Invertebrates continue to decline in intensively farmed landscapes - UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Terrestrial insects and other invertebrates have continued to decline in Great Britain over the past 30 years, particularly in intensively farmed areas, a new study has found. This is despite the introduction of some agri-environment schemes to try to protect biodiversity, which provides important services for humans, ranging for pollination to pest control.
The study by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) found that bees and spiders are the worst-affected invertebrates, possibly because they rely more heavily on semi-natural habitats for food and shelter.
The researchers analysed citizen science data from 1990-2019 for 1,535 species of bees, hoverflies, ground beetles, ladybirds, true-bugs and spiders. They divided mainland Britain’s rural landscape into 1km square grids, each classified as high-, low- or no- cropland cover. They then looked at how the proportion of these grid squares occupied by each species changed over time.
The study found there were continuing general reductions in the distribution of invertebrates in Britain throughout this timeframe but declines were greater in regions with a high proportion of arable or horticultural crop cover.
The way we farm our land has transformed since the Second World War. Intensive agricultural practices, such as mechanisation, chemical use and farming land that was previously wildflowers or hedgerows, have successfully increased food production to feed a growing population at relatively affordable prices. But this has come at a high cost to biodiversity, say authors of the new study, which has been published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
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Posted On: 07/06/2023