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Wang X, Ma H, Zhao Y, Gao Y, Wu K. Abundance and Seasonal Migration Patterns of Green Lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) across the Bohai Strait in Eastern Asia. INSECTS 2024; 15:321. [PMID: 38786877 PMCID: PMC11121799 DOI: 10.3390/insects15050321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Many insects, including green lacewings, migrate seasonally to exploit suitable breeding and winter habitats. Green lacewings are important natural enemies of insect pests worldwide. Here, four dominant green lacewing species, Chrysoperla nipponensis (Okamoto), Chrysopa pallens (Rambur), Chrysoperla furcifera (Okamoto), and Chrysopa formosa Brauer, were investigated for their ability to migrate between northern and northeastern China across the Bohai Strait from late May to late October each year. Furthermore, there were significant interannual and seasonal differences in the number of migratory green lacewings collected. The number of green lacewings in spring was significantly lower than that in summer and autumn, and the highest average number of green lacewings occurred in June. In addition, there were differences in the sex ratio of migrating green lacewings between months, with a greater proportion of females than males. Finally, the seasonal migration trajectories simulated by the HYSPLIT model revealed that the green lacewings captured on Beihuang Island primarily originated from Shandong Province. Accordingly, these findings contribute to our understanding of green lacewing migration in eastern Asia and aid its incorporation within integrated pest management (IPM) packages for several crop pests. Furthermore, long-term tracking of migrant insect populations can reveal ecosystem services and trophic dynamic processes at the macroscale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingya Wang
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China; (X.W.); (H.M.); (Y.Z.); (Y.G.)
| | - Haotian Ma
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China; (X.W.); (H.M.); (Y.Z.); (Y.G.)
| | - Yuechao Zhao
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China; (X.W.); (H.M.); (Y.Z.); (Y.G.)
| | - Ying Gao
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China; (X.W.); (H.M.); (Y.Z.); (Y.G.)
| | - Kongming Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
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Wang X, Ma H, Wu Q, Zhou Y, Zhou L, Xiu X, Zhao Y, Wu K. Comigration and interactions between two species of rice planthopper (Laodelphax striatellus and Sogatella furcifera) and natural enemies in eastern Asia. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2023; 79:4066-4077. [PMID: 37288961 DOI: 10.1002/ps.7603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Natural enemies are important in pest control. However, control by natural enemies is hindered by the migration of rice planthoppers. Therefore, comigration and interactions between Laodelphax striatellus (Fallén) and Sogatella furcifera (Horváth) and five predator species, Chrysoperla sinica Tjeder, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas), Episyrphus balteatus, Syrphus corollae (Fab.) and Chrysopa pallens (Rambur) in eastern Asia were investigated. RESULTS From 2012 to 2021, the migration patterns of two rice planthoppers and five natural enemy species were monitored by suction trapping on Beihuang Island, Shandong Province, China. Both planthoppers and the five natural enemies regularly comigrated from late April to late October each year. There were significant interannual and seasonal differences in the numbers of two rice planthoppers migrating across this island. Simulated seasonal migration trajectories indicated different source areas for the two rice planthoppers, which mainly originated in northeast, north and east China. The biomass of planthoppers was significantly positively correlated with that of the ladybug H. axyridis in all migration periods, and significant differences in the ratio of rice planthoppers to natural enemies among months. A time-lag effect between seasons was obtained when natural enemies and pests comigrated. CONCLUSION Migration was coordinated between rice planthoppers and natural enemies in East Asia. When natural enemies and rice planthoppers comigrated, time lags between seasons were observed. The unique insights into the migration patterns will help to increase understanding of the occurrence of rice planthoppers in eastern Asia and provide an important theoretical basis for regional monitoring and management of rice planthoppers. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingya Wang
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Haotian Ma
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Qiulin Wu
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Meteorology of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lihong Zhou
- Institute of Flower, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Xianzhi Xiu
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yuechao Zhao
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Kongming Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
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3
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Batz P, Will T, Thiel S, Ziesche TM, Joachim C. From identification to forecasting: the potential of image recognition and artificial intelligence for aphid pest monitoring. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1150748. [PMID: 37538063 PMCID: PMC10396399 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1150748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Insect monitoring has gained global public attention in recent years in the context of insect decline and biodiversity loss. Monitoring methods that can collect samples over a long period of time and independently of human influences are of particular importance. While these passive collection methods, e.g. suction traps, provide standardized and comparable data sets, the time required to analyze the large number of samples and trapped specimens is high. Another challenge is the necessary high level of taxonomic expertise required for accurate specimen processing. These factors create a bottleneck in specimen processing. In this context, machine learning, image recognition and artificial intelligence have emerged as promising tools to address the shortcomings of manual identification and quantification in the analysis of such trap catches. Aphids are important agricultural pests that pose a significant risk to several important crops and cause high economic losses through feeding damage and transmission of plant viruses. It has been shown that long-term monitoring of migrating aphids using suction traps can be used to make, adjust and improve predictions of their abundance so that the risk of plant viruses spreading through aphids can be more accurately predicted. With the increasing demand for alternatives to conventional pesticide use in crop protection, the need for predictive models is growing, e.g. as a basis for resistance development and as a measure for resistance management. In this context, advancing climate change has a strong influence on the total abundance of migrating aphids as well as on the peak occurrences of aphids within a year. Using aphids as a model organism, we demonstrate the possibilities of systematic monitoring of insect pests and the potential of future technical developments in the subsequent automated identification of individuals through to the use of case data for intelligent forecasting models. Using aphids as an example, we show the potential for systematic monitoring of insect pests through technical developments in the automated identification of individuals from static images (i.e. advances in image recognition software). We discuss the potential applications with regard to the automatic processing of insect case data and the development of intelligent prediction models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Batz
