Environmental Studies and Forestry

Insect decline in forests depends on species’ traits and may be mitigated by management

M. Staab, M. M. Gossner, et al.

In a decade-long investigation, researchers including Michael Staab and Martin M. Gossner reveal alarming declines in insect populations across German forests. With notable shifts linked to non-native trees and timber harvesting, this study uncovers life-history traits that explain species-specific responses. Discover how targeted management strategies could counteract these declines.

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Abstract

Insect populations are declining globally, but the underlying drivers and species-specific responses remain unclear. This study uses ten years of data from 140 German forest sites to show widespread declines across trophic groups. Declines were more pronounced in sites with many non-native trees or high timber harvest. Species-level declines depended on life-history traits, with larger, more abundant, and higher trophic level species declining most, while herbivores increased. Targeted management, including promoting native tree species and reduced harvesting, could mitigate these declines.

Publisher

COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY

Published On

Apr 01, 2023

Authors

Michael Staab, Martin M. Gossner, Nadja K. Simons, Rafael Achury, Didem Ambarlı, Soyeon Bae, Peter Schall, Wolfgang W. Weisser, Nico Blüthgen

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