Although habitat loss, climate change, and pesticides are considered potential causes of the observed global decline in insect abundance, this work is the first comprehensive long-term study to assess their relative impacts. Using 17 years of survey data on land use, climate, multiple pesticides, and butterflies in 81 counties in five states, they found that shifts from pesticide use to neonicotinoid-treated seeds were associated with declines in butterfly species diversity in the United States8. % connected. Midwest.
The results include a decline in the number of migrating monarch butterflies, which is a serious problem. In particular, it is worth noting that the most potent insecticidal agents associated with monarchy decline are insecticides, not herbicides.
This research is especially important because butterflies play an important role in pollination and are key markers of environmental health. Understanding the underlying factors contributing to their decline will help researchers protect these species for the benefit of our environment and the sustainability of our food systems.
“As the best-known group of insects, butterflies are a key indicator of broader insect declines, and the conservation implications of our findings will extend throughout the insect world,” Haddad said.
The paper points out the complexity of many influencing factors and the difficulty of isolating and measuring them in the field. The study calls for more publicly available, reliable, complete, and consistently reported data on pesticide use, especially neonicotinoid seed treatments, to fully understand the causes of butterfly declines.
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Post time: Oct-09-2024