Plummeting insect numbers threaten collapse of nature

[burkhard]

(03-07-2019 08:15 AM)rncgray Wrote:  I have been following this thread with an increasing sense of unease as we seemingly demean ourselves by being flippant about a serious topic. The decline of the insects, who E. O. Wilson describes as "the tiny things who run the world", is well documented (1-3) and will have very serious consequences for all life on Earth.

Richard Gray

(1) doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1722477115

(2) doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0185809

(3) Multiple anecdotal accounts (my own included) of a large decrease in nocturnal insect activity in the last 50 years.

I wasn't going to join this because in my view anecdotal evidence is rubbish. It's already out there, though, so I'll impartially offer mine as balance. I've got a bajillion bugs, butterflies, birds, and bats at my house in Western NY. Lots of other critters that are insectivores those those that eat them as well: snakes, skunks, raccoons, coyotes, &c. I've been here over 20 years and the wildlife level keeps getting more abundant and diverse.

I agree it's worth studying, but anecdotal observations (including my own) are useless.

Also, like Joe Horn, anything I see Paul Ehrlich involved in instantly loses a lot of credibility for me. He's more than a bit of a crank. There might be legitimate good information here, but once Ehrlich is on board, things get more than a bit dubious for me. That's not a rare reaction—I'm a bit surprised legitimate researchers would be involved if he is on board; shows poor judgment on their part.