Latest news with #RobCooke
The Star
19-05-2025
- Science
- The Star
A better understanding of insects could help protect them better
Insects pollinate 80% of flowering plants and are vital for 35% of the world's food production. — Photos: AFP Despite general indifference, studies continue to draw alarming conclusions about the dramatic collapse of insect populations in Europe and elsewhere in the world. Yet these tiny creatures play a fundamental role in maintaining major ecological balances. A British study, recently published in the journal Science, makes an urgent appeal: better monitoring of these species is becoming crucial if we are to hope to preserve them successfully. Omnipresent but poorly understood, insects remain largely in the shadows. Of the more than one million species identified, only 12,100 have been evaluated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and nearly 20% of these are already considered endangered. This lack of knowledge is glaring, especially in the regions of Africa, Asia and South America. Elsewhere, attention is focused on a few emblematic species such as butterflies or bees, leaving a multitude of other insects with essential roles all-but forgotten. 'We need to find out whether insect declines are widespread and what's causing them. The challenge is like a giant jigsaw puzzle where there are thousands of missing pieces, but we do not have decades to wait to fill these gaps and then act,' warns study co-author, Dr Rob Cooke, an ecological modeller at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), quoted in a news release. Butterflies fly on the banks of the Xingu River in the Kayapo Indigenous territory near the village of Metuktire, in the Amazon rainforest of Mato Grosso state, Brazil. Vital presence The figures speak for themselves: insects pollinate 80% of flowering plants and are vital for 35% of the world's food production. And yet, they are still 'undervalued and understudied,' laments Dr Charlotte Outhwaite of the Zoological Society of London. To help change this, the scientists propose a new analytical framework. Their approach involves combining data from four methods: time series trends, spatial comparisons, experiments in natural environments and specialist expertise. This cross-referencing would make it possible to more accurately pinpoint the effects of climate change, land use, pollution and invasive species on insects, even where data is lacking. Another crucial point is to move beyond the focus on 'star' species. For example, the unloved earwig attacks aphids, and the despised cockroach recycles organic matter. Every insect, however discreet, plays a vital role. As such, it's time to change the way we view these tiny creatures. Now, the researchers hope to enter a phase of action by putting this framework into practice. They intend to mobilise all available sources to model insects' reactions to environmental stresses. It's a way of doing justice to these billions of tiny lives, whose survival is also linked to our own. – AFP Relaxnews
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
We know next to nothing about 99 per cent of the world's insects: Here's why that's a problem
Despite our outsized impact on the planet, humans are not the dominant species. For every person on Earth, there are approximately 1.4 billion insects. All together, they would weigh 70 times more than the total human population. While insects are by far the most numerous and widespread class in the animal kingdom, woefully little is known about them. Since they're essential to food production, the regularly reported decline in key species is a cause of concern. But does it really spell 'insectageddon'? According to a study led by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) and ZSL (Zoological Society of London), we just don't know. According to the study, there are about a million known insect species around the world. Of these, just 12,100 species have been assessed under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Of those that have been assessed, 20 per cent are considered threatened. But given that less than one per cent of the species have been assessed, the study rightfully asks, 'What about the other 99 per cent?' Little monitoring of insect species goes on outside of North America and Europe. In fact, the researchers say there is very little known about insects in parts of Asia and South America, and virtually no data at all for species in Africa. This week, the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme revealed that 2024 was one of the worst years on record for butterflies. It's a similar story across Europe and North America. Dragonflies and bees are also well-studied in these regions. Of the dragonfly family, 16 per cent are thought to be at risk of extinction. Studies have shown a loss of 60 per cent of the bee population since the 1990s. But these are not the only pollinators in our environment, nor are they the only insects that are useful to our existence. 'There is a lot of interest in monitoring charismatic species such as bees and butterflies,' says Dr Rob Cooke, an ecological modeller at UKCEH and joint lead author of the study. 'But few people care about the supposedly unpleasant insects, even though they too provide benefits for us.' Despite the creepy appearance of the humble earwig, they are excellent at pest control - particularly on fruit trees, where they remove aphids without damaging the fruit. The hated cockroach is incredibly important for soil health and decomposition. Yet, they're among the least well-studied of all insects worldwide. Related 'A momentous day for nature': EU approves first-of-its-kind law that could bring back biodiversity 'Red flag': Bug splats on cars reveal a staggering drop in insect numbers over last 20 years Undoubtedly, many insect species are in decline. Loss of habitat, use of pesticides and declining food sources mean it's tough to be an insect in the modern world. But the authors stress that it's essential to increase our understanding of insect populations and how humans affect them, before it's too late. 