HomeeducationA forest as an insect shelter in warmer climates?

A forest as an insect shelter in warmer climates?

About 75 percent of our food plants and more than 80 percent of wild plants need pollination by insects. Plant maturity alone is estimated at $ 577 million a year worldwide. The best pollinators are bees, but they are not the only insects that provide this service to humans and the environment – flies, wasps, beetles, butterflies and moths also play an important role.

Several studies have shown a dramatic decline in the number of pests in recent decades – and in Germany. The main focus was on the loss of suitable insect habitats; for example, the conversion of natural habitats into agricultural or urban areas. But what are the consequences of land use combined with warm and dry climate for pollinating insects? And what can be done to minimize the potential negative consequences? This was investigated in a new study by Julius-Maximilians-University (JMU) in Würzburg.

Important research findings

A team of JMU researchers and participants demonstrated for the first time how climate change and land use together shape the diversity of pollinators on the local and regional scale in Bavaria. Based on more than 3200 identified pollen species from 179 forested areas, grasslands, cultivated areas and cities, they found a mix of pollinating communities in warmer climates. This suggests a complete loss of pollinator diversity under future climates.

Each tax such as bees, flies, beetles, butterflies, and moths have shown a different reaction to the warm, dry climate, but the general pattern indicates that areas with higher forest cover hold different pollen communities. “So another important finding has been that the forest in the area can reduce the effects of global warming to some degree.” explains Cristina Ganuza, PhD student in Professor IngolfSteffan-Dewenter’s team at JMU’s Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, and lead author of the study.”Studies support that in addition to the importance of flower resources and the adverse effects of land use, climates play an increasingly important role in maintaining pollinator diversity. For example, the combination of high temperatures and low rainfall has adversely affected overall numbers. urban temperatures have been severely affected by high temperatures, “explained Steffan-Dewenter.

Ecological interactions with humans

High pollinator variability is required for high pollinator performance. Ganuza: “However, the combination of continuous climate change and current land use will only allow certain types of pollen to survive in different types of habitat.”

“We have concluded that a large portion of the forested area in the area could be a refuge for insects from the scorching climate,” Ganuza said. “This is because forests and forest edges provide a more natural environment that prevents extreme heat and drought compared to the many human settlements that are affected by humans.”Another suggestion from researchers would be to reduce air pollution in cities, for example by planting. “This could lead to more species of bees living in urban areas,” explains a biologist. In short, insects like it vary. And flowering plants as diverse as possible are important for small animals in all areas.

Insect species decline in Bavaria. Land use is a major cause, but the impact of climate change is still unknown. Research has now thoroughly investigated how both factors work together to control insect pests and what can be done to save it. the value of plant maturity alone is estimated at $ 577 billion a year worldwide&more than 3200 species of pollinators have been identified in 179 forest areas, grasslands, agricultural areas and cities.

Source Journal Reference:Cristina Ganuza, Sarah Redlich, Johannes Uhler, Cynthia Tobisch, Sandra Rojas-Botero, Marcell K. Peters, Jie Zhang, Caryl S. Benjamin, Jana Englmeier, Jörg Ewald, Ute Fricke, Maria Haensel, Johannes Kollmann, RebekkaRiebl, Lars Uphus, Jörg Müller, IngolfSteffan-Dewenter. Interactive effects of climate and land use on pollinator diversity differ among taxa and scales. Science Advances, 2022; 8 (18) DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm9359

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