This is bad news.

More than 75 percent decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas

More than 75 percent decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0185809

Global declines in insects have sparked wide interest among scientists, politicians, and the general public. Loss of insect diversity and abundance is expected to provoke cascading effects on food webs and to jeopardize ecosystem services. Our understanding of the extent and underlying causes of this decline is based on the abundance of single species or taxonomic groups only, rather than changes in insect biomass which is more relevant for ecological functioning.

more…

Are we doing anything like this in Australia measuring insect populations every year?

That was an interesting paper. Thanks for posting it.

shit eh

Tau.Neutrino said:

This is bad news.

More than 75 percent decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas

More than 75 percent decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0185809

Global declines in insects have sparked wide interest among scientists, politicians, and the general public. Loss of insect diversity and abundance is expected to provoke cascading effects on food webs and to jeopardize ecosystem services. Our understanding of the extent and underlying causes of this decline is based on the abundance of single species or taxonomic groups only, rather than changes in insect biomass which is more relevant for ecological functioning.

more…

It reads like inappropriate land management, as all habitats experienced a significant reduction of plant species, which is not attributable to any large extent, to other causes. In Australia we have the same situation where habitat management has changed since European settlement that reduced numbers of most flora and fauna, even in uncleared areas. It wasn’t so long ago in Australia, that when a rare plant species was discovered it would be fenced off so nothing could damage them. However this just enable weeds (many native) to grow unimpeded and smother the rare species.

They need to look at how these reserves were managed prior to 27 year reserve establishment and learn what has changed since. Inactivity I imagine would be the main reason and the unrestricted growth of the taller and more bushy plant species, which reduces habitat, reduces sunlight and dominates available moisture.

PermeateFree said:

Tau.Neutrino said:

This is bad news.

More than 75 percent decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas

More than 75 percent decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0185809

Global declines in insects have sparked wide interest among scientists, politicians, and the general public. Loss of insect diversity and abundance is expected to provoke cascading effects on food webs and to jeopardize ecosystem services. Our understanding of the extent and underlying causes of this decline is based on the abundance of single species or taxonomic groups only, rather than changes in insect biomass which is more relevant for ecological functioning.

more…

It reads like inappropriate land management, as all habitats experienced a significant reduction of plant species, which is not attributable to any large extent, to other causes. In Australia we have the same situation where habitat management has changed since European settlement that reduced numbers of most flora and fauna, even in uncleared areas. It wasn’t so long ago in Australia, that when a rare plant species was discovered it would be fenced off so nothing could damage them. However this just enable weeds (many native) to grow unimpeded and smother the rare species.

They need to look at how these reserves were managed prior to 27 year reserve establishment and learn what has changed since. Inactivity I imagine would be the main reason and the unrestricted growth of the taller and more bushy plant species, which reduces habitat, reduces sunlight and dominates available moisture.

Good points.

dv said:

PermeateFree said:

Tau.Neutrino said:

This is bad news.

More than 75 percent decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas

More than 75 percent decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0185809

Global declines in insects have sparked wide interest among scientists, politicians, and the general public. Loss of insect diversity and abundance is expected to provoke cascading effects on food webs and to jeopardize ecosystem services. Our understanding of the extent and underlying causes of this decline is based on the abundance of single species or taxonomic groups only, rather than changes in insect biomass which is more relevant for ecological functioning.

more…

It reads like inappropriate land management, as all habitats experienced a significant reduction of plant species, which is not attributable to any large extent, to other causes. In Australia we have the same situation where habitat management has changed since European settlement that reduced numbers of most flora and fauna, even in uncleared areas. It wasn’t so long ago in Australia, that when a rare plant species was discovered it would be fenced off so nothing could damage them. However this just enable weeds (many native) to grow unimpeded and smother the rare species.

They need to look at how these reserves were managed prior to 27 year reserve establishment and learn what has changed since. Inactivity I imagine would be the main reason and the unrestricted growth of the taller and more bushy plant species, which reduces habitat, reduces sunlight and dominates available moisture.

Good points.

Thing is, much of nature depends upon the insects. Without them we are in serious shit.

roughbarked said:

dv said:

PermeateFree said:

It reads like inappropriate land management, as all habitats experienced a significant reduction of plant species, which is not attributable to any large extent, to other causes. In Australia we have the same situation where habitat management has changed since European settlement that reduced numbers of most flora and fauna, even in uncleared areas. It wasn’t so long ago in Australia, that when a rare plant species was discovered it would be fenced off so nothing could damage them. However this just enable weeds (many native) to grow unimpeded and smother the rare species.

