Meta-analysis reveals declines in terrestrial but increases in freshwater insect abundances
German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research · Hersenstichting · +6 more institutions
Abstract
Recent case studies showing substantial declines of insect abundances have raised alarm, but how widespread such patterns are remains unclear. We compiled data from 166 long-term surveys of insect assemblages across 1676 sites to investigate trends in insect abundances over time. Overall, we found considerable variation in trends even among adjacent sites but an average decline of terrestrial insect abundance by ~9% per decade and an increase of freshwater insect abundance by ~11% per decade. Both patterns were largely driven by strong trends in North America and some European regions. We found some associations with potential drivers (e.g., land-use drivers), and trends in protected areas tended to be weaker.…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 120.59
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 142
Authors
6- RVRoel van KlinkCorresponding
German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Hersenstichting, Leipzig University
- DEDiana E. Bowler
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Friedrich Schiller University Jena
- KBKonstantin B. Gongalsky
Lomonosov Moscow State University, Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution
- ABAnn B. Swengel
- AGAlessandro Gentile
German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research
Topics & keywords
- Insect
- Ecology
- Abundance (ecology)
- Biology
- Geography