Global warming and agriculture are an insect killer combination – 21/04/2022 – Environment

Insect populations nearly halved in areas affected by Global Warming And intensive farming It is among the most well-conserved habitats, according to a study published Wednesday (20), raising concerns about the consequences of pollinating farms.

The researchers measured the number of insects and the number of different species found in different regions of the world.

the study, published by the magazine temper nature, concludes that the total number of insects has been reduced by about half. The number of species decreased by 27%.

“Reductions are larger under the tropics,” lead author Charlie Thwaite of University College London told AFP.

She believes that these numbers may not be reported due to a lack of data in the tropics.

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Reducing the number of insects, which is crucial in the diet of many other species, has serious consequences.

Nearly three-quarters of the 115 most important food crops depend on pollination, such as cocoa, coffee and cherries.

Some insects, such as ladybirds, mantises, and wasps, are also necessary to control other insects harmful to crops.

The study suggests that the combined effects of climate change and intensive agriculture, including widespread use of pesticides, are worse than these two factors separately.

Even if there is no climate change, the transformation of the tropical forest into farmland warms the area with the loss of vegetation that provides shade and keeps the air and soil moist.

In a previous study, researchers estimated that the number of flying insects had fallen by an average of 80% in Europe, which would have led to a decline in bird numbers.

The new research suggests ways to survive such as intensive farming with fewer plant protection products and surrounded by natural habitats.