They need to look at how these reserves were managed prior to 27 year reserve establishment and learn what has changed since. Inactivity I imagine would be the main reason and the unrestricted growth of the taller and more bushy plant species, which reduces habitat, reduces sunlight and dominates available moisture.

Good points.

Thing is, much of nature depends upon the insects. Without them we are in serious shit.

But most insects rely upon vegetation and if the plant species diversity and number is reduced, then so will the insect diversity and number.

dv said:

shit eh

Shit

roughbarked said:

dv said:

PermeateFree said:

It reads like inappropriate land management, as all habitats experienced a significant reduction of plant species, which is not attributable to any large extent, to other causes. In Australia we have the same situation where habitat management has changed since European settlement that reduced numbers of most flora and fauna, even in uncleared areas. It wasn’t so long ago in Australia, that when a rare plant species was discovered it would be fenced off so nothing could damage them. However this just enable weeds (many native) to grow unimpeded and smother the rare species.

They need to look at how these reserves were managed prior to 27 year reserve establishment and learn what has changed since. Inactivity I imagine would be the main reason and the unrestricted growth of the taller and more bushy plant species, which reduces habitat, reduces sunlight and dominates available moisture.

Good points.

Thing is, much of nature depends upon the insects. Without them we are in serious shit.

75 percent insect reduction over 25 years must have effected frogs, birds, small reptiles, snakes, mammals and animals to a degree

Ian said:

dv said:

shit eh

Shit

In many parts of Europe there would have been a considerable variety of grazing animals that would have eaten and kept the environment open. They also would have provided animal fertiliser, so the posts above may not be inappropriate.

PermeateFree said:

roughbarked said:

dv said:

Good points.

Thing is, much of nature depends upon the insects. Without them we are in serious shit.

But most insects rely upon vegetation and if the plant species diversity and number is reduced, then so will the insect diversity and number.

Yeah well we have been decimnating the diversity of plant life for centuries now.

Tau.Neutrino said:

roughbarked said:

dv said:

Good points.

Thing is, much of nature depends upon the insects. Without them we are in serious shit.

75 percent insect reduction over 25 years must have effected frogs, birds, small reptiles, snakes, mammals and animals to a degree

To such a noticeable degree that is very alarming, yes.

Tau.Neutrino said:

roughbarked said:

dv said:

Good points.

Thing is, much of nature depends upon the insects. Without them we are in serious shit.

75 percent insect reduction over 25 years must have effected frogs, birds, small reptiles, snakes, mammals and animals to a degree

Certainly the ones reliant upon the insects and the missing vegetation, especially herbaceous vegetation that would account for most grazing animals. It would be a slow spiraling decline.

Maybe we need to get rid of more of those ravenous birds.

roughbarked said:

PermeateFree said:

roughbarked said:

Thing is, much of nature depends upon the insects. Without them we are in serious shit.

But most insects rely upon vegetation and if the plant species diversity and number is reduced, then so will the insect diversity and number.

Yeah well we have been decimnating the diversity of plant life for centuries now.

Which has impacted upon all interactive fauna.

Are they collecting genetic samples of all these insects?

Should this be done on a global scale?

Collecting annual numbers for insect bird flora and fauna stats globally.

roughbarked said:

PermeateFree said:

roughbarked said:

Thing is, much of nature depends upon the insects. Without them we are in serious shit.

But most insects rely upon vegetation and if the plant species diversity and number is reduced, then so will the insect diversity and number.

Yeah well we have been decimnating the diversity of plant life for centuries now.

Is there correlation between diversity of plants and diversity of insects, or a ratio figure?

Tau.Neutrino said:

Are they collecting genetic samples of all these insects?

Should this be done on a global scale?

Collecting annual numbers for insect bird flora and fauna stats globally.

It has been an ongoing situation since earliest scientific investigation, but no doubt much has been lost with massive land clearing, plus with invertebrates and other small animals, there are gaping holes in our knowledge.

Tau.Neutrino said:

roughbarked said:

PermeateFree said:

But most insects rely upon vegetation and if the plant species diversity and number is reduced, then so will the insect diversity and number.

Yeah well we have been decimnating the diversity of plant life for centuries now.

