A team of scientists from South Africa and the UK has developed a new framework to rapidly assess changes in global insect biodiversity. This comes as insect populations face unprecedented declines worldwide, raising urgent questions about causes, urgency of action, and the future of ecosystems.
The researchers highlight alarming yet poorly understood trends affecting insect biodiversity globally. In their review article published in Science, they emphasize the need for swift action to address this issue. “We cannot wait decades for comprehensive monitoring data,” says Prof. Cang Hui from Stellenbosch University’s Department of Mathematical Sciences.
The initiative, part of the Global Insect Threat-Response Synthesis (GLiTRS) project, aims to develop a global threat-response model that integrates multiple lines of existing evidence. The team synthesizes four lines of evidence – time series data, spatial comparisons, experimental observations, and expert opinion – to tackle the assessment challenge.
Mathematical ecology plays a crucial role in discerning trends from time series and spatial data. Prof. Hui notes that insect time series exhibit intermittent fluctuations, but are also temporally autocorrelated and spatially synchronized. By determining the correct spatial and temporal scales, researchers may be able to extrapolate trends to unsampled areas and future periods.
Insects play a vital role in ecosystems, pollinating around 80% of flowering plant species and contributing to 35% of global food production. However, they are undervalued and understudied. The team’s work aims to address this knowledge gap and inform urgent action to restore biodiversity by 2050.
Source: https://iol.co.za/news/environment/2025-04-08-new-framework-aims-to-assess-global-insect-biodiversity-changes