Crop and forest pest metawebs shift towards increased linkage and suitability overlap under climate change

This study investigates the potential land-use opportunities and risks associated with climate change in European agriculture and forestry, focusing on the introduction and establishment of novel insect pests. Using a metaweb approach encompassing interactions between crops/forest trees and black-listed insect pests, the research shows that climate change leads to increased metaweb links and overlapping suitable areas. While southern Europe shows saturation, northern Europe is expected to experience many novel interactions. The challenge lies in exploiting new opportunities for diverse agriculture and forestry while controlling pests and reducing pesticide use.

Marc Grünig, Dominique Mazzi, Pierluigi Calanca, Dirk Nikolaus Karger, Loïc Pellissier