|

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

Similar Posts

|

Hobbies and Mental Wellbeing

ByThe Short Paper

Hobby engagement and mental wellbeing among people aged 65 years and older in 16 countries As the world’s aging population grows, it presents challenges to mental and social well-being. Many countries encourage people to engage in hobbies to improve their mental health, but it’s unclear if this approach works consistently worldwide. Researchers studied 16 nations…

|

Intense Tropical Cyclones and Climate Shifts

ByThe Short Paper

Seasonal advance of intense tropical cyclones in a warming climate Intense tropical cyclones (TCs) occurring in autumn are shifting earlier in the season, with rates of 3.7 and 3.2 days per decade in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. This shift is linked to favorable oceanic conditions starting earlier, driven primarily by greenhouse gas forcing. As…

Worth Your Weight: Experimental Evidence on the Benefits of Obesity in Low-Income Countries

ByThe Short Paper

Experimental evidence suggests that being obese can have advantages in low-income countries This study examined how obesity is perceived in terms of economic value in Uganda. It found that in poorer countries like Uganda, obesity is seen as a sign of wealth but not necessarily beauty or good health. Through experiments involving loan officers, the…

|

Unlocking the Hidden Diversity of Microbial Proteins in Metagenomes

ByThe Short Paper

Unraveling the functional dark matter through global metagenomics Scientists have discovered an immense variety of proteins encoded within metagenomes, which are collections of genetic material from diverse microorganisms. Traditionally, researchers have compared these proteins to known references, limiting their exploration. However, a new computational approach was developed to identify protein families without relying on reference…

|

Global Shift: Rise of Annual Plants Impacting Ecosystems

ByThe Short Paper

Revising the global biogeography of annual and perennial plants This study on plant life cycles reveals surprising data: annual plants, thought to be common, make up only 6% of plant species. These plants thrive in hot, dry regions, and their prevalence is influenced by specific climate factors. Alarmingly, climate change and human disruption are favoring…

|

Chromosome Folding’s Role in DNA Repair and Genomic Stability

ByThe Short Paper

Chromatin compartmentalization regulates the response to DNA damage This recent study sheds light on the role of chromosome folding in DNA repair and genome stability. When double-stranded breaks occur in mammalian cells, a process driven by ATM (a protein involved in DNA repair) leads to the creation of a new chromatin compartment called the “D…