- ALM – Adaptiv Lernende Maschinen – Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (GmbH), Nisterau, Germany
| | - Torsten Will
- Institute for Resistance Research and Stress Tolerance, Julius Kühn-Institute, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Quedlinburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Thiel
- ALM – Adaptiv Lernende Maschinen – Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (GmbH), Nisterau, Germany
| | - Tim Mark Ziesche
- Institute for Resistance Research and Stress Tolerance, Julius Kühn-Institute, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Quedlinburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Joachim
- Institute for Plant Protection in Field Crops and Grassland, Julius Kühn-Institute, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Braunschweig, Germany
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Duffus NE, Echeverri A, Dempewolf L, Noriega JA, Furumo PR, Morimoto J. The Present and Future of Insect Biodiversity Conservation in the Neotropics: Policy Gaps and Recommendations. NEOTROPICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 52:407-421. [PMID: 36918492 PMCID: PMC10181979 DOI: 10.1007/s13744-023-01031-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests that insect populations may be declining at local and global scales, threatening the sustainability of the ecosystem services that insects provide. Insect declines are of particular concern in the Neotropics, which holds several of the world's hotspots of insect endemism and diversity. Conservation policies are one way to prevent and mitigate insect declines, yet these policies are usually biased toward vertebrate species. Here, we outline some key policy instruments for biodiversity conservation in the Neotropics and discuss their potential contribution and shortcomings for insect biodiversity conservation. These include species-specific action policies, protected areas and Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas (ICCAs), sectoral policies, biodiversity offsetting, market-based mechanisms, and the international policy instruments that underpin these efforts. We highlight that although these policies can potentially benefit insect biodiversity indirectly, there are avenues in which we could better incorporate the specific needs of insects into policy to mitigate the declines mentioned above. We propose several areas of improvement. Firstly, evaluating the extinction risk of more Neotropical insects to better target at-risk species with species-specific policies and conserve their habitats within area-based interventions. Secondly, alternative pest control methods and enhanced monitoring of insects in a range of land-based production sectors. Thirdly, incorporating measurable and achievable insect conservation targets into international policies and conventions. Finally, we emphasise the important roles of community engagement and enhanced public awareness in achieving these improvements to insect conservation policies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alejandra Echeverri
- Centre for Conservation Biology, Dept of Biology, Stanford Univ, CA, Stanford, USA
- The Natural Capital Project, Stanford Univ, CA, Stanford, USA
| | - Lena Dempewolf
- Ministry of Planning and Development, Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Jorge Ari Noriega
- Grupo Agua, Salud y Ambiente, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Paul R Furumo
- Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, Stanford Univ, Stanford, USA
| | - Juliano Morimoto
- School of Biological Sciences, Univ of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ecologia E Conservação, Univ Federal Do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
- Institute of Mathematics, Univ of Aberdeen, King's College, Aberdeen, Scotland
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Romanowski H, Blake L. Neonicotinoid seed treatment on sugar beet in England: a qualitative analysis of the controversy, existing policy and viability of alternatives. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND SCIENCES 2023; 13:1-20. [PMID: 37359708 PMCID: PMC10104770 DOI: 10.1007/s13412-023-00830-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
In 2021, the United Kingdom Government granted the possibility of an emergency derogation for the use of the neonicotinoid seed treatment, thiamethoxam, on sugar beet in England. This was met with heavy criticism and controversy due to the body of evidence demonstrating toxicity of the insecticide to non-target species, particularly pollinators. However, many viewed this decision to be reasonable in this system, as sugar beet is a non-flowering crop, and derogations were only implemented if a set of conditions, including viral risk, were met. This research aims to understand the policy and the perspective of stakeholders in this debate, and identify key problems associated with thiamethoxam use on sugar beet. Semi-structured interviews combined with a modified policy analysis were used, incorporating framework analysis and comparative analysis. Political polarisation, whereby respondents felt that the debate had become anti-pesticide or pro-pesticide and lacked nuance, and the monopsony of British Sugar (a UK company that buys and processes sugar beet), were found to be the most prevalent issues currently impeding political progress and the enhancement of sustainable agriculture in this system. Virus forecasting was considered a successful strategy at the time of writing, although limitations to the model are also discussed. Non-chemical alternatives were found to be limited in this system due to the specificity of the pest system and the low threshold of virus yellows, while forecasting was considered to have the lowest net-environmental impact. Additional policy strategies to work alongside forecasting, such as public education and intergroup contact are also discussed. This study reflects a more general tug-of-war that often sets up a false dichotomy between food security and environmental sustainability. It highlights the importance of addressing the complexity of sustainable food production by opening up the discussion and taking a more nuanced and adaptive approach to policy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lauren Blake
- School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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Staab M, Gossner MM, Simons NK, Achury R, Ambarlı D, Bae S, Schall P, Weisser WW, Blüthgen N. Insect decline in forests depends on species' traits and may be mitigated by management. Commun Biol 2023; 6:338. [PMID: 37016087 PMCID: PMC10073207 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04690-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Insects are declining, but the underlying drivers and differences in responses between species are still largely unclear. Despite the importance of forests, insect trends therein have received little attention. Using 10 years of standardized data (120,996 individuals; 1,805 species) from 140 sites in Germany, we show that declines occurred in most sites and species across trophic groups. In particular, declines (quantified as the correlation between year and the respective community response) were more consistent in sites with many non-native trees or a large amount of timber harvested before the onset of sampling. Correlations at the species level depended on species' life-history. Larger species, more abundant species, and species of higher trophic level declined most, while herbivores increased. This suggests potential shifts in food webs possibly affecting ecosystem functioning. A targeted management, including promoting more natural tree species composition and partially reduced harvesting, can contribute to mitigating declines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Staab
- Ecological Networks, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstraße 3, 64287, Darmstadt, Germany.
