Insects play critical role in ecosystems beyond just providing food, new research shows
A new study published in Nature Reviews Biodiversity highlights that insects provide essential ecosystem services beyond food, including sanitation, shelter, and medical-like applications for vertebrates. The research underscores the importance of insects in maintaining the health of various animal species.
Why it matters
Understanding these complex ecological relationships is vital for effective conservation efforts and biodiversity protection.
Chimpanzees have been observed applying insects to treat their open wounds. Chimpanzees have been observed applying insects to treat their open wounds. Insects Insects play critical role in ecosystems beyond just providing food, new research shows Insects provide protection, sanitation and even shelter to vertebrates, making them a priority for conservation efforts
Prefer the Guardian on Google For many vertebrates, insects are more than a food source. As “little things that run the world”, insects provide critical functions such as protection, sanitation and shelter across ecosystems, according to a new study.
The study, published in Nature Reviews Biodiversity on Wednesday, sheds light on the various ways insects support vertebrates, ranging from birds and bats to reptiles , amphibians and mammals .
Nearly three-quarters of terrestrial and freshwater vertebrates eat invertebrates, according to the paper, with insects frequently making up a large portion of their diets.
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