Global study reveals important role of herbivorous insects in forest ecosystems

“In collaboration with a large number of local partners, we have established a global network of 74 test plots in different forest ecosystems. Our results show that insect herbivores have a significant impact on carbon and nutrient cycling,” says Dr. Bernice Huang, lead researcher and co-author of the study.

The study focused on 40 mature, intact deciduous forests in tropical, temperate and boreal regions. By analyzing data on nutrients, productivity and herbivory from different forest regions, the researchers were able to show that in some places insect herbivores can outpace the natural supply of nutrients, such as atmospheric precipitation.

In general, changes in temperature and herbivorous insects can have a profound impact on nutrient-limited forests.

“We also found that the concentrations of carbon and nutrients deposited by herbivorous insects increased significantly as the average annual global temperature increased,” says Dr. Huang.

The project, funded by the European Research Council, was led by Professor Daniel Metcalfe from Umeå University.

– He says understanding the complex interaction between plants, herbivores and climate is crucial to managing and conserving forest ecosystems in the face of ongoing environmental change.

The study shows that more research is needed into how insect herbivores affect different forest types and their global nutrient cycles. The findings lay the foundation for future studies aimed at improving our understanding of the relationship between insects and forest ecosystems.