| | - Martin M Gossner
- Forest Entomology, WSL Swiss Federal Research Institute, Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zürich, Universitätstrasse 16, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Nadja K Simons
- Ecological Networks, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstraße 3, 64287, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Rafael Achury
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group, Technische Universität München, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2, 85354, Freising, Germany
| | - Didem Ambarlı
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group, Technische Universität München, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2, 85354, Freising, Germany
- Department of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical University, 06800, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Soyeon Bae
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group, Technische Universität München, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2, 85354, Freising, Germany
- Field Station Fabrikschleichach, Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, University of Würzburg, 96181, Rauhenebrach, Germany
| | - Peter Schall
- Silviculture and Forest Ecology of the Temperate Zones, University of Göttingen, Büsgenweg 1, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang W Weisser
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group, Technische Universität München, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2, 85354, Freising, Germany
| | - Nico Blüthgen
- Ecological Networks, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstraße 3, 64287, Darmstadt, Germany
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Bell JR, Clark SJ, Stevens M, Mead A. Quantifying inherent predictability and spatial synchrony in the aphid vector Myzus persicae: field-scale patterns of abundance and regional forecasting error in the UK. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2023; 79:1331-1341. [PMID: 36412050 PMCID: PMC10952309 DOI: 10.1002/ps.7292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sugar beet is threatened by virus yellows, a disease complex vectored by aphids that reduces sugar content. We present an analysis of Myzus persicae population dynamics with and without neonicotinoid seed treatment. We use 6 years' yellow water trap and field-collected aphid data and two decades of 12.2 m suction-trap aphid migration data. We investigate both spatial synchrony and forecasting error to understand the structure and spatial scale of field counts and why forecasting aphid migrants lacks accuracy. Our aim is to derive statistical parameters to inform regionwide pest management strategies. RESULTS Spatial synchrony, indicating the coincident change in counts across the region over time, is rarely present and is best described as stochastic. Uniquely, early season field populations in 2019 did show spatial synchrony to 90 km compared to the overall average weekly correlation length of 23 km. However, 70% of the time series were spatially heterogenous, indicating patchy between-field dynamics. Field counts lacked the same seasonal trend and did not peak in the same week. Forecasts tended to under-predict mid-season log10 counts. A strongly negative correlation between forecasting error and the proportion of zeros was shown. CONCLUSION Field populations are unpredictable and stochastic, regardless of neonicotinoid seed treatment. This outcome presents a problem for decision-support that cannot usefully provide a single regionwide solution. Weighted permutation entropy inferred that M. persicae 12.2 m suction-trap time series had moderate to low intrinsic predictability. Early warning using a migration model tended to predict counts at lower levels than observed. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- James R. Bell
- Rothamsted Insect SurveyRothamsted ResearchWest CommonHarpendenUK
| | | | | | - Andrew Mead
- Statistics and Data ScienceRothamsted ResearchHarpendenUK
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8
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Barnes AE, Robinson RA, Pearce-Higgins JW. Collation of a century of soil invertebrate abundance data suggests long-term declines in earthworms but not tipulids. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0282069. [PMID: 37011064 PMCID: PMC10069791 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Large-scale declines in terrestrial insects have been reported over much of Europe and across the world, however, population change assessments of other key invertebrate groups, such as soil invertebrates, have been largely neglected through a lack of available monitoring data. This study collates historic data from previously published studies to assess whether it is possible to infer previously undocumented long-term changes in soil invertebrate abundance. Earthworm and tipulid data were collated from over 100 studies across the UK, spanning almost 100 years. Analyses suggested long-term declines in earthworm abundance of between 1.6 to 2.1% per annum, equivalent to a 33% to 41% decline over 25 years. These appeared greatest in broadleaved woodlands and farmland habitats, and were greater in pasture than arable farmland. Significant differences in earthworm abundance between habitats varied between models but appeared to be highest in urban greenspaces and agricultural pasture. More limited data were available on tipulid abundance, which showed no significant change over time or variation between enclosed farmland and unenclosed habitats. Declines in earthworm populations could be contributing to overall declines in ecosystem function and biodiversity as they are vital for a range of ecosystem services and are keystone prey for many vertebrate species. If robust, our results identify a previously undetected biodiversity decline that would be a significant conservation and economic issue in the UK, and if replicated elsewhere, internationally. We highlight the need for long-term and large-scale soil invertebrate monitoring, which potentially could be carried out by citizen/community scientists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ailidh E Barnes
- British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, United Kingdom
| | - Robert A Robinson
- British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, United Kingdom
| | - James W Pearce-Higgins
- British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, United Kingdom
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
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9
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Fetnassi N, Ude K, Kull A, Tammaru T. Weather Sensitivity of Sugar Bait Trapping of Nocturnal Moths: A Case Study from Northern Europe. INSECTS 2022; 13:1087. [PMID: 36554997 PMCID: PMC9783685 DOI: 10.3390/insects13121087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Assemblages of insects need to be quantitatively sampled in the context of various research questions. Light trapping is the most widely used method for sampling nocturnal Lepidoptera. Attracting moths to sugar baits offers a viable alternative. However, this method is rarely used in professional research despite its popularity among amateur lepidopterists. As the activity of insects is strongly dependent on ambient conditions, the sensitivity of any trapping method to weather parameters needs to be known for the quantitative interpretation of trapping results. In the present paper, we report data on the weather dependence of moth catches obtained by automatic bait traps. The study was performed in Estonia, representing the European hemiboreal forest zone. Portable weather stations set up next to each of the traps were used for collecting weather data. Both abundance and diversity of the moths in the catches depended strongly positively on temperature and negatively on air humidity. Diversity was also negatively correlated with air pressure and positively with the change in pressure during the night. The results show that in situ recording of weather parameters in connection to insect trapping provides useful insights for the study of insect behaviour and the interpretation of the results of monitoring projects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nidal Fetnassi
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Tartu, 50409 Tartu, Estonia
- Water, Biodiversity and Climate Change Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, P.O. Box 2390, Marrakech 40000, Morocco
| | - Kadri Ude
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Tartu, 50409 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ain Kull
- Department of Geography, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Tartu, 50410 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Toomas Tammaru
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Tartu, 50409 Tartu, Estonia
