Natural Resources Conservation 397C - ST- Insect Conservation

The roles of insects in ecosystems are incredibly diverse, with species serving as herbivores, predators, pollinators, and they are essential for organic material cycling, and often used as indicators of habitat quality. Despite their species richness, recent reports have highlighted potentially catastrophic declines in the abundance and diversity of insects across multiple biogeographic regions. During the semester, we will review a mix of both scientific and media reports that: 1) highlight factors responsible for insect declines, 2) discuss ongoing conservation efforts for a diverse group of insect taxa, and 3) identify gaps in current insect conservation knowledge.