Insects are among the most diverse and abundant animals on Earth, playing vital roles in ecosystems such as pollination, decomposition, and nutrient cycling. However, climate change is threatening to disrupt their interactions and functions, with potentially cascading effects on biodiversity and ecosystem services.
A new study published in Science Advances explores how a warming world could impact insect communities and derail their development of new species. The researchers used a global database of insect phylogenies and distribution maps to model how different scenarios of climate change could affect insect speciation and extinction rates by 2100.
They found that under a high-emissions scenario, insect speciation rates could decline by 23% on average, while extinction rates could increase by 212%. This would result in a net loss of insect diversity and a shift in insect biogeography, with tropical regions losing more species than temperate ones. The study also identified hotspots of insect diversity that are most vulnerable to climate change, such as the Amazon rainforest, Southeast Asia, and Madagascar.
The researchers warn that these changes could have profound implications for ecosystem functioning and human well-being, as insects provide essential services such as pollination, pest control, soil formation, and food for other animals. They call for urgent actions to mitigate climate change and conserve insect diversity, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, restoring habitats, and creating protected areas.