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Lukach M, Dally T, Evans W, Hassall C, Duncan EJ, Bennett L, Addison FI, Kunin WE, Chapman JW, Neely RR. The development of an unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis of dual-polarization weather surveillance radar observations to assess nocturnal insect abundance and diversity. REMOTE SENSING IN ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION 2022; 8:698-716. [PMID: 36588588 PMCID: PMC9790603 DOI: 10.1002/rse2.270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Contemporary analyses of insect population trends are based, for the most part, on a large body of heterogeneous and short-term datasets of diurnal species that are representative of limited spatial domains. This makes monitoring changes in insect biomass and biodiversity difficult. What is needed is a method for monitoring that provides a consistent, high-resolution picture of insect populations through time over large areas during day and night. Here, we explore the use of X-band weather surveillance radar (WSR) for the study of local insect populations using a high-quality, multi-week time series of nocturnal moth light trapping data. Specifically, we test the hypotheses that (i) unsupervised data-driven classification algorithms can differentiate meteorological and biological phenomena, (ii) the diversity of the classes of bioscatterers are quantitatively related to the diversity of insects as measured on the ground and (iii) insect abundance measured at ground level can be predicted quantitatively based on dual-polarization Doppler WSR variables. Adapting the quasi-vertical profile analysis method and data clustering techniques developed for the analysis of hydrometeors, we demonstrate that our bioscatterer classification algorithm successfully differentiates bioscatterers from hydrometeors over a large spatial scale and at high temporal resolutions. Furthermore, our results also show a clear relationship between biological and meteorological scatterers and a link between the abundance and diversity of radar-based bioscatterer clusters and that of nocturnal aerial insects. Thus, we demonstrate the potential utility of this approach for landscape scale monitoring of biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryna Lukach
- National Centre for Atmospheric Science and the School of Earth and EnvironmentUniversity of Leeds71‐75 Clarendon Rd, WoodhouseLeedsLS2 9PHUK
| | - Thomas Dally
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological SciencesUniversity of LeedsWoodhouse LaneLeedsLS2 9JTUK
| | - William Evans
- National Centre for Atmospheric Science and the School of Earth and EnvironmentUniversity of Leeds71‐75 Clarendon Rd, WoodhouseLeedsLS2 9PHUK
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological SciencesUniversity of LeedsWoodhouse LaneLeedsLS2 9JTUK
| | - Christopher Hassall
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological SciencesUniversity of LeedsWoodhouse LaneLeedsLS2 9JTUK
| | - Elizabeth J. Duncan
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological SciencesUniversity of LeedsWoodhouse LaneLeedsLS2 9JTUK
| | - Lindsay Bennett
- National Centre for Atmospheric Science and the School of Earth and EnvironmentUniversity of Leeds71‐75 Clarendon Rd, WoodhouseLeedsLS2 9PHUK
| | - Freya I. Addison
- National Centre for Atmospheric Science and the School of Earth and EnvironmentUniversity of Leeds71‐75 Clarendon Rd, WoodhouseLeedsLS2 9PHUK
| | - William E. Kunin
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological SciencesUniversity of LeedsWoodhouse LaneLeedsLS2 9JTUK
| | - Jason W. Chapman
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, and Environment and Sustainability InstituteUniversity of ExeterPenryn, CornwallTR10 9FEUK
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant ProtectionNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjing210095People's Republic of China
| | - Ryan R. Neely
- National Centre for Atmospheric Science and the School of Earth and EnvironmentUniversity of Leeds71‐75 Clarendon Rd, WoodhouseLeedsLS2 9PHUK
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11
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Fertility costs of cryptic viral infections in a model social insect. Sci Rep 2022; 12:15857. [PMID: 36151143 PMCID: PMC9508145 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-20330-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Declining insect populations emphasize the importance of understanding the drivers underlying reductions in insect fitness. Here, we investigated viruses as a threat to social insect reproduction, using honey bees as a model species. We report that in two independent surveys (N = 93 and N = 54, respectively) of honey bee (Apis mellifera) queens taken from a total of ten beekeeping operations across British Columbia, high levels of natural viral infection are associated with decreased ovary mass. Failed (poor quality) queens displayed higher levels of viral infection, reduced sperm viability, smaller ovaries, and altered ovary protein composition compared to healthy queens. We experimentally infected queens with Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV) and found that the ovary masses of IAPV-injected queens were significantly smaller than control queens, demonstrating a causal relationship between viral infection and ovary size. Queens injected with IAPV also had significantly lower expression of vitellogenin, the main source of nutrition deposited into developing oocytes, and higher levels of heat-shock proteins, which are part of the honey bee’s antiviral response. This work together shows that viral infections occurring naturally in the field are compromising queen reproductive success.
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Blumgart D, Botham MS, Menéndez R, Bell JR. Moth declines are most severe in broadleaf woodlands despite a net gain in habitat availability. INSECT CONSERVATION AND DIVERSITY 2022; 15:496-509. [PMID: 36247721 PMCID: PMC9545439 DOI: 10.1111/icad.12578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
While agricultural intensification and habitat loss are cited as key drivers of moth decline, these alone cannot explain declines observed in UK woodlands - a habitat that has expanded in area since 1968.We quantified how moth communities changed across habitats and regions and determined how species traits interacted with habitat in predicting moth abundance change. We hypothesised that, in woodlands, species more vulnerable to shading and browsing by deer (species specialising on forbs, shrubs and shade-intolerant plants) had declined more severely than other species, and that moth decline in woodlands was more severe at sites more susceptible to deer damage.We modelled abundance, biomass, species richness and diversity from 1968 to 2016 and explored how these interacted with habitat and region. We also modelled the interaction between habitat and two moth species traits: larval feeding guild and shade-tolerance of hostplant.Moth declines were consistently highest in broadleaf woodland. Abundance, biomass, species richness and diversity declined significantly by -51%, -52%, -14% and -15% in woodlands, respectively, compared to national trends of -34%, -39%, -1% (non-significant) and +10%. Declines were no greater in woodlands more susceptible to deer browsing damage. Traits based analysis found no evidence that shading and intensive browsing by deer explained moth declines in woodland.Moth decline was more severe in broadleaf woodlands than in intensively managed farmlands. We found no evidence that deer browsing or increased shading has driven these trends: the primary cause of the decline of moths in woodlands remains unclear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Blumgart
- Rothamsted Insect Survey, Biointeractions and Crop ProtectionRothamsted ResearchWest Common, HarpendenUK
| | - Marc S. Botham
- Centre for Ecology & HydrologyCrowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, OxfordshireUK
| | - Rosa Menéndez
- Lancaster Environment CentreLancaster UniversityLancasterUK
| | - James R. Bell
- Rothamsted Insect Survey, Biointeractions and Crop ProtectionRothamsted ResearchWest Common, HarpendenUK
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13
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Hodgson JA, Randle Z, Shortall CR, Oliver TH. Where and why are species' range shifts hampered by unsuitable landscapes? GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:4765-4774. [PMID: 35590459 PMCID: PMC9540991 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
There is widespread concern that species will fail to track climate change if habitat is too scarce or insufficiently connected. Targeted restoration has been advocated to help species adapt, and a "conductance" metric has been proposed, based on simulation studies, to predict effective habitat configurations. However, until now there is very little empirical evidence on how the configuration of habitat is affecting expansion at species' cool range margins. We analysed the colonisation events that have occurred in continuously monitored trap locations for 54 species of southerly distributed moths in Britain between 1985 and 2011. We tested whether the time until colonisation was affected by attributes of each species, and of intervening landcover and climate between the trap and the baseline distribution (1965-1985). For woodland species, the time until colonisation of new locations was predicted by the "conductance" of woodland habitat, and this relationship was general, regardless of species' exact dispersal distances and habitat needs. This shows that contemporary range shifts are being influenced by habitat configuration as well as simple habitat extent. For species associated with farmland or suburban habitats, colonisation was significantly slower through landscapes with a high variance in elevation and/or temperature. Therefore, it is not safe to assume that such relatively tolerant species face no geographical barriers to range expansion. We thus elucidate how species' attributes interact with landscape characteristics to create highly heterogeneous patterns of shifting at cool range margins. Conductance, and other predictors of range shifts, can provide a foundation for developing coherent conservation strategies to manage range shifts for entire communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny A. Hodgson
