Insects are disappearing at an alarming rate worldwide, but why?
Insects are disappearing at an alarming rate worldwide, but why? Agricultural intensification tops the list of proposed reasons, but there are many other, interconnected drivers that have an impact, according to new research led by Binghamton University, State University of New York.
Research on insect decline has surged in recent years, sparked by an alarming 2017 study that suggested that insect populations had declined by 75% in less than three decades. This has led to countless published papers, with scientists hypothesizing different reasons for the decline.
To better understand the scientific community’s views more broadly, a team of researchers at Binghamton University analyzed more than 175 scientific reviews, which included 500+ hypotheses on different drivers of insect decline. Using this information, they created an interconnected network of 3,000 possible links, including everything from beekeeping to urban sprawl.
Read More: Binghamton University
Insects are disappearing around the world due to agriculture and numerous other interconnected drivers, according to new research led by Binghamton biologists. (Photo Credit: Louise Woodrich)