Is there correlation between diversity of plants and diversity of insects, or a ratio figure?

Yes, there are many symbiotic relationships where if one disappears, so will the other. Even with less specialised insects, they too will disappear with land clearing along with the vegetation they require.

Note that this is a 75% decline in biomass, not species.

dv said:

Note that this is a 75% decline in biomass, not species.

It was a decline in vegetation species, which in turn will change the number and composition of the animals that relied upon them. In this type of situation it is the small herbaceous plants that are usually most affected and these species tend to be more numerous and with more insects and other animals dependent upon them

dv said:

Note that this is a 75% decline in biomass, not species.

Does that means overall numbers?

Tau.Neutrino said:

dv said:

Note that this is a 75% decline in biomass, not species.

Does that means overall numbers?

Not necessarily.

Tau.Neutrino said:

dv said:

Note that this is a 75% decline in biomass, not species.

Does that means overall numbers?

Not necessarily, but in an open grazing type environment, small plant species tend to be not only more numerous, but have the greater number of species in the environment. Unless the area has been logged or otherwise cleared the plant biomass will be substantially made up of these small plants. If the environment is allowed to overgrow and smother these smaller plants, they will disappear as will the majority of animal species (and numbers).

Tau.Neutrino said:

dv said:

Note that this is a 75% decline in biomass, not species.

Does that means overall numbers?

No, total mass.

Tau.Neutrino said:

This is bad news.

More than 75 percent decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas

More than 75 percent decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0185809

Global declines in insects have sparked wide interest among scientists, politicians, and the general public. Loss of insect diversity and abundance is expected to provoke cascading effects on food webs and to jeopardize ecosystem services. Our understanding of the extent and underlying causes of this decline is based on the abundance of single species or taxonomic groups only, rather than changes in insect biomass which is more relevant for ecological functioning.

more…

I can talk a little about my own experiences with insect biomass in parts of Australia (and elsewhere).

• If you want to increase insect (and other arthropod) biomass locally, plant ivy. Ivy has the greatest insect biomass of any plant that I know. Some other dense creepers also enhance insect biomass, as do blackberries in the correct season.

• Two nearby protected areas have gone dead recently. One is completely filled with dead brambles. The other has lost all its ground cover. Both were too small.

• The introduction of introduced garden plants in suburbs has greatly increased insect biomass here.

• Mosquito biomass in suburbia is much larger than it was 25 years ago. This is not a good thing.

• Streetlights can be blamed for the loss of much insect biomass in protected areas. Other important culprits are the removal of introduced weeds and the clearing of impenetrable scrub. Possibly also the spraying of insecticides.

• Out of control bushfires are responsible for the loss of much insect biomass in Australian forests.

• In Germany, climate change has consisted largely of getting drier, not of getting hotter. Less water directly implies fewer insects.

A lot of birds feed on insects, if you get a 75% reduction in insect population you would think that should show up in bird census.

Is there some sort of standard for the nets and the configurations and the times? It was over along time and I don’t think a single net would have lasted that long and maybe something like budget cuts meant that they didn’t check them at night or something, I dunno.

Maybe birds learnt how to eat the insects out of the nets?

It is probably true but I think you should be alive to other possibilities as well.

Has anyone started mass insects breeding programs to replenish their numbers ?
It would quite quick compared to breeding other animals

AwesomeO said:

Is there some sort of standard for the nets and the configurations and the times? It was over along time and I don’t think a single net would have lasted that long and maybe something like budget cuts meant that they didn’t check them at night or something, I dunno.

Maybe birds learnt how to eat the insects out of the nets?

It is probably true but I think you should be alive to other possibilities as well.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaise_trap

ChrispenEvan said:

AwesomeO said:

Is there some sort of standard for the nets and the configurations and the times? It was over along time and I don’t think a single net would have lasted that long and maybe something like budget cuts meant that they didn’t check them at night or something, I dunno.

Maybe birds learnt how to eat the insects out of the nets?

It is probably true but I think you should be alive to other possibilities as well.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaise_trap

“The malaise trap can also function as a light trap. If a lamp is placed at the end opposite of the opening, the light will attract insects into the trap.”

That could be the problem. Insects have learnt to avoid flying towards artificial lights. Because most are street lamps. And those insects that are attracted by artificial light are going to avoid the Malaise trap anyway because street lights are brighter.