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and BehaviourUniversity of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
| | | | | | - Tom H. Oliver
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of ReadingReadingUK
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14
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Crossley MS, Latimer CE, Kennedy CM, Snyder WE. Past and recent farming degrades aquatic insect genetic diversity. Mol Ecol 2022. [PMID: 35771845 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Recent declines in once-common species are triggering concern that an environmental crisis point has been reached. Yet, the lack of long abundance time series data for most species can make it difficult to attribute these changes to anthropogenic causes, and to separate them from normal cycles. Genetic diversity, on the other hand, is sensitive to past and recent environmental changes, and reflects a measure of a populations' potential to adapt to future stressors. Here, we consider whether patterns of genetic diversity among aquatic insects can be linked to historical and recent patterns of land use change. We collated mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) variation for >700 aquatic insect species across the United States, where patterns of agricultural expansion and intensification have been documented since the 1800s. We found that genetic diversity was lowest in regions where cropland was historically (pre-1950) most extensive, suggesting a legacy of past environmental harm. Genetic diversity further declined where cropland has since expanded, even after accounting for climate and sampling effects. Notably though, genetic diversity also appeared to rebound where cropland has diminished. Our study suggests that genetic diversity at the community level can be a powerful tool to infer potential population declines and rebounds over longer time spans than is typically possible with ecological data. For the aquatic insects that we considered, patterns of land use many decades ago appear to have left long-lasting damage to genetic diversity that could threaten evolutionary responses to rapid global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S Crossley
- Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | | | - Christina M Kennedy
- Global Protect Oceans, Lands and Waters Program, The Nature Conservancy, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - William E Snyder
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
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15
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Niitepõld K, Parry HA, Harris NR, Appel AG, de Roode JC, Kavazis AN, Hood WR. Flying on empty: Reduced mitochondrial function and flight capacity in food-deprived monarch butterflies. J Exp Biol 2022; 225:275693. [PMID: 35694960 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.244431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Mitochondrial function is fundamental to organismal performance, health, and fitness - especially during energetically challenging events, such as migration. With this investigation, we evaluated mitochondrial sensitivity to ecologically relevant stressors. We focused on an iconic migrant, the North American monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), and examined the effects of two stressors: seven days of food deprivation, and infection by the protozoan parasite Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (known to reduce survival and flight performance). We measured whole-animal resting (RMR) and peak flight metabolic rate, and mitochondrial respiration of isolated mitochondria from the flight muscles. Food deprivation reduced mass-independent RMR and peak flight metabolic rate, whereas infection did not. Fed monarchs used mainly lipids in flight (respiratory quotient 0.73), but the respiratory quotient dropped in food-deprived individuals, possibly indicating switching to alternative energy sources, such as ketone bodies. Food deprivation decreased mitochondrial maximum oxygen consumption but not basal respiration, resulting in lower respiratory control ratio (RCR). Furthermore, food deprivation decreased mitochondrial complex III activity, but increased complex IV activity. Infection did not result in any changes in these mitochondrial variables. Mitochondrial maximum respiration rate correlated positively with mass-independent RMR and flight metabolic rate, suggesting a link between mitochondria and whole-animal performance. In conclusion, low food availability negatively affects mitochondrial function and flight performance, with potential implications on migration, fitness, and population dynamics. Although previous studies have reported poor flight performance in infected monarchs, we found no differences in physiological performance, suggesting that reduced flight capacity may be due to structural differences or low energy stores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristjan Niitepõld
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA.,The Finnish Science Centre Heureka, 01300 Vantaa, Finland
| | - Hailey A Parry
- School of Kinesiology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Natalie R Harris
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Arthur G Appel
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | | | | | - Wendy R Hood
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
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16
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Gebert F, Obrist MK, Siber R, Altermatt F, Bollmann K, Schuwirth N. Recent trends in stream macroinvertebrates: warm-adapted and pesticide-tolerant taxa increase in richness. Biol Lett 2022; 18:20210513. [PMID: 35317625 PMCID: PMC8941399 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2021.0513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, a plethora of studies reporting insect declines has been published. Even though the common theme is decreasing insect richness, positive trends have also been documented. Here, we analysed nationwide, systematic monitoring data on aquatic insect richness collected at 438 sites in Switzerland from 2010 to 2019. In addition to taxonomic richness, we grouped taxa in accordance with their ecological preferences and functional traits to gain a better understanding of trends and possible underlying mechanisms. We found that in general, richness of aquatic insects remained stable or increased with time. Warm-adapted taxa, common feeding guilds and pesticide-tolerant taxa showed increasing patterns while cold-adapted, rarer feeding guilds and pesticide-sensitive taxa displayed stable trends. Both climate and land-use-related factors were the most important explanatory variables for the patterns of aquatic insect richness. Although our data cover the last decade only, our results suggest that recent developments in insect richness are context-dependent and affect functional groups differently. However, longer investigations and a good understanding of the baseline are important to reveal if the increase in temperature- and pesticide-tolerant species will lead to a decrease in specialized species and a homogenization of biotic communities in the long term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Friederike Gebert
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Martin K Obrist
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Rosi Siber
- Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Überlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Florian Altermatt
- Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Überlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland.,Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Kurt Bollmann
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Nele Schuwirth
- Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Überlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland.,ETH Zurich, Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, Universitätstrasse 16, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
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17
