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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Insect Declines in the Anthropocene

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

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Meta-analysis reveals declines in terrestrial but increases in freshwater insect abundances

Science, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 368(6489), P. 417 - 420

Published: April 24, 2020

Recent case studies showing substantial declines of insect abundances have raised alarm, but how widespread such patterns are remains unclear. We compiled data from 166 long-term surveys assemblages across 1676 sites to investigate trends in over time. Overall, we found considerable variation even among adjacent an average decline terrestrial abundance by ~9% per decade and increase freshwater ~11% decade. Both were largely driven strong North America some European regions. associations with potential drivers (e.g., land-use drivers), protected areas tended be weaker. Our findings provide a more nuanced view spatiotemporal than previously suggested.

Language: Английский

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Vertebrates on the brink as indicators of biological annihilation and the sixth mass extinction

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 117(24), P. 13596 - 13602

Published: June 1, 2020

Significance The ongoing sixth mass extinction may be the most serious environmental threat to persistence of civilization, because it is irreversible. Thousands populations critically endangered vertebrate animal species have been lost in a century, indicating that human caused and accelerating. acceleration crisis certain still fast growth numbers consumption rates. In addition, are links ecosystems, and, as they fall out, interact with likely go also. regions where disappearing concentrated, regional biodiversity collapses occurring. Our results reemphasize extreme urgency taking massive global actions save humanity’s crucial life-support systems.

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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Interpreting insect declines: seven challenges and a way forward

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

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

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

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Declines in insect abundance and diversity: We know enough to act now

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

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Is the insect apocalypse upon us? How to find out

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 241, P. 108327 - 108327

Published: Nov. 22, 2019

Language: Английский

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