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[Phys] More than 75 percent decrease in total flying insect biomass over 27 years

10K views 207 replies 60 participants last post by  Clovertail100 
#1 ·
Quote:
The total flying insect biomass decreased by more than 75 percent over 27 years in protected areas, according to a study published October 18, 2017 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Caspar Hallmann from Radboud University, The Netherlands, and colleagues.

[...]

To gain a better understanding of the extent and underlying causes of insect decline, Hallmann and colleagues measured total flying insect biomass using Malaise traps, deployed over 27 years in 63 nature protection areas in Germany. They found that the average flying insect biomass declined 76% (up to 82% in midsummer) in just 27 years in these locations. Their results align with recently reported declines in vulnerable species such as butterflies, wild bees and moths, but also suggest a severe loss of total flying aerial biomass, suggesting that the entire flying insect community has been decimated over the last few decades.
Source

Research Article | Data Visualization
 
#2 ·
They aren't dead, they're just around where I live and in the form of very large flies.
 
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#8 ·
I know this is a bad thing but I can't help but think to myself. The smaller the better!
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#9 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by maltamonk View Post

Very region specific study with non regional title. Akin to 2/3 dentists =all dentist
The researchers mention this. If you have a problem with the article title, take that up with the Phys editors via their feedback button.

From research article:
Quote:
Our results document a dramatic decline in average airborne insect biomass of 76% (up to 82% in midsummer) in just 27 years for protected nature areas in Germany. This considerably exceeds the estimated decline of 58% in global abundance of wild vertebrates over a 42-year period to 2012 [56, 57]. Our results demonstrate that recently reported declines in several taxa such as butterflies [7, 25-27, 58], wild bees [8-14] and moths [15-18], are in parallel with a severe loss of total aerial insect biomass, suggesting that it is not only the vulnerable species, but the flying insect community as a whole, that has been decimated over the last few decades.
 
#12 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by JackCY View Post

Well they don't eat concrete do they and there is not much else for them to feed on
wink.gif


Bees will be missed, the rest, really? really?
2 words.

Food chain.

Big things eat little things. Upset that and it travels up the chain very quickly indeed.
 
#13 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by B NEGATIVE View Post

Upset that and it travels up the chain very quickly indeed.
And down the chains.

Poke holes in an ecosystem faster than it can adjust and there are many unintended/unforseen negative side-effects.
 
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#14 ·
Could be the bugs are avoiding the traps more frequently over 27 years. I also noticed a decline in bugs over the last 27 years, but because I moved to bat infested areas. At work there still are a ton. Picked a praying mantis up from the parking lot a couple weeks back.
 
#16 ·
The mosquito around my house seem as rampant as ever... Then again, I can' recall what happened 27 years ago
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#17 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by SpankyMcFlych View Post

One of the best things about living where there is actual cold winters is it kills all the bugs for half the year. Less bugs = good in my book. And no, this is not a threat to the human species, stop being dramatic.
Actually it is a threat to humans... stop dismissing facts you should have learned in kindergarten.

https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/plantsanimals/pollinate/
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/foodchain/
 
#20 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Blameless View Post

And down the chains.

Poke holes in an ecosystem faster than it can adjust and there are many unintended/unforseen negative side-effects.
Indeed.

And this is just the direct food chain,never mind the pollinators and what not that do all the work in keeping the Flora ecosystem working

Quote:
Originally Posted by Osirus23 View Post

More sky is falling sensationalism.

Go on, spew your apocalyptic predictions. I'll go on enjoying life.
rolleyes.gif
Even with all the knowledge in the world available at your fingertips, you produce this drivel?

Educate yourself and lets not have any more of these childish outbursts.
 
#21 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Osirus23 View Post

More sky is falling sensationalism.

Go on, spew your apocalyptic predictions. I'll go on enjoying life.
rolleyes.gif
Please understand the difference between a prediction and report of observational evidence.

The knee jerk reactions to science fuel other people's understanding of how to react. So when there is a scientific article, try to read it an discuss what it has found instead of shooting it down with generalizations. This is why so many people don't understand science, they are just parroting what other people who also don't understand science are saying.

And the whole point of science is to discuss evidence, not opinions.

I understand there is a lot of misinformation out there and it can be frustrating, but take it upon yourself to be educated and speak only when you can add to the discussion, because there are way too many people taking away from things that need to be discussed.
 
#22 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by B NEGATIVE View Post

2 words.

Food chain.

Big things eat little things. Upset that and it travels up the chain very quickly indeed.
Damn, the delicious insect eating plants will go extinct what are we gonna eat.
Is the cost of frogs gonna go up?
...
The meat on cows will get less tasty because they will do less swatting of insects?

Instead of oh no there are less annoying insects now, look into why it is so, what do they eat and is there enough for them to eat, where to live, etc.

In the meantime I'm seeing the usual animals around as always. If anything the tiny spiders with their webs everywhere are annoying, maybe that's where insect ended up, feeding spiders.
 
#23 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by JackCY View Post

Damn, the delicious insect eating plants will go extinct what are we gonna eat.
Is the cost of frogs gonna go up?
...
The meat on cows will get less tasty because they will do less swatting of insects?

Instead of oh no there are less annoying insects now, look into why it is so, what do they eat and is there enough for them to eat, where to live, etc.

In the meantime I'm seeing the usual animals around as always. If anything the tiny spiders with their webs everywhere are annoying, maybe that's where insect ended up, feeding spiders.
If you dont understand the subject matter then please refrain from embarrassing yourself until you do.
 
#24 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by JackCY View Post

Damn, the delicious insect eating plants will go extinct what are we gonna eat.
Is the cost of frogs gonna go up?
...
The meat on cows will get less tasty because they will do less swatting of insects?

Instead of oh no there are less annoying insects now, look into why it is so, what do they eat and is there enough for them to eat, where to live, etc.

In the meantime I'm seeing the usual animals around as always. If anything the tiny spiders with their webs everywhere are annoying, maybe that's where insect ended up, feeding spiders.
rolleyes.gif


Here is a clue: most insects are primary consumers...
 
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