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Crossley MS, Smith OM, Davis TS, Eigenbrode SD, Hartman GL, Lagos-Kutz D, Halbert SE, Voegtlin DJ, Moran MD, Snyder WE. Complex life histories predispose aphids to recent abundance declines. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:4283-4293. [PMID: 34216186 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Many animals change feeding habits as they progress through life stages, exploiting resources that vary in space and time. However, complex life histories may bring new risks if rapid environmental change disrupts the timing of these switches. Here, we use abundance times series for a diverse group of herbivorous insects, aphids, to search for trait and environmental characteristics associated with declines. Our meta dataset spanned three world regions and >300 aphid species, tracked at 75 individual sites for 10-50 years. Abundances were generally falling, with median changes of -8.3%, -5.6%, and -0.1% per year in the central USA, northwestern USA, and United Kingdom, respectively. Aphids that obligately alternated between host plants annually and those that were agricultural pests exhibited the steepest declines, relative to species able to persist on the same host plant year-round or those in natural areas. This suggests that host alternation might expose aphids to climate-induced phenology mismatches with one or more of their host plant species, with additional risks from exposure to insecticides and other management efforts. Warming temperatures through time were associated with milder aphid declines or even abundance increases, particularly at higher latitudes. Altogether, while a warming world appeared to benefit some aphid species in some places, most aphid species that had time-sensitive movements among multiple host plants seemed to face greater risk of decline. More generally, this suggests that recent human-induced rapid environmental change is rebalancing the risks and rewards associated with complex life histories.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Olivia M Smith
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Thomas S Davis
- Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Sanford D Eigenbrode
- Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
| | - Glen L Hartman
- United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Doris Lagos-Kutz
- United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Susan E Halbert
- Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | - Matthew D Moran
- Department of Biology and Health Sciences, Hendrix College, Conway, AR, USA
| | - William E Snyder
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
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18
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Boyes DH, Evans DM, Fox R, Parsons MS, Pocock MJO. Street lighting has detrimental impacts on local insect populations. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:7/35/eabi8322. [PMID: 34433571 PMCID: PMC8386932 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abi8322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Reported declines in insect populations have sparked global concern, with artificial light at night (ALAN) identified as a potential contributing factor. Despite strong evidence that lighting disrupts a range of insect behaviors, the empirical evidence that ALAN diminishes wild insect abundance is limited. Using a matched-pairs design, we found that street lighting strongly reduced moth caterpillar abundance compared with unlit sites (47% reduction in hedgerows and 33% reduction in grass margins) and affected caterpillar development. A separate experiment in habitats with no history of lighting revealed that ALAN disrupted the feeding behavior of nocturnal caterpillars. Negative impacts were more pronounced under white light-emitting diode (LED) street lights compared to conventional yellow sodium lamps. This indicates that ALAN and the ongoing shift toward white LEDs (i.e., narrow- to broad-spectrum lighting) will have substantial consequences for insect populations and ecosystem processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas H Boyes
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK.
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
- Butterfly Conservation, Wareham, Dorset BH20 5QP, UK
| | - Darren M Evans
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Richard Fox
- Butterfly Conservation, Wareham, Dorset BH20 5QP, UK
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19
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Senior VL, Botham M, Evans KL. Experimental simulations of climate change induced mismatch in oak and larval development rates impact indicators of fitness in a declining woodland moth. OIKOS 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.07808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Marc Botham
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Wallingford Oxfordshire UK
| | - Karl L. Evans
- Animal and Plant Sciences Dept, Univ. of Sheffield UK
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20
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Crossley MS, Smith OM, Berry LL, Phillips-Cosio R, Glassberg J, Holman KM, Holmquest JG, Meier AR, Varriano SA, McClung MR, Moran MD, Snyder WE. Recent climate change is creating hotspots of butterfly increase and decline across North America. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:2702-2714. [PMID: 33749964 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Some insect populations are experiencing dramatic declines, endangering the crucial ecosystem services they provide. Yet, other populations appear robust, highlighting the need to better define patterns and underlying drivers of recent change in insect numbers. We examined abundance and biodiversity trends for North American butterflies using a unique citizen-science dataset that has recorded observations of over 8 million butterflies across 456 species, 503 sites, nine ecoregions, and 26 years. Butterflies are a biodiverse group of pollinators, herbivores, and prey, making them useful bellwethers of environmental change. We found great heterogeneity in butterfly species' abundance trends, aggregating near zero, but with a tendency toward decline. There was strong spatial clustering, however, into regions of increase, decrease, or relative stasis. Recent precipitation and temperature appeared to largely drive these patterns, with butterflies generally declining at increasingly dry and hot sites but increasing at relatively wet or cool sites. In contrast, landscape and butterfly trait predictors had little influence, though abundance trends were slightly more positive around urban areas. Consistent with varying responses by different species, no overall directional change in butterfly species richness or evenness was detected. Overall, a mosaic of butterfly decay and rebound hotspots appeared to largely reflect geographic variability in climate drivers. Ongoing controversy about insect declines might dissipate with a shift in focus to the causes of heterogeneous responses among taxa and sites, with climate change emerging as a key suspect when pollinator communities are broadly impacted.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Olivia M Smith
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Lauren L Berry
- Department of Biology and Health Sciences, Hendrix College, Conway, AR, USA
| | | | - Jeffrey Glassberg
- North American Butterfly Association, Morristown, NJ, USA
- Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kaylen M Holman
- Department of Biology and Health Sciences, Hendrix College, Conway, AR, USA
| | | | - Amanda R Meier
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Sofia A Varriano
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Maureen R McClung
- Department of Biology and Health Sciences, Hendrix College, Conway, AR, USA
| | - Matthew D Moran
- Department of Biology and Health Sciences, Hendrix College, Conway, AR, USA
| | - William E Snyder
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
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21
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A window to the world of global insect declines: Moth biodiversity trends are complex and heterogeneous. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2002549117. [PMID: 33431565 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2002549117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Moths are the most taxonomically and ecologically diverse insect taxon for which there exist considerable time-series abundance data. There is an alarming record of decreases in moth abundance and diversity from across Europe, with rates varying markedly among and within regions. Recent reports from Costa Rica reveal steep cross-lineage declines of caterpillars, while other sites (Ecuador and Arizona, reported here) show no or only modest long-term decreases over the past two decades. Rates of decline for dietary and ecological specialists are steeper than those for ecologically generalized taxa. Additional traits commonly associated with elevated risks include large wingspans, small geographic ranges, low dispersal ability, and univoltinism; taxa associated with grasslands, aridlands, and nutrient-poor habitats also appear to be at higher risk. In temperate areas, many moth taxa limited historically by abiotic factors are increasing in abundance and range. We regard the most important continental-scale stressors to include reductions in habitat quality and quantity resulting from land-use change and climate change and, to a lesser extent, atmospheric nitrification and introduced species. Site-specific stressors include pesticide use and light pollution. Our assessment of global macrolepidopteran population trends includes numerous cases of both region-wide and local losses and studies that report no declines. Spatial variation of reported losses suggests that multiple stressors are in play. With the exception of recent reports from Costa Rica, the most severe examples of moth declines are from Northern Hemisphere regions of high human-population density and intensive agriculture.
