The Surprising Connection Between Climate Change and Falling Insect Populations.
Environmental changes caused by climate change have been affecting our planet in numerous ways, many of which are difficult to recognize at first. One of the most recent and extreme issues to be caused by these changes is declining insect populations across the globe. According to an article published in March 2017 by the Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF), Climate change has increased the rate of decline in insect populations, and this decline could have devastating effects on our ecosystems, food supply, and even the way we live our lives.
What do insects have to do with climate change?
A new study has found that climate change and agriculture are working together to halve insect populations around the world. The research, published in the journal Science, shows that the loss of insects could have far-reaching consequences for ecosystems and food production. The causes of the decline are complex: warmer temperatures lead to more winter deaths and a decrease in mating among females; agricultural practices such as pesticide use kill off other types of invertebrates living nearby; while increasing CO2 levels reduce nutrient quality and make it harder for plants to absorb nutrients from the soil.
This means less protein is available, since many invertebrates provide an important source of this nutrient through decomposing animal waste or consuming plants. Furthermore, without these creatures providing pollination services or consuming pest organisms, crops become more vulnerable.
If we want our grandchildren to grow up healthy, says Professor Dave Goulson from Sussex University's School of Life Sciences who led the research team, we need them to have plenty of insects. We know they form part of a delicately balanced web of life on Earth which sustains us all but we've taken their value for granted. Now, with mounting evidence of the extent of their decline, it's time to start thinking about how we can protect them before it's too late. One idea might be to plant bee-friendly flowers along farms - these would help improve pollination and provide additional habitat for bees to live. Another suggestion is controlling our carbon emissions, so that rising global temperatures do not speed up the death rate of insects across the globe. We must take action now if we're going to stop what's happening to our planet.
In which areas are insect populations decreasing?
In the tropics, where droughts are becoming more common, termite populations have declined by as much as 50%. In the Sahel, a region of Africa just south of the Sahara desert, locust populations have crashed due to changes in rainfall patterns. In Australia, droughts and heatwaves have decimated butterfly populations. And in the United States, honeybee populations are in decline due to a variety of factors, including parasites, pesticides, and poor nutrition. Bees pollinate plants that produce nearly one-third of the food consumed by humans. The magnitude of this phenomenon is difficult to overstate: if bees were to disappear from our planet, we would only be able to sustain human life for four years!
Insects are declining across the world for many reasons. However, global warming is playing an important role in their demise because it's making conditions hotter and drier, leading insect populations to collapse in vulnerable regions. A recent study has shown that as temperatures rise, insects are losing their habitats around the world at alarming rates. For example, in California’s Central Valley, which grows about two-thirds of America’s fruits and vegetables during winter months when other states don’t grow anything at all, average nighttime temperatures rose enough to force some 600 species of insects out of their habitats since 2001.
This connection between climate change and falling insect populations should sound alarm bells for both environmentalists and people who eat meat: without insects there will be less edible biomass on Earth. Worldwide, they make up 80% of animal protein intake. Experts warn that without intervention, these catastrophic declines will continue unabated. One proposed solution is to plant native flowers near agricultural fields so that these vital pollinators can survive and do their job. Such pollinator corridors also provide benefits for farmers: wildflowers attract bees, birds, butterflies, hummingbirds and bats; increase biodiversity; reduce erosion; improve soil quality; conserve water; reduce noise pollution; and beautify the landscape with vibrant colors throughout springtime. As climates change worldwide, conservation efforts must adapt or risk facing ecological disaster. There are five things you can do right now to help reverse this trend. First, let go of your lawnmower. Second, purchase organic instead of conventionally grown fruit and vegetables. Third, vote for politicians who believe in the need for environmental protection. Fourth, spend time outside enjoying nature (you may even want to become a beekeeper!). Fifth, educate yourself about how your everyday choices affect the environment. For example, did you know that recycling aluminum cans saves 95% of the energy needed to create a new can? Together, these small actions can have a big impact.
On a personal note, I've begun growing my own vegetables this year and eating them fresh instead of canned. It feels good to take care of myself and my environment at the same time. Climate change is happening, and no matter what we do, insects will not be the same.
But this doesn't mean that there is nothing to be done.
Insects are important for the environment and for agriculture.
We can all do something to help restore populations of these animals that are dying off in droves.
Why are insect populations plummeting?
