Earth may be completely deprived of insects for the next hundred years
Source:
The Fauna of insects is shrinking so fast that it can completely disappear in the next century, the report says scientists from Sydney and Quislings universities and the Chinese Academy of agricultural Sciences in Beijing. Having studied published in the last thirty years 73 scientific work on the reduction of the number of insects, the researchers analyzed the reasons why. The findings in the journal Biological Conservation disappointing: the total insect population is reduced by 2.5 percent per year. This is a catastrophic pace.
The report States that the number of 40% of species have declined, with a third of them are threatened with extinction. In mammals, birds and reptiles, the rate of extinction below eight times, scientists are sounding the alarm.
"If you do not stop the disappearance of insects, it will have disastrous consequences for the survival of humanity," says one of the authors of the report Francisco Sanchez-Bayo of the University of Sydney.
"Two and a half percent annual losses over the past 25-30 years are shocking. It is very fast. In 10 years we will have a quarter less insects in 50 years will be only half, and after 100 years, they will not really."
The Main cause of this phenomenon scientists call a habitat loss that is due to the intensive agricultural activity of man. In addition, researchers have identified other reasons for the extinction of insects: pollution by synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, biological factors (exposure to pathogens, destruction or substitution of alien species), and climate change. The last factor particularly affects tropical areas, but overall, plays the most important role, the report notes.
theChain reaction
The disappearance of the insects start a chain reaction. Malnutrition will kill many species of birds, reptiles and amphibians. Moreover, the shortage of food can lead to the fact that some species of birds (more specifically, 60 percent of birds eat only insects), will begin to hunt for other bird species. The study notes that this was already in Australia. The lack of insects has led to the fact that the birds started to attack each other. The insects will also lead to the disappearance of many species of plants. Scientists estimate that about 80 percent of wild plants are pollinated by insects.
Affected agriculture itself. Insects not only pollinate plants, but also prey on other pests. Without their protection, malicious insects can destroy crops and hinder growth of seedlings.
How to fix the situation
The Authors of the report believe that humanity needs to reconsider the ways of growing food. In particular, the authors call for a major reduction in the use of pesticides and move towards more ecological methods of growing food.
"If we don't change our methods of food production, insects as a whole will almost disappear in a few decades. The consequences for the ecosystems of the planet will be horrible," warned the study.
To Discuss the news in our .
Recommended
Can genes create the perfect diet for you?
Diet on genotype can be a way out for many, but it still has a lot of questions Don't know what to do to lose weight? DNA tests promise to help you with this. They will be able to develop the most individual diet, because for this they will use the m...
How many extraterrestrial civilizations can exist nearby?
If aliens exist, why don't we "hear" them? In the 12th episode of Cosmos, which aired on December 14, 1980, co-author and host Carl Sagan introduced viewers to the same equation of astronomer Frank Drake. Using it, he calculated the potential number ...
Why does the most poisonous plant in the world cause severe pain?
The pain caused to humans by the Gimpi-gympie plant can drive him crazy Many people consider Australia a very dangerous place full of poisonous creatures. And this is a perfectly correct idea, because this continent literally wants to kill everyone w...
Related News
Ionalit the size of a coin flies without wings, propellers and moving parts
Flying robots the size of insects are usually designed to mimic biological insects, because the biological insects are considered as masters of efficient small flight. These microapparatus flying with flapping wings (FMAV) are app...
As electromagnetic waves from lightning affect living cells?
At any point in time, in different parts of the world, thundering about 2000 thunderstorms. from the constant lightning strikes resonates in the zone between the earth's surface and the ionosphere, which is why there is such a thi...
Scientists weaned mosquitoes drink blood and spread disease
Some mosquito species are actively spreading a huge number of deadly diseases, which includes yellow fever and zika virus. They are transferred between organisms while drinking the blood, so the scientists decided to come up with ...
Experiment: find out whether the fish themselves in the mirror?