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22
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Insect biomass decline scaled to species diversity: General patterns derived from a hoverfly community. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2002554117. [PMID: 33431568 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2002554117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Reports of declines in biomass of flying insects have alarmed the world in recent years. However, how biomass declines reflect biodiversity loss is still an open question. Here, we analyze the abundance (19,604 individuals) of 162 hoverfly species (Diptera: Syrphidae), at six locations in German nature reserves in 1989 and 2014, and generalize the results with a model varying decline rates of common vs. rare species. We show isometric decline rates between total insect biomass and total hoverfly abundance and a scale-dependent decline in hoverfly species richness, ranging between -23% over the season to -82% at the daily level. We constructed a theoretical null model to explore how strong declines in total abundance translate to changing rank-abundance curves, species persistence, and diversity measures. Observed persistence rates were disproportionately lower than expected for species of intermediate abundance, while the rarest species showed decline and appearance rates consistent with random expectation. Our results suggest that large insect biomass declines are predictive of insect diversity declines. Under current threats, even the more common species are in peril, calling for a reevaluation of hazards and conservation strategies that traditionally target already rare and endangered species only.
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23
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Agricultural intensification and climate change are rapidly decreasing insect biodiversity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2002548117. [PMID: 33431564 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2002548117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Major declines in insect biomass and diversity, reviewed here, have become obvious and well documented since the end of World War II. Here, we conclude that the spread and intensification of agriculture during the past half century is directly related to these losses. In addition, many areas, including tropical mountains, are suffering serious losses because of climate change as well. Crops currently occupy about 11% of the world's land surface, with active grazing taking place over an additional 30%. The industrialization of agriculture during the second half of the 20th century involved farming on greatly expanded scales, monoculturing, the application of increasing amounts of pesticides and fertilizers, and the elimination of interspersed hedgerows and other wildlife habitat fragments, all practices that are destructive to insect and other biodiversity in and near the fields. Some of the insects that we are destroying, including pollinators and predators of crop pests, are directly beneficial to the crops. In the tropics generally, natural vegetation is being destroyed rapidly and often replaced with export crops such as oil palm and soybeans. To mitigate the effects of the Sixth Mass Extinction event that we have caused and are experiencing now, the following will be necessary: a stable (and almost certainly lower) human population, sustainable levels of consumption, and social justice that empowers the less wealthy people and nations of the world, where the vast majority of us live, will be necessary.
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Sung YH, Pang CC, Li TCH, Wong PPY, Yu YT. Ecological Correlates of 20-Year Population Trends of Wintering Waterbirds in Deep Bay, South China. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.658084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Along the East Asian-Australasian flyway (EAAF), waterbirds are threatened by a wide range of human activities. Studies have shown that wintering populations of many species have declined in Australia and Japan; however, long term data along China’s coast are limited. In this study, we analyzed data collected from monthly bird surveys to quantify population trends of wintering waterbirds from 1998 to 2017 in the Deep Bay area, South China. Of the 42 species studied, 12 declined, while nine increased significantly. Phylogenetic comparative analysis revealed that population trends were negatively correlated to reliance on the Yellow Sea and body size. Further, waterbird species breeding in Southern Siberia declined more than those breeding in East Asia. These findings, coupled with a relatively high number of increasing species, support the continual preservation of wetlands in the Deep Bay area. This study provides another case study showing that data collected from wintering sites provide insights on the threats along migratory pathway and inform conservation actions. As such, we encourage population surveys in the EAAF to continue, particularly along the coast of China.
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Insect Decline-A Forensic Issue? INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12040324. [PMID: 33917358 PMCID: PMC8067358 DOI: 10.3390/insects12040324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Numerous studies report a decline in insect biodiversity and biomass on a global scale. Since forensic entomology relies on the presence of insects, the question of whether this discipline will be or already is affected by such a decrease is not only posed to investigative authorities and the public, but also to the scientific community. While the data does indeed provide overwhelming evidence of insect decline, even if the methods of evaluation and data pooling are occasionally questioned, only a few studies deal with forensically relevant insects. These few data do hardly prove a decrease in forensically relevant insect species so far. However, one factor driving insect decline is likely to have also a strong influence on necrophagous insects in the future: climate change. Abstract Recent reports have shown a dramatic loss in insect species and biomass. Since forensic entomology relies on the presence of insects, the question is whether this decline effects the discipline. The present review confirms that numerous studies document insect population declines or even extinction, despite the fact that the rates of decline and the methods used to demonstrate it are still much debated. However, with regard to a decline in necrophagous insects, there is little or only anecdotal data available. A hypothetical decrease in species diversity and population density in necrophagous insects could lead to a delayed colonization of dead bodies and a modified succession pattern due to the disappearance or new occurrence of species or their altered seasonality. Climate change as one of the drivers of insect decline will probably also have an impact on necrophagous insects and forensic entomology, leading to reduced flight and oviposition activity, modified growth rates and, therefore, an over- or underestimation of a minimum postmortem interval. Global warming with increased temperature and extreme weather requires a better understanding about necrophagous insect responses to environmental variations. Here, transgeneration effects in particular should be analysed in greater depth as this will help to understand rapid adaptation and plasticity in insects of forensic importance.
