Insecticides, more than herbicides, land use, and climate, are associated with declines in butterfly species richness and abundance in the American Midwest

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 19(6), P. e0304319 - e0304319

Published: June 20, 2024

Mounting evidence shows overall insect abundances are in decline globally. Habitat loss, climate change, and pesticides have all been implicated, but their relative effects never evaluated a comprehensive large-scale study. We harmonized 17 years of land use, climate, multiple classes pesticides, butterfly survey data across 81 counties five states the US Midwest. find community-wide declines total abundance species richness to be most strongly associated with insecticides general, for use neonicotinoid-treated seeds particular. This included migratory monarch ( Danaus plexippus ), whose is focus intensive debate public concern. Insect cannot understood without on putative drivers, 2015 cessation neonicotinoid releases will impede future research.

Language: Английский

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Rapid butterfly declines across the United States during the 21st century

Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 387(6738), P. 1090 - 1094

Published: March 6, 2025

Numerous declines have been documented across insect groups, and the potential consequences of losses are dire. Butterflies most surveyed taxa, yet analyses limited in geographic scale or rely on data from a single monitoring program. Using records 12.6 million individual butterflies >76,000 surveys 35 programs, we characterized overall species-specific butterfly abundance trends contiguous United States. Between 2000 2020, total fell by 22% 554 recorded species. Species-level were widespread, with 13 times as many species declining increasing. The prevalence throughout all regions States highlights an urgent need to protect further losses.

Language: Английский

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Rising minimum temperatures contribute to 50 years of occupancy decline among cold‐adapted Arctic and boreal butterflies in North America

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 30(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2024

Abstract Global climate change has been identified as a potential driver of observed insect declines, yet in many regions, there are critical data gaps that make it difficult to assess how communities responding change. Poleward regions particular interest because warming is most rapid while biodiversity sparse. Building on recent advances occupancy modeling presence‐only data, we reconstructed 50 years (1970–2019) butterfly trends response rising minimum temperatures one the under‐sampled North America. Among 90 modeled species, found cold‐adapted species far more often decline compared with their warm‐adapted, southernly distributed counterparts. Furthermore, post hoc analysis using species' traits, find range‐wide average annual temperature only consistent predictor changes. Species warmer ranges were likely be increasing occupancy. This trend results majority butterflies probability over last years. Our provide first look at macroscale shifts high‐latitude These highlight leveraging wealth abundant source for inferring changes distributions.

Language: Английский

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Overwintering strategy regulates phenological sensitivity and consequences for ecological services in a clade of temperate North American insects

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 38(5), P. 1075 - 1088

Published: March 13, 2024

Abstract Recent reports of insect declines have raised concerns about the potential for concomitant losses to ecosystem processes. However, understanding causes and consequences is challenging, especially given data deficiencies most species. Needed are approaches that can help quantify magnitude at levels above Here we present an analytical framework assessing broad‐scale plant–insect phenologies their relationship community‐level abundance patterns. We intentionally apply a species‐neutral approach analyse trends in phenology macroecological scale. Because both critical processes, estimate aggregate metrics using overwintering (diapause) stage, key species trait regulating environmental sensitivities. This be used across broad spatiotemporal scales multiple taxa, including less well‐studied groups. Using community (‘citizen’) science butterfly observations from platforms Eastern USA, show relationships between drivers, depend on diapause stage. In particular, egg‐diapausing butterflies marked changes adult‐onset relation plant rapidly declining over 20‐year span study region. Our results also demonstrate negative warmer winters butterflies, irrespective phenology. sum, stage strongly shapes phenological sensitivities developmental requirements seasons, providing basis predicting impacts change trophic levels. Utilizing ties thermal performance life stages climate lower‐trophic‐level provides step towards processes provided by other herbivorous insects into future. Read free Plain Language Summary this article Journal blog.

