Researchers warn: climate change is endangering insects and therefore entire ecosystems

Insects suffer from climate change. This puts entire ecosystems at risk. In a study, 70 researchers from 19 countries are therefore calling for measures to better understand and reduce the effects of climate change on insects.

In the study, the international research team provides an overview of the role of climate and climate extremes in the decline of insect populations, the University of Bern’s Institute of Ecology and Evolution, which was involved, announced Monday. The study is part of the Scientists’ Warning series and is published in the journal Ecological Monographs.

Insects are fundamental to many ecosystems and the world is losing part of them, warns research leader Jeffrey Harvey of the Netherlands Institute of Ecology and VU University Amsterdam.

Both long-term developments and short-term extremes are harmful to the insects. This is especially pronounced in regions with moderate temperatures. The gradual rise in temperature affects physique, behavior, appearance and relationships between species. Extreme events such as drought, fires, cold spells and floods also leave their mark. (sda)