This is very strange to realize, but the ability to recognize her own face in the mirror — this is a very rare skill in the animal world. People are able to learn yourself approximately 15 months of age — it is also capable of som...
Scientists have identified "neurological patterns" of consciousness
a New study using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) shows that the picture of the brain of a person in a vegetative state or minimal consciousness state different from the pattern of activity of the human brain, in cons...
The last four years have been the hottest in modern history
that global warming can cause , has long been known. Unfortunately, many people do not realize the seriousness of the problem, as climate changes occur so slowly that without a comparison of the temperature indicators of various y...
The laser was able to juggle drops
Suspended by means of a laser beam micrometer glycerin drops begin to move in orbits, which in form resemble the trajectory of the balls of the juggler. By this unexpected discovery physics came from Germany and Sweden, which are ...
Mice were able to restore amputated fingers by using two protein
Perhaps in the future people will be able to restore lost limbs — in any case, suggesting medical experiments. Scientists already know that under certain conditions, the body can grow bone, but they still failed to fix the signs o...
By the end of the 21st century most of the oceans will change color
climate Change causes significant changes in the state of phytoplankton in the World ocean, and a new study has shown that in coming decades these changes will greatly affect the color of the ocean, enhancing its blue and green re...
In Africa, found traces of ancient glaciers
Can you believe that once upon a time, in the lands of Africa were passing huge glaciers? If you consider that throughout the long history of the continents changed their location, this may be. Geologists already have strong evide...
Proven: bacteria sacrifice themselves to protect the colony from antibiotics
Despite its tiny size, bacteria are incredibly tricky. To protect themselves and their colony from the effects of antibiotics, can they evade danger by being in hibernation, or to develop a genetic resistance to the drugs. Researc...
Proved that the female brain remains young longer than men
that between male and female brains, there are structural differences, scientists have known for a long time. So, in 2017, researchers from the Amen Clinics have studied 20 000 photos of the brain and found that the female brain i...
Three projects of geoengineering that can fix or break the Earth
From the growing forest area of the continent to call for rain, scientists began to propose, test and even implement large-scale geo-engineering projects to radically transform the planet. These projects are designed to solve prob...
Found a part of the brain that makes people laugh and feel euphoric
a Surgical operation on the brain is an extremely complex process, during which patients sometimes it's important to keep in mind. It is necessary that the surgeon at any time to speak with the person and make sure that its lingui...
Our galaxy was not the flat disc, as previously thought
the results of the study by an international team of astronomers, Astronomy journal Nature, suggests that our home galaxy the milky Way is not like a flat "pancake", as was previously assumed. Closer to the edges of the galaxy bec...
The Alps and the beaches: elegant interior design will help people in deep space
When it comes to the creation of an internal part of the spacecraft, engineers often prefer functionality, not aesthetics, focusing on materials and equipment that are safe and effective to accomplish the intended purpose of the v...
Experiment: how loneliness affects the body and the mind of man?
what do you think will survive if you stay in an isolated room with no light for a whole month? Professional poker player rich Alati put $ 100 000 on that all it to him — he readily agreed to stay 30 days in a dark room where ther...
Sun probe "Parker" was released on the second orbit around the Sun
Sunny Explorer "Parker", created by NASA, became the champion at the very beginning of his mission, when he took the title of fastest spacecraft in history, subtracting it from the hugely successful probe "New horizons". And a few...
Scientists have learned how to determine the sex of cremated people
Preserved until the present time the bones of ancient people can tell a lot about their life and customs. Archaeologists can easily identify their gender by measuring the size of the bones in men and women, they are very different...
The Curiosity Rover made an important discovery with a simple tool
the Camera "Curiosity" arrived on Mars in 2012, and during this time revealed many facts about the red planet. Basically he used a complex device like a drill and an onboard laboratory, but for a recent calculation of the density ...
Comments (0)
This article has no comment, be the first!