Language: Английский

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The impact of urbanization on health depends on the health metric, life stage and level of urbanization: a global meta-analysis on avian species

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 291(2027)

Published: July 17, 2024

Stressors associated with urban habitats have been linked to poor wildlife health but whether a general negative relationship between urbanization and animal can be affirmed is unclear. We conducted meta-analysis of avian literature test biomarkers differed on average non-urban environments, there are systematic differences across species, biomarkers, life stages species traits. Our dataset included 644 effect sizes derived from 112 articles published 1989 2022, 51 bird species. First, we showed that was no clear impact when categorized the sampling locations as or non-urban. However, did find small this dichotomous variable replaced by quantitative representing degree at each location. Second, dependent type biomarker measured well individual stage, young individuals being more negatively affected. comprehensive analysis calls for future studies disentangle specific urban-related drivers might obscured in categorical versus comparisons.

Language: Английский

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Inconsistent shifts in warming and temperature variability are linked to reduced avian fitness

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: Nov. 16, 2023

As the climate has warmed, many birds have advanced their breeding timing. However, as change also changes temperature distributions, earlier might increase nestling exposure to either extreme heat or cold. Here, we combine >300,000 records from 24 North American with historical data understand how temperatures changed. Average spring increased since 1950 but in timing of extremes was inconsistent direction and magnitude; thus, populations could not track both average temperatures. Relative fitness reduced following heatwaves cold snaps 11 16 species, respectively. Latitudinal variation sensitivity three widespread species suggests that vulnerability at range limits may contribute shifts. Our results add evidence demonstrating understanding individual its links population level processes is critical for predicting changing climates.

Language: Английский

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Insect biomass shows a stronger decrease than species richness along urban gradients

Insect Conservation and Diversity, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 17(2), P. 182 - 188

Published: March 1, 2024

Abstract Anthropogenic land cover change is a major driver of biodiversity loss, with urbanisation and farmland practices responsible for some the most drastic modifications natural habitats. The relative importance different covers shaping insect communities, however, unclear. This study examines effect urban covers, along heterogeneity, at landscape scale on species richness, evenness biomass flying insects using citizen science carnet sampling across Denmark. Increasing had negative richness but an even stronger biomass. Increased heterogeneity did not mitigate cover. Insect assemblages also became more increased Farmland no significant or Based our findings, has strong impact indicating that could contribute to declines. Moreover, findings indicate loss occurs through than species, which may affect ecosystem‐level consequences urbanisation.

Language: Английский

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Mechanical management decreases arthropod biomass by changing vegetation structure in fallow fields of high conservation value

Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 8, 2025

Abstract Arthropods play key roles in ecosystems as pollinators or food resources for many birds. The decline arthropods farmland due to agricultural intensification is related negative population trends Semi‐natural areas such fallow land are valuable habitats arthropod communities farmland, but the potential of these boost biodiversity greatly depends on their management. We used a field experiment explore mechanisms behind effects mechanical management high conservation value land. GLMMs changes abundance after treatment application, and pSEM discriminate direct treatments from indirect mediated by vegetation structure. Tillage had stronger than shredding total arthropod, spider bee abundance, which were reduction height, green cover flowering. Coleoptera biomass did not vary between treatments. differences disappeared 2 3 months application biomass, Orthoptera bees. Synthesis applications . Low‐intensity fallows has short‐term abundance. For purposes, should combine untreated fields (or strips within fields) communities, with low‐intensity create suitable breeding steppe

Language: Английский

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Prenatal Corticosterone Impacts Nestling Condition and Immunity in Eastern Bluebirds

Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A Ecological and Integrative Physiology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 20, 2025

ABSTRACT Exposure of avian mothers to stressful conditions permanently alters offspring behavior and physiology. Yet, the effects maternal stress on development immunity in birds remain unclear, particularly wild species. We injected Eastern bluebird ( Sialia sialis ) eggs with either a corticosterone or control solution, then measured impacts nestling morphology two measures immunity, bactericidal capacity swelling responses phytohemagglutinin. Nestlings from corticosterone‐treated had lower condition indices at hatch but quickly caught up their counterparts by Day 5 posthatch until fledging. Corticosterone‐exposed nestlings also mounted smaller phytohemagglutinin, whereas there were no capacity. These results indicate that can impact immunocompetence, fitness prospects, potentially ability fend off parasites pathogens.

Language: Английский

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Understanding and counteracting the denial of insect biodiversity loss

Current Opinion in Insect Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 68, P. 101338 - 101338

Published: Jan. 31, 2025

Language: Английский

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