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26
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Li H, Li B, Lövei GL, Kring TJ, Obrycki JJ. Interactions Among Native and Non-Native Predatory Coccinellidae Influence Biological Control and Biodiversity. ANNALS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 114:119-136. [PMID: 33732410 PMCID: PMC7953206 DOI: 10.1093/aesa/saaa047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Over the past 30 yr, multiple species of predatory Coccinellidae, prominently Coccinella septempunctata L. and Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) have spread to new continents, influencing biodiversity and biological control. Here we review the mechanisms underlying these ecological interactions, focusing on multi-year field studies of native and non-native coccinellids and those using molecular and quantitative ecological methods. Field data from Asia show that H. axyridis, C. septempunctata, and Propylea japonica (Thunberg) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) are regularly among the most abundant predatory species but their rank varies by habitat. Studies of these species in their native Asian range, primarily related to their range in mainland China, document different patterns of seasonal abundance, species specific associations with prey, and habitat separation. Intraguild predation is well documented both in Asia and in newly invaded areas, and H. axyridis benefits most from this interaction. Harmonia axyridis also seems to rely more on cannibalism in times of prey scarcity than other species, and relatively sparse data indicate a lower predation pressure on it from natural enemies of coccinellids. Declines in the abundance of native coccinellids following the spread and increase of non-native species, documented in several multi-year studies on several continents, is a major concern for native biodiversity and the persistence of native coccinellid species. We suggest that future studies focus more attention on the community ecology of these invasive species in their native habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongran Li
- Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
- Department of Entomology, School of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Baoping Li
- Department of Entomology, School of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Gábor L Lövei
- Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Flakkebjerg Research Centre, Forsøgsvej 1, Slagelse, Denmark
| | - Timothy J Kring
- Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - John J Obrycki
- Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
- Corresponding author, e-mail: john.
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News Feature: To understand the plight of insects, entomologists look to the past. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 118:2018499117. [PMID: 33328270 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2018499117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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Ewald JA, Sotherton NW, Aebischer NJ. Research Into Practice: Gray Partridge (Perdix perdix) Restoration in Southern England. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.517500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The gray partridgePerdix perdixwas once a common breeding bird in Britain and a traditional quarry species. Its numbers have declined by over 90% over the last 50 years, and there have been similar declines across Europe. Since 1968 the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) has undertaken research on this decline and identified three main reasons for it in Britain: disappearance of nesting habitat, reduction in area of brood-rearing habitat and increased pressure from predators. A nature-sparing mindset is not compatible with the conservation of a once-widespread species of farmed land such as the gray partridge, which requires a nature-sharing viewpoint. A gray partridge recovery program had to be tailored toward farmers and their advisors, requiring scientifically proven, costed, pragmatic and simple solutions. The difficulty is in convincing farmers and land managers to take up the challenge, adopt the conservation package and reverse the decline of this species. An important means of addressing this is providing demonstration sites where farmers can go to see how appropriate and practical management leads to successful restoration of gray partridge numbers. We provide two detailed examples of demonstrations in the United Kingdom, concentrating on gray partridge abundance and demography, but also considering the consequences for wider farmland biodiversity. At both demonstration sites the abundance of gray partridges was restored to abundances approaching those of 50 years ago (an average, over 10 years, of 11.3 spring pairs/km2on one site and 13.2 pairs/km2on the other). Obstacles to a more widespread adoption of the package among United Kingdom farmers are discussed as are signposts on how these are being addressed, both in United Kingdom and in Europe.
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Kinsella RS, Thomas CD, Crawford TJ, Hill JK, Mayhew PJ, Macgregor CJ. Unlocking the potential of historical abundance datasets to study biomass change in flying insects. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:8394-8404. [PMID: 32788988 PMCID: PMC7417223 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Trends in insect abundance are well established in some datasets, but far less is known about how abundance measures translate into biomass trends. Moths (Lepidoptera) provide particularly good opportunities to study trends and drivers of biomass change at large spatial and temporal scales, given the existence of long-term abundance datasets. However, data on the body masses of moths are required for these analyses, but such data do not currently exist.To address this data gap, we collected empirical data in 2018 on the forewing length and dry mass of field-sampled moths, and used these to train and test a statistical model that predicts the body mass of moth species from their forewing lengths (with refined parameters for Crambidae, Erebidae, Geometridae and Noctuidae).Modeled biomass was positively correlated, with high explanatory power, with measured biomass of moth species (R 2 = 0.886 ± 0.0006, across 10,000 bootstrapped replicates) and of mixed-species samples of moths (R 2 = 0.873 ± 0.0003), showing that it is possible to predict biomass to an informative level of accuracy, and prediction error was smaller with larger sample sizes.Our model allows biomass to be estimated for historical moth abundance datasets, and so our approach will create opportunities to investigate trends and drivers of insect biomass change over long timescales and broad geographic regions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chris D. Thomas
- Department of BiologyUniversity of YorkYorkUK
- Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene BiodiversityUniversity of YorkYorkUK
| | | | - Jane K. Hill
- Department of BiologyUniversity of YorkYorkUK
- Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene BiodiversityUniversity of YorkYorkUK
| | | | - Callum J. Macgregor
- Department of BiologyUniversity of YorkYorkUK
- Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene BiodiversityUniversity of YorkYorkUK
- Energy and Environment InstituteUniversity of HullHullUK
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