Global insect herbivory and its response to climate change

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Environmental Science
• Global Change Biology

Background:

• Herbivorous insects are key drivers of energy flow and plant community dynamics in terrestrial ecosystems.
• Global patterns of insect herbivory and their environmental drivers are not well understood, hindering accurate ecological predictions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify global patterns of insect herbivory and identify key environmental determinants.
• To project future changes in insect herbivory under climate change scenarios.

Main Methods:

• Compiled and analyzed a global dataset of 9,682 insect herbivory records from natural communities.
• Utilized global mapping and statistical analysis to identify spatial patterns and environmental predictors.
• Employed future climate change scenarios to forecast shifts in herbivory patterns.

Main Results:

• Insect herbivory showed significant spatial variation globally, with distinct latitudinal patterns for herbaceous (no significant trend) and woody plants (increasing with latitude).
• Soil cation-exchange capacity was a primary predictor for herbaceous plants, while climate was dominant for woody plants.
• Projected intensification of herbivore pressure on herbaceous plants globally and in specific biomes for woody plants under future climate change.

Conclusions:

• Environmental conditions, including soil properties and climate, significantly shape global insect herbivory patterns.
• Future climate change is predicted to alter herbivore pressure, potentially increasing vulnerability of plant communities and ecosystem functions.
• This study provides crucial quantitative insights for predicting ecological responses in the Anthropocene.