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Bauer S, Tielens EK, Haest B. Monitoring aerial insect biodiversity: a radar perspective. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20230113. [PMID: 38705181 PMCID: PMC11070259 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2023.0113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
In the current biodiversity crisis, populations of many species have alarmingly declined, and insects are no exception to this general trend. Biodiversity monitoring has become an essential asset to detect biodiversity change but remains patchy and challenging for organisms that are small, inconspicuous or make (nocturnal) long-distance movements. Radars are powerful remote-sensing tools that can provide detailed information on intensity, timing, altitude and spatial scale of aerial movements and might therefore be particularly suited for monitoring aerial insects and their movements. Importantly, they can contribute to several essential biodiversity variables (EBVs) within a harmonized observation system. We review existing research using small-scale biological and weather surveillance radars for insect monitoring and outline how the derived measures and quantities can contribute to the EBVs 'species population', 'species traits', 'community composition' and 'ecosystem function'. Furthermore, we synthesize how ongoing and future methodological, analytical and technological advancements will greatly expand the use of radar for insect biodiversity monitoring and beyond. Owing to their long-term and regional-to-large-scale deployment, radar-based approaches can be a powerful asset in the biodiversity monitoring toolbox whose potential has yet to be fully tapped. This article is part of the theme issue 'Towards a toolkit for global insect biodiversity monitoring'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silke Bauer
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
- Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach, LU 6204, Switzerland
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, 1090 GE Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, The Netherlands
- Department of Environmental System Science, Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Elske K. Tielens
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019-0390, USA
| | - Birgen Haest
- Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach, LU 6204, Switzerland
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van Klink R, Sheard JK, Høye TT, Roslin T, Do Nascimento LA, Bauer S. Towards a toolkit for global insect biodiversity monitoring. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20230101. [PMID: 38705179 PMCID: PMC11070268 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2023.0101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Insects are the most diverse group of animals on Earth, yet our knowledge of their diversity, ecology and population trends remains abysmally poor. Four major technological approaches are coming to fruition for use in insect monitoring and ecological research-molecular methods, computer vision, autonomous acoustic monitoring and radar-based remote sensing-each of which has seen major advances over the past years. Together, they have the potential to revolutionize insect ecology, and to make all-taxa, fine-grained insect monitoring feasible across the globe. So far, advances within and among technologies have largely taken place in isolation, and parallel efforts among projects have led to redundancy and a methodological sprawl; yet, given the commonalities in their goals and approaches, increased collaboration among projects and integration across technologies could provide unprecedented improvements in taxonomic and spatio-temporal resolution and coverage. This theme issue showcases recent developments and state-of-the-art applications of these technologies, and outlines the way forward regarding data processing, cost-effectiveness, meaningful trend analysis, technological integration and open data requirements. Together, these papers set the stage for the future of automated insect monitoring. This article is part of the theme issue 'Towards a toolkit for global insect biodiversity monitoring'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roel van Klink
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstrasse 4, Leipzig 04103, Germany
- Department of Computer Science, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Von-Seckendorff-Platz 1 06120 Halle, Germany
| | - Julie Koch Sheard
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstrasse 4, Leipzig 04103, Germany
- Department of Ecosystem Services, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, Leipzig 04318, Germany
- Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Institute of Biodiversity, Dornburger Straße 159, Jena 07743, Germany
- Department of Biology, Animal Ecology, University of Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Straße 8, Marburg 35043, Germany
| | - Toke T. Høye
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, C. F. Møllers Allé 8, Aarhus C 8000, Denmark
- Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Ole Worms Allé 1, Aarhus C 8000, Denmark
| | - Tomas Roslin
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Ulls väg 18B, Uppsala 75651, Sweden
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, FI-00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Leandro A. Do Nascimento
- Science Department, biometrio.earth, Dr.-Schoenemann-Str. 38, Saarbrücken 66123 Deutschland, Germany
| | - Silke Bauer
- Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, Birmensdorf CH-8903, Switzerland
- Swiss Ornithological Institute, Seerose 1, Sempach 6204, Switzerland
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, Sciencepark 904, Amsterdam 1098 XH, The Netherlands
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Universitätstrasse 16 Zürich 8092, Switzerland
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Hawkes WL, Doyle T, Massy R, Weston ST, Davies K, Cornelius E, Collier C, Chapman JW, Reynolds DR, Wotton KR. The most remarkable migrants-systematic analysis of the Western European insect flyway at a Pyrenean mountain pass. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20232831. [PMID: 38864145 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
In autumn 1950 David and Elizabeth Lack chanced upon a huge migration of insects and birds flying through the Pyrenean Pass of Bujaruelo, from France into Spain, later describing the spectacle as combining both grandeur and novelty. The intervening years have seen many changes to land use and climate, posing the question as to the current status of this migratory phenomenon. In addition, a lack of quantitative data has prevented insights into the ecological impact of this mass insect migration and the factors that may influence it. To address this, we revisited the site in autumn over a 4 year period and systematically monitored abundance and species composition of diurnal insect migrants. We estimate an annual mean of 17.1 million day-flying insect migrants from five orders (Diptera, Hymenoptera, Hemiptera, Lepidoptera and Odonata) moving south, with observations of southward 'mass migration' events associated with warmer temperatures, the presence of a headwind, sunlight, low windspeed and low rainfall. Diptera dominated the migratory assemblage, and annual numbers varied by more than fourfold. Numbers at this single site hint at the likely billions of insects crossing the entire Pyrenean mountain range each year, and we highlight the importance of this route for seasonal insect migrants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Will L Hawkes
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK
- Swiss Ornithological Institute, Seerose 1, Sempach, 6204, Switzerland
| | - Toby Doyle
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Richard Massy
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Scarlett T Weston
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Kelsey Davies
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Elliott Cornelius
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Connor Collier
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Jason W Chapman
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK
- Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, People's Republic of China
| | - Don R Reynolds
- Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Chatham, Kent SE10 9LS, UK
- Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire AL5 2JQ, UK
| | - Karl R Wotton
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK
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