Climate Change and Insect Biodiversity: Shifting Patterns in Agricultural Ecosystems
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63075/j8c7sg38Keywords:
Climate change, insect biodiversity, agriculture, phenology, species richness, pollinators, pests, resilience.Abstract
Background: Human-induced climate change is recognized as an important driver of biodiversity loss, notably in agricultural ecosystems with its rich insect fauna vital for pollination, pest control and nutrient recycling. Increasing temperatures, shifts in precipitation patterns and more frequent extreme events are driving shifts in insect abundance, distribution and functional dynamics with direct implications for food security.
Aim: The present study was an effort to investigate how the patterns of insect biodiversity change under climate change scenarios in agricultural ecosystems: abundance, species richness, phenological and distribution alterations across distinctive agro-ecological zones.
Method: A combination of field sampling, standardized insect trapping and a meta-analysis of biodiversity datasets spanning 1995–2025 were used. Analytical approaches involved contrasts of insect abundance, richness and timing in temperate, semi-arid and tropical systems and modelling the responses of diversity to landscape structure and climate.
Results: The results showed a strong decrease in insect abundance, the steepest for tropical regions (−39%). While species richness decreased highly significantly among pollinators, predators and parasitoids, herbivores showed modest positive trends. Phenological analysis predicted earlier phenology by 9–19 days and increased voltinism in some pests, which can increase the risks of crop-pest asynchronies. Range shifts involved both poleward and upslope range expansions, with invasive species becoming established in new areas. Biodiversity resilience was the highest in diversified landscapes like agroforestry and organic farming.
Conclusion: Insect biodiversity in agroecosystems is undergoing extensive reorganization due to climate change, escalating risks to crop productivity and ecosystem services. Diversified agricultural landscapes must be promoted in order to increase resilience and risk reduction.
