Insects are indicators of ecosystem health. Their decline is a warning to pay attention—before it really is too late
But a second look leads to a different assessment. Rather than causing a panic, the studies should act as a timely warning and a reason to take precautions.
Moreover, where the evidence does show a collapse—in Europe and America—agricultural and rural ecosystems are holding up. Although insect-eating birds are disappearing from European farmlands, plants still grow, attract pollinators and reproduce. Farm yields remain high. As some insect species die out, others seem to be moving into the niches they have left, keeping ecosystems going, albeit with less biodiversity than before.
And the scale of the observed decline raises doubts about how long ecosystems can remain resilient. An experiment in which researchers gradually plucked out insect pollinators from fields found that plant diversity held up well until about 90% of insects had been removed. Then it collapsed. In Krefeld, in western Germany, the mass of aerial insects declined by more than 75% between 1989 and 2016.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Two Anti-Abortion Picketers Just Lost Their High Court Challenge'A woman's decision whether or not to abort her pregnancy is not a political decision.'
Read more »
My dying father gave his girlfriend his debit card to buy food — and she kept on spendingThis man’s son wonders what his options are after large sums of money went missing.
Read more »
Paul Ryan suggested Republicans abandon Trump, vowed to never 'defend' president after Access Hollywood tape: Book“I'm not going to defend Donald Trump. Not now, not in the future,” Ryan reportedly told Republicans during a conference call.
Read more »
Paul Ryan suggested Republicans abandon Trump, vowed to never 'defend' president after 'Access Hollywood' tape: Book“I'm not going to defend Donald Trump. Not now, not in the future,” Ryan reportedly told Republicans during a conference call.
Read more »
It's not your imagination, there is more bacon on fast-food menus—here's whyFast-food chains are using bacon-focused menu items as a way to bring customers back to their stores.
Read more »
You're not alone if your Bluetooth headphones keep dropping their connection in the cityBluetooth devices compete for space in limited available spectrum, leading to faulty connections. But fixes are coming.
Read more »
Facebook's Zuckerberg went before Congress a year ago — here's what has (and has not) changedIt's been a year since Mark Zuckerberg went before Congress, and social media platforms are still under fire for how they police hate speech and privacy. Here's what you need to know.
Read more »
Facebook's Zuckerberg went before Congress a year ago — here's what has (and has not) changed sinceIn the year since Facebook CEO's testimony on Capitol Hill, the company has evolved its message and approach to privacy.
Read more »
Trump says he has not read the Mueller report, but has 'every right to do so'President Donald Trump declared on Saturday that he has 'every right' to read the confidential, extensive report submitted by special counsel Robert Mueller last month.
Read more »