Patterns of high-flying insect abundance are shaped by landscape type and abiotic conditions
Abstract Insects are of increasing conservation concern as a severe decline of both biomass and biodiversity have been reported. At the same time, data on where and when they occur in the airspace is still sparse, and we currently do not know whether their density is linked to the type of landscape...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2023-09-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-42212-z |
| _version_ | 1797452827072659456 |
|---|---|
| author | Eva Knop Majken Leonie Grimm Fränzi Korner-Nievergelt Baptiste Schmid Felix Liechti |
| author_facet | Eva Knop Majken Leonie Grimm Fränzi Korner-Nievergelt Baptiste Schmid Felix Liechti |
| author_sort | Eva Knop |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Insects are of increasing conservation concern as a severe decline of both biomass and biodiversity have been reported. At the same time, data on where and when they occur in the airspace is still sparse, and we currently do not know whether their density is linked to the type of landscape above which they occur. Here, we combined data of high-flying insect abundance from six locations across Switzerland representing rural, urban and mountainous landscapes, which was recorded using vertical-looking radar devices. We analysed the abundance of high-flying insects in relation to meteorological factors, daytime, and type of landscape. Air pressure was positively related to insect abundance, wind speed showed an optimum, and temperature and wind direction did not show a clear relationship. Mountainous landscapes showed a higher insect abundance than the other two landscape types. Insect abundance increased in the morning, decreased in the afternoon, had a peak after sunset, and then declined again, though the extent of this general pattern slightly differed between landscape types. We conclude that the abundance of high-flying insects is not only related to abiotic parameters, but also to the type of landscapes and its characteristics, which, on a long-term, should be taken into account for when designing conservation measures for insects. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:13:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0dfbab27094e4ff5958eee1bc4469d81 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:13:20Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-0dfbab27094e4ff5958eee1bc4469d812023-11-26T13:11:34ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-09-011311810.1038/s41598-023-42212-zPatterns of high-flying insect abundance are shaped by landscape type and abiotic conditionsEva Knop0Majken Leonie Grimm1Fränzi Korner-Nievergelt2Baptiste Schmid3Felix Liechti4Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of ZurichDepartment of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of ZurichSwiss Ornithological InstituteSwiss Ornithological InstituteSwiss Ornithological InstituteAbstract Insects are of increasing conservation concern as a severe decline of both biomass and biodiversity have been reported. At the same time, data on where and when they occur in the airspace is still sparse, and we currently do not know whether their density is linked to the type of landscape above which they occur. Here, we combined data of high-flying insect abundance from six locations across Switzerland representing rural, urban and mountainous landscapes, which was recorded using vertical-looking radar devices. We analysed the abundance of high-flying insects in relation to meteorological factors, daytime, and type of landscape. Air pressure was positively related to insect abundance, wind speed showed an optimum, and temperature and wind direction did not show a clear relationship. Mountainous landscapes showed a higher insect abundance than the other two landscape types. Insect abundance increased in the morning, decreased in the afternoon, had a peak after sunset, and then declined again, though the extent of this general pattern slightly differed between landscape types. We conclude that the abundance of high-flying insects is not only related to abiotic parameters, but also to the type of landscapes and its characteristics, which, on a long-term, should be taken into account for when designing conservation measures for insects.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-42212-z |
| spellingShingle | Eva Knop Majken Leonie Grimm Fränzi Korner-Nievergelt Baptiste Schmid Felix Liechti Patterns of high-flying insect abundance are shaped by landscape type and abiotic conditions Scientific Reports |
| title | Patterns of high-flying insect abundance are shaped by landscape type and abiotic conditions |
| title_full | Patterns of high-flying insect abundance are shaped by landscape type and abiotic conditions |
| title_fullStr | Patterns of high-flying insect abundance are shaped by landscape type and abiotic conditions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Patterns of high-flying insect abundance are shaped by landscape type and abiotic conditions |
| title_short | Patterns of high-flying insect abundance are shaped by landscape type and abiotic conditions |
| title_sort | patterns of high flying insect abundance are shaped by landscape type and abiotic conditions |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-42212-z |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT evaknop patternsofhighflyinginsectabundanceareshapedbylandscapetypeandabioticconditions AT majkenleoniegrimm patternsofhighflyinginsectabundanceareshapedbylandscapetypeandabioticconditions AT franzikornernievergelt patternsofhighflyinginsectabundanceareshapedbylandscapetypeandabioticconditions AT baptisteschmid patternsofhighflyinginsectabundanceareshapedbylandscapetypeandabioticconditions AT felixliechti patternsofhighflyinginsectabundanceareshapedbylandscapetypeandabioticconditions |