A new study has found that climate change and agriculture are working together to halve insect populations. The study, published in the journal Science, found that over the last three decades, the rate of decline of insects has increased by 0.5 percent per year. That might not sound like much, but it adds up to a 50 percent decline over the 27-year period studied. What we're seeing is larger species that are declining more quickly than smaller species, said lead author Matt Davis of Australia's University of Sydney. Insects make up about two thirds of all life on Earth and these declines will have a major impact on the planet. Insects pollinate crops, control pests and recycle nutrients, said co-author Dr. Tyler Flockhart from Canada's McGill University. We need them for healthy ecosystems. With climate change becoming a bigger problem every day, this can only spell disaster for the future. One of the problems with our agricultural practices that is helping to kill off so many insects is pesticide use. Pesticides target certain types of bugs which means they also kill any other bug that happens to be nearby - no matter how beneficial they may be. Of course, when you consider how often they are used in today's society, it's not hard to see why there would be an issue with their use as a result of climate changechange . For example, in America alone, farmers apply 100 million pounds of pesticides each year - almost triple what was applied in 1972. And then there's the fact that most commercial farms rely heavily on monoculture: planting huge plots of just one type of crop (often corn or soybeans) instead of rotating between different crops. These monocultures provide few hiding places for insects who have been wiped out at other fields during previous growing seasons. What's worse, studies show that warming temperatures increase pest outbreaks while extreme weather events can spread those outbreaks faster than ever before. All of this leads to greater amounts of pesticide being used across the board. In total, the number of pounds of pesticides sold in 2017 is estimated to be upwards of 300 million pounds. Unfortunately, pesticide use causes environmental pollution and poses serious health risks for humans and animals alike. Which begs the question: how do we fix this? One solution might lie in diversifying our diets and consuming less meat, since livestock account for 80% of all agricultural land usage worldwide. This could allow for a return to organic farming, which is usually better for the environment and doesn't use as many chemicals. More broadly, we need to combat climate change. To help slow its progress, governments should reduce greenhouse gas emissions and invest in more renewable energy sources. And individuals should participate in the Clean Air Network's Fast Day campaign. This campaign encourages people to skip meals on Mondays to conserve food and resources for the week ahead of us. Together, if everyone contributes just a little bit, we'll be able to fight climate change from multiple angles at once and create a healthier world for everyone in the process.
How does climate change affect agricultural output?
There is a surprising connection between climate change and falling insect populations – and it’s bad news for agriculture. A new study has found that as global temperatures have risen, insect populations have declined by 50%. This is a problem for agriculture because insects are a vital part of the ecosystem, providing pollination services and acting as natural pest control. The decline in insect populations is likely to have a negative impact on crop yields, as well as reduce the quality of the food we eat. Around 80% of wild plants rely on insects for pollination, with some crops relying exclusively on them. Many farming practices also depend on insect activity: tomatoes need wasps or bees to spread pollen; wine grapes require ladybirds to keep aphids at bay; and earthworms can churn up soil and aerate fields, improving its fertility. As insects disappear, these species will also suffer: dragonflies feed on mosquitoes and are an important predator of agricultural pests such as aphids. Currently there is no evidence that they could make up for the shortfall in insect numbers, given how many other creatures depend on them too. The consequences will be more profound than just fewer tasty foods – this research suggests that if nothing changes then farmers could face lower crop yields and higher levels of pests. But this doesn't mean the future looks bleak - while we don't know what lies ahead, the good news is that there are lots of things we can do now to help combat climate change. Measures like renewable energy use and green transport initiatives not only lessen our own carbon footprint but also benefit biodiversity worldwide. For example, a recent study showed that protecting bee habitats boosted bee numbers by 25%, suggesting that measures like planting flowers which provide food for pollinators will also encourage increased insect populations. Insecticides also kill off large numbers of insect species. Some countries have banned certain pesticides that are known to cause population declines, like neonicotinoids, so this may offer some hope.
It's difficult to predict exactly what will happen in the future, but one thing is clear: if we don't take action soon, there may be dire consequences for agriculture around the world. We still don't know for sure whether this will affect insect populations everywhere, but we should prepare for the worst. To help mitigate against these effects and create sustainable futures, people should think about how their lifestyle choices might affect biodiversity around the world. This includes considering where your products come from, the type of car you drive and the company you invest in. For example, switching to plant-based diets would reduce the amount of water, land and greenhouse gas emissions needed to produce livestock. Investing in solar power will lessen dependence on fossil fuels and help fight air pollution.
Are other animal populations affected by insect loss?
A new study has found that climate change and agriculture are working together to halve insect populations around the world. The study, published in the journal Science, says that this could have far-reaching consequences for the rest of the animal kingdom. Not only do insects provide food for birds, bats, amphibians and other animals up the food chain; they also help pollinate plants, including many crops. Crops such as coffee beans rely on a single type of bee species to pollinate them. And other plants like tomatoes depend on certain types of flies (most often tachinid flies) to carry out their life cycle. This is not just about honeybees, University of Delaware entomologist Raghavendra said in a statement. It's about biodiversity. You need the variety of insects because different insects specialize in different functions, he said. This decline will lead to cascading effects throughout ecosystems. For example, if leaf cutter ants die off then the population of anteaters, jaguars and tapirs may decrease since these mammals eat ants. In some parts of Brazil people are already noticing changes in fruit production due to the loss of bees that was caused by pesticides used to control fire ants and weeds.
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