness, temporal turnover, spatial beta-diversity abundance. At local scales, all metrics includes many examples both increases declines tends to be centred around zero, but with higher prevalence declining trends (increasing similarity composition space or biotic homogenization) The exception this pattern changes through time observed most assemblages. Less known about at regional although several studies suggest that richness are more prevalent than declines. Change global scale hardest estimate accurately, extinction rates probably outpacing speciation rates, elevated. Recognizing variability essential accurately portray unfolding, highlights much remains unknown magnitude direction multiple different scales. Reducing these blind spots allow appropriate management actions deployed. This article part theme issue ‘Detecting attributing causes change: needs, gaps solutions’.

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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Multi-decadal improvements in the ecological quality of European rivers are not consistently reflected in biodiversity metrics

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 8(3), P. 430 - 441

Published: Jan. 26, 2024

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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