Expert: Weather extremes influence the rise and fall of insect populations

Insect populations are widely influenced by weather anomalies, with decreasing numbers observed during unfavorable conditions and a spike in normal periods, according to a new study. The study published in Nature tries to resolve a debated topic: Are insect populations declining? Several studies have reported a decline in insect populations and diversity while others have questioned this. (Nature)

Here is an expert from McGill University who can provide comment on this issue:

Andrew Gonzalez, Full Professor, Department of Biology

“We need a global biodiversity observing system to unite monitoring of biodiversity and to guide conservation action – without investment in monitoring we countries won’t have the means to assess their progress to the targets of the Global Biodiversity Framework of the United Nations (UN)’ Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).”

Andrew Gonzalez is a Full Professor and the Liber Ero Chair in Biodiversity Conservation in the Department of Biology. He has published more than 160 articles on the causes and consequences of biodiversity change and ecosystem sustainability. He is also the founding Director of the Quebec Centre for Biodiversity Science and co-Chair of the Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON)*.

andrew.gonzalez [at] mcgill.ca (English, French)

*Almost one year after UN CBD’s COP15, 500 of the world’s leading experts and stakeholders in the field of biodiversity monitoring will convene in Montreal from October 10-13 to attend the Global Conference "Monitoring Biodiversity for Action" hosted by GEO BON and co-hosted with the UN CBD. The conference will provide a forum to discuss and showcase the science, technology, and collaboration we need to monitor biodiversity worldwide.