4 ms·

I'm pretty sure this is more related to a rather radical shift to a more industrialised agriculture the recent 40 years. Grazing land and more importantly mead

by kpil 8y ago

I'm pretty sure this is more related to a rather radical shift to a more industrialised agriculture the recent 40 years. Grazing land and more importantly meadows are simply gone. According to Wikipedia, England and Wales have lost about 97% of their hay meadows. Meadows are artificial, but they increase the biodiversity significantly. Neonicotinoids are probably also to blame. Climate change must be negligible in comparison, but it seems that everything can be blamed on climate change. War in Syria for instance.

dTal 8y ago
The article specifically addresses and refutes this: >Huge numbers of bugs have been lost in a pristine national forest in Puerto Rico... [it] remains the only tropical rain forest in the National Forest system >Lister pointed out that, since 1969, pesticide use has fallen more than 80 percent in Puerto Rico The article also provides several - reputable, scientific - references that demonstrate a predicted loss of insects in tropical regions from thermal pressure.
- linuxftw 8y ago
  >>Lister pointed out that, since 1969, pesticide use has fallen more than 80 percent in Puerto Rico The article does make this claim, but it doesn't appear to back it up in any way. Additionally, nothing is said about the type of pesticide. If I use a pesticide that is 10x stronger by weight than what was available in 1969 and possibly doesn't need to be applied as often, then we're not comparing apples to apples. Additionally, it's not mentioned what is meant by 'pesticide' Is that just insecticide or herbicide? Perhaps the application of herbicide (roundup) has increased, killing off native food-stuffs and poisoning the insects that eat them.
  - AstralStorm 8y ago
    You should read the linked studies before posting, they answer all these questions.
    - linuxftw 8y ago
      You should read it. They don't actually answer any of the questions I raised.
- randcraw 8y ago
  And the insect and bird die off extends comparably to Europe and South America, which likely use a different mix of fertilizers and pesticides than in the US.

by kpil 8y ago

dTal 8y ago

The article specifically addresses and refutes this: >Huge numbers of bugs have been lost in a pristine national forest in Puerto Rico... [it] remains the only tropical rain forest in the National Forest system >Lister pointed out that, since 1969, pesticide use has fallen more than 80 percent in Puerto Rico The article also provides several - reputable, scientific - references that demonstrate a predicted loss of insects in tropical regions from thermal pressure.

linuxftw 8y ago
>>Lister pointed out that, since 1969, pesticide use has fallen more than 80 percent in Puerto Rico The article does make this claim, but it doesn't appear to back it up in any way. Additionally, nothing is said about the type of pesticide. If I use a pesticide that is 10x stronger by weight than what was available in 1969 and possibly doesn't need to be applied as often, then we're not comparing apples to apples. Additionally, it's not mentioned what is meant by 'pesticide' Is that just insecticide or herbicide? Perhaps the application of herbicide (roundup) has increased, killing off native food-stuffs and poisoning the insects that eat them.
- AstralStorm 8y ago
  You should read the linked studies before posting, they answer all these questions.
  - linuxftw 8y ago
    You should read it. They don't actually answer any of the questions I raised.
randcraw 8y ago
And the insect and bird die off extends comparably to Europe and South America, which likely use a different mix of fertilizers and pesticides than in the US.