Experiments are needed to quantify the main causes of insect decline DOI Open Access
Wolfgang W. Weisser, Nico Blüthgen, Michael Staab

et al.

Biology Letters, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 19(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2023

Sparked by reports of insect declines unexpected extent, there has been a surge in the compilation and analysis time series data. While this effort led to valuable databases, disagreement remains as whether, where why insects are declining. The ‘why’ question is particularly important because successful conservation will need address most drivers decline. Despite repeated calls for more long-term data, new have run decades quantitatively surpass those currently available. Here we argue that experimentation addition quantitative existing data needed identify potential population change likely already identified, their relative importance largely unknown. Researchers should thus unite use statistical insight set up suitable experiments be able rank importance. Such coordinated produce knowledge necessary action also result increased monitoring series.

Language: Английский

Insect Declines in the Anthropocene DOI Creative Commons
David L. Wagner

Annual Review of Entomology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 65(1), P. 457 - 480

Published: Oct. 14, 2019

Insect declines are being reported worldwide for flying, ground, and aquatic lineages. Most reports come from western northern Europe, where the insect fauna is well-studied there considerable demographic data many taxonomically disparate Additional cases of faunal losses have been noted Asia, North America, Arctic, Neotropics, elsewhere. While this review addresses both species loss population declines, its emphasis on latter. Declines abundant can be especially worrisome, given that they anchor trophic interactions shoulder essential ecosystem services their respective communities. A factors believed to responsible observed collapses those perceived threatening insects form core treatment. In addition widely recognized threats biodiversity, e.g., habitat destruction, agricultural intensification (including pesticide use), climate change, invasive species, assessment highlights a few less commonly considered such as atmospheric nitrification burning fossil fuels effects droughts changing precipitation patterns. Because geographic extent magnitude largely unknown, an urgent need monitoring efforts, across ecological gradients, which will help identify important causal in declines. This also considers status vertebrate insectivores, reporting bias, challenges inherent collecting interpreting data, increasing abundance.

Language: Английский

Citations

1060

Worldwide occurrence records suggest a global decline in bee species richness DOI Creative Commons
Eduardo E. Zattara, Marcelo A. Aizen

One Earth, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 4(1), P. 114 - 123

Published: Jan. 1, 2021

Language: Английский

Citations

417

Interpreting insect declines: seven challenges and a way forward DOI
Raphaël K. Didham, Yves Basset, C. Matilda Collins

et al.

Insect Conservation and Diversity, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 13(2), P. 103 - 114

Published: March 1, 2020

Abstract Many insect species are under threat from the anthropogenic drivers of global change. There have been numerous well‐documented examples population declines and extinctions in scientific literature, but recent weaker studies making extreme claims a crisis drawn widespread media coverage brought unprecedented public attention. This spotlight might be double‐edged sword if veracity alarmist decline statements do not stand up to close scrutiny. We identify seven key challenges drawing robust inference about declines: establishment historical baseline, representativeness site selection, robustness time series trend estimation, mitigation detection bias effects, ability account for potential artefacts density dependence, phenological shifts scale‐dependence extrapolation sample abundance population‐level inference. Insect fluctuations complex. Greater care is needed when evaluating evidence trends identifying those trends. present guidelines best‐practise approaches that avoid methodological errors, mitigate biases produce more analyses Despite many existing pitfalls, we forward‐looking prospectus future monitoring, highlighting opportunities creative exploitation baseline data, technological advances sampling novel computational approaches. Entomologists cannot tackle these alone, it only through collaboration with citizen scientists, other research scientists disciplines, data analysts next generation researchers will bridge gap between little bugs big data.

Language: Английский

Citations

365

The decline of butterflies in Europe: Problems, significance, and possible solutions DOI Open Access

M. S. Warren,

Dirk Maes, Chris van Swaay

et al.

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

Published: Jan. 11, 2021

We review changes in the status of butterflies Europe, focusing on long-running population data available for United Kingdom, Netherlands, and Belgium, based standardized monitoring transects. In 8% resident species have become extinct, since 1976 overall numbers declined by around 50%. 20% 1990 country Distribution trends showed that butterfly distributions began decreasing long ago, between 1890 1940, 80%. Flanders (Belgium), 20 extinct (29%), 1992 2007 30%. A European Grassland Butterfly Indicator from 16 countries shows there has been a 39% decline grassland 1990. The 2010 Red List listed 38 482 (8%) as threatened 44 (10%) near (note 47 were not assessed). level analysis indicates average rating is highest central mid-Western Europe lowest far north Mediterranean. causes are thought to be similar most countries, mainly habitat loss degradation chemical pollution. Climate change allowing many spread northward while bringing new threats susceptible species. describe examples possible conservation solutions summary policy needed conserve other insects.

Language: Английский

Citations

318

Declines in insect abundance and diversity: We know enough to act now DOI Creative Commons
Matthew L. Forister,

Emma Pelton,

Scott Black

et al.

Conservation Science and Practice, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 1(8)

Published: June 22, 2019

Abstract Recent regional reports and trends in biomonitoring suggest that insects are experiencing a multicontinental crisis is apparent as reductions abundance, diversity, biomass. Given the centrality of to terrestrial ecosystems food chain supports humans, importance addressing these declines cannot be overstated. The scientific community has understandably been focused on establishing breadth depth phenomenon documenting factors causing insect declines. In parallel with ongoing research, it now time for development policy consensus will allow swift societal response. We point out this response need not wait full resolution many physiological, behavioral, demographic aspects declining populations. To ends, we primary goals summarized at scales from nations farms homes.

Language: Английский

Citations

267

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

236

No net insect abundance and diversity declines across US Long Term Ecological Research sites DOI
Michael S. Crossley, Amanda R. Meier,

Emily M. Baldwin

et al.

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

Published: Aug. 10, 2020

Language: Английский

Citations

199

Complex long-term biodiversity change among invertebrates, bryophytes and lichens DOI
Charlotte L. Outhwaite, Richard D. Gregory, Richard E. Chandler

et al.

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 4(3), P. 384 - 392

Published: Feb. 17, 2020

Language: Английский

Citations

171

Moth biomass has fluctuated over 50 years in Britain but lacks a clear trend DOI
Callum J. Macgregor, J. Williams, James R. Bell

et al.

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 3(12), P. 1645 - 1649

Published: Nov. 11, 2019

Language: Английский

Citations

165

The State of the World's Insects DOI Open Access
Paul Eggleton

Annual Review of Environment and Resources, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 45(1), P. 61 - 82

Published: May 26, 2020

This article reviews the present state of insects, describing their taxonomic position, cost, and value as well threats to well-being. Insects are an important source both ecosystem services disservices. Recent studies have indicated a worrying decline in insect species, especially flying insects northern temperate region, this has spawned much media attention. Some occurred, it is clear, due agricultural intensification, urbanization, overuse pesticides, global climate change. A would seriously affect that provide. However, there too little data warrant belief all declining everywhere. There pressing need for more basic research on diversity context changing world.

Language: Английский

Citations

154