Amazonian insect populations struggling under intense weather conditions, facing mass collapse

The health of the Amazon rainforest, often referred to as the "lungs of the Earth," is under threat, and it's not just from deforestation. A new study published in the journal Biotropica suggests that human activities and climate extremes, such as El Niño events, are having a significant impact on tropical forest biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.

The research, led by scientists from Brazil, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, focused on dung beetles, an important 'indicator species' used to gauge the health of a larger ecosystem. These insects play a crucial role in the Amazon rainforest, burying animal faeces in burrows, which increases the organic content of the soil, aerates it, and improves its water holding capacities and nutritive value.

The study, conducted over seven years from 2010 to 2017, scouted for dung beetles in 30 forested areas spread across Para. The team, led by Cayetano Espinosa-Miranda from Chile, counted over 14,000 dung beetles and monitored their effectiveness in maneuvering dung and the amount of seed they were dispersing.

The findings were alarming. The number of dung beetles in the Brazilian state of Para fell by half after the 2015-2016 El Niño event. By 2017, the number had dropped even further to a mere 2,600. In contrast, the researchers observed that the population of these insects was smaller in areas impacted by wildfires as compared to those that experienced only drought.

This decline in dung beetle populations echoes similar research conducted on the global insect population collapse. Early intervention by concerned authorities will play a crucial role in protecting these important ecosystem players from extinction.

Dr. Felipe Franca, an ecologist at Lancaster University and Embrapa Amazonia Oriental in Brazil, explains that the study provides insights into how human activities and climate extremes can affect tropical forest biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. As the planet continues to warm due to human activities, it's essential that we understand and address the impacts on our planet's ecosystems.