'We need to find out whether insect declines are widespread and what's causing them,' says Cooke. 'The challenge is like a giant jigsaw puzzle where there are thousands of missing pieces, but we do not have decades to wait to fill these gaps and then act.' The study authors have proposed a new framework for establishing how different drivers impact local species. Through combining multiple data sources, they hope to build up a better picture of the state of global insect health, despite the gaps in the available data. 'With a million described species, it would take too long to figure out what works best for each species,' explains Dr Charlotte Outhwaite of ZSL's Institute of Zoology, joint lead author of the study. 'Instead, we want to find large-scale actions that benefit the most insects. For this, we need to use all the available information we have.' The next step is to begin testing this approach, using a range of research methods to model how different insect species respond to various threats. Extrapolating from their findings will help develop an understanding of the current health of the world's insect population.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
We know next to nothing about 99 per cent of the world's insects: Here's why that's a problem
Despite our outsized impact on the planet, humans are not the dominant species. For every person on Earth, there are approximately 1.4 billion insects. All together, they would weigh 70 times more than the total human population. While insects are by far the most numerous and widespread class in the animal kingdom, woefully little is known about them. Since they're essential to food production, the regularly reported decline in key species is a cause of concern. But does it really spell 'insectageddon'? According to a study led by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) and ZSL (Zoological Society of London), we just don't know. According to the study, there are about a million known insect species around the world. Of these, just 12,100 species have been assessed under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Of those that have been assessed, 20 per cent are considered threatened. But given that less than one per cent of the species have been assessed, the study rightfully asks, 'What about the other 99 per cent?' Little monitoring of insect species goes on outside of North America and Europe. In fact, the researchers say there is very little known about insects in parts of Asia and South America, and virtually no data at all for species in Africa. This week, the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme revealed that 2024 was one of the worst years on record for butterflies. It's a similar story across Europe and North America. Dragonflies and bees are also well-studied in these regions. Of the dragonfly family, 16 per cent are thought to be at risk of extinction. Studies have shown a loss of 60 per cent of the bee population since the 1990s. But these are not the only pollinators in our environment, nor are they the only insects that are useful to our existence. 'There is a lot of interest in monitoring charismatic species such as bees and butterflies,' says Dr Rob Cooke, an ecological modeller at UKCEH and joint lead author of the study. 'But few people care about the supposedly unpleasant insects, even though they too provide benefits for us.' Despite the creepy appearance of the humble earwig, they are excellent at pest control - particularly on fruit trees, where they remove aphids without damaging the fruit. The hated cockroach is incredibly important for soil health and decomposition. Yet, they're among the least well-studied of all insects worldwide. Related 'A momentous day for nature': EU approves first-of-its-kind law that could bring back biodiversity 'Red flag': Bug splats on cars reveal a staggering drop in insect numbers over last 20 years Undoubtedly, many insect species are in decline. Loss of habitat, use of pesticides and declining food sources mean it's tough to be an insect in the modern world. But the authors stress that it's essential to increase our understanding of insect populations and how humans affect them, before it's too late. 'We need to find out whether insect declines are widespread and what's causing them,' says Cooke. 'The challenge is like a giant jigsaw puzzle where there are thousands of missing pieces, but we do not have decades to wait to fill these gaps and then act.' The study authors have proposed a new framework for establishing how different drivers impact local species. Through combining multiple data sources, they hope to build up a better picture of the state of global insect health, despite the gaps in the available data. 'With a million described species, it would take too long to figure out what works best for each species,' explains Dr Charlotte Outhwaite of ZSL's Institute of Zoology, joint lead author of the study. 'Instead, we want to find large-scale actions that benefit the most insects. For this, we need to use all the available information we have.' The next step is to begin testing this approach, using a range of research methods to model how different insect species respond to various threats. Extrapolating from their findings will help develop an understanding of the current health of the world's insect population.
