The insect fauna is dwindling so rapidly that it could disappear completely within the next century, according to a report by scientists from the Universities of Sydney and Queensland and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Beijing. After examining the 73 scientific papers published over the past thirty years on insect decline, the researchers analyzed the reasons for what is happening. The findings, published in the journal Biological Conservation, are disappointing: the total insect population is declining by 2.5 percent per year. This is a disastrous pace.
The report says that 40 percent of the species have already declined, with a third of them threatened with extinction. In mammals, birds and reptiles, the rate of extinction is eight times lower, scientists are sounding the alarm.
The main reason for this phenomenon, scientists call the loss of habitat, which is explained by active agricultural activities of humans. In addition, researchers identify other reasons for the extinction of insects: pollution with synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, biological factors (exposure to pathogens, destruction or replacement by alien species), as well as climate change. The latter factor especially affects tropical regions, but in general, it does not play the most important role, the report notes.
Chain reaction
The disappearance of insects will start a chain reaction. Many species of birds, reptiles and amphibians will die of hunger. Moreover, a lack of food can lead to the fact that some species of birds (more precisely, 60 percent of birds feed only on insects), begin to hunt other species of birds. The study notes that this has already happened in Australia. The lack of insects led to the fact that the birds began to attack each other. The death of insects will also lead to the extinction of many plant species. Scientists estimate that about 80 percent of wild plants are pollinated by insects.
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Agriculture itself will suffer. Insects not only pollinate plants but also prey on other pests. Without their protection, harmful insects can easily destroy crops and interfere with the growth of seedlings.
How to fix the situation
The authors of the report believe that humanity needs to rethink the way we grow food. In particular, the authors call for a serious reduction in the use of pesticides and a move towards more ecological methods of growing food.
Nikolay Khizhnyak