Scientists at Monash University have proposed a new global strategy to address a major weakness in biodiversity conservation. Insects are essential to ecosystems, agriculture, and food production, yet conservation efforts across tropical regions often fail to account for them.
The international research was led by Dr. Shawan Chowdhury, head of the Global Change Ecology Lab at Monash University's School of Biological Sciences. Published in BioScience, the study brought together experts in tropical ecology from around the world to identify the main barriers to protecting insects and outline practical ways to overcome them.
Most of Earth's Insects Live in the Tropics
Insects are the most diverse group of animals on the planet. Scientists estimate there may be between 14 and 30 million insect species, and most have not yet been formally documented.
Their ecological importance is enormous. Insects pollinate more than 80 percent of wild plant species, serve as food for 60 percent of bird species, and support food webs, nutrient cycling, and global food production.
