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Weather’s Role in Insect Decline

ByThe Short Paper

Weather explains the decline and rise of insect biomass over 34 years

Insects play a crucial role in ecosystems, but there has been a significant decline in their biomass in Central Europe and other regions. A study reanalyzed 27 years of insect data and found that this decline is strongly influenced by complex weather conditions. Contrary to previous beliefs, climate change can have a substantial impact on insect populations in temperate zones. While recent years showed a slight increase in insect biomass, ongoing climate change could still pose a threat. The study underscores the importance of researching how annual weather conditions affect insect populations.

Müller, J., Hothorn, T., Yuan, Y. et al. Weather explains the decline and rise of insect biomass over 34 years. Nature (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06402-z

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06402-z

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