The Roles of Insects and Insect Responses to Global Change

The Roles of Insects and Insect Responses to Global Change

Insects represent a high proportion of animal diversity and face a number of threats to their populations. Welti will discuss a number of reasons that insect populations are changing, including responses to altered biogeochemical cycles, changes in mammalian communities, and effects of rangeland management. Considering the critical ecosystem services provided by insects—including pollination, decomposition of feces and carcasses, nutrient cycling, and acting as a key food source for many predators—declines in insect populations should be given greater conservation priority.