Euronews
04-04-2025
- Science
- Euronews
We know next to nothing about 99 per cent of the world's insects: Here's why that's a problem
ADVERTISEMENT Despite our outsized impact on the planet, humans are not the dominant species. For every person on Earth, there are approximately 1.4 billion insects. All together, they would weigh 70 times more than the total human population. While insects are by far the most numerous and widespread class in the animal kingdom, woefully little is known about them. Since they're essential to food production , the regularly reported decline in key species is a cause of concern. But does it really spell 'insectageddon'? According to a study led by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) and ZSL (Zoological Society of London), we just don't know. Just 1 per cent of insect species are well understood According to the study, there are about a million known insect species around the world. Of these, just 12,100 species have been assessed under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . Of those that have been assessed, 20 per cent are considered threatened. But given that less than one per cent of the species have been assessed, the study rightfully asks, 'What about the other 99 per cent?' Little monitoring of insect species goes on outside of North America and Europe. In fact, the researchers say there is very little known about insects in parts of Asia and South America, and virtually no data at all for species in Africa. Butterflies, bees and dragonflies steal the limelight This week, the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme revealed that 2024 was one of the worst years on record for butterflies . It's a similar story across Europe and North America. Dragonflies and bees are also well-studied in these regions. Of the dragonfly family, 16 per cent are thought to be at risk of extinction. Studies have shown a loss of 60 per cent of the bee population since the 1990s. But these are not the only pollinators in our environment, nor are they the only insects that are useful to our existence. 'There is a lot of interest in monitoring charismatic species such as bees and butterflies,' says Dr Rob Cooke, an ecological modeller at UKCEH and joint lead author of the study. 'But few people care about the supposedly unpleasant insects, even though they too provide benefits for us.' Despite the creepy appearance of the humble earwig, they are excellent at pest control - particularly on fruit trees, where they remove aphids without damaging the fruit. The hated cockroach is incredibly important for soil health and decomposition. Yet, they're among the least well-studied of all insects worldwide. Related 'A momentous day for nature': EU approves first-of-its-kind law that could bring back biodiversity 'Red flag': Bug splats on cars reveal a staggering drop in insect numbers over last 20 years How will we know which insect species are under threat? Undoubtedly, many insect species are in decline. Loss of habitat, use of pesticides and declining food sources mean it's tough to be an insect in the modern world. But the authors stress that it's essential to increase our understanding of insect populations and how humans affect them, before it's too late. 'We need to find out whether insect declines are widespread and what's causing them,' says Cooke. 'The challenge is like a giant jigsaw puzzle where there are thousands of missing pieces, but we do not have decades to wait to fill these gaps and then act.' The study authors have proposed a new framework for establishing how different drivers impact local species . Through combining multiple data sources, they hope to build up a better picture of the state of global insect health, despite the gaps in the available data. ADVERTISEMENT 'With a million described species, it would take too long to figure out what works best for each species,' explains Dr Charlotte Outhwaite of ZSL's Institute of Zoology, joint lead author of the study. 'Instead, we want to find large-scale actions that benefit the most insects. For this, we need to use all the available information we have.' The next step is to begin testing this approach, using a range of research methods to model how different insect species respond to various threats. Extrapolating from their findings will help develop an understanding of the current health of the world's insect population.
