Land Use Impacts on Diversity and Abundance of Insect Species

Abstract

Land use is a major constraint to the population of insect species. Insects have provided essential and irreplaceable services ranging from pollination to decomposition of large organic matters. However, these roles provided have been jettisoned as a result of human anthropogenic activities. In recent times, the conversion of existing natural forest ecosystem to other land use types has become a menace that requires urgent attention due to its effects on the population of plant and animal species. Many factors such as land-use changes, deforestation, pollution, intensive agriculture, among others have been reported to contribute to the decline in the population of insect species. As a result of changes, insects are threatened and vulnerable to extinction. Loss of key stone species also affects the function, structure and population of other species in the ecosystem. This is because of the level of inter-dependency between these insect species and other components of natural forest ecosystem. Such losses lead to the decline in ecosystem goods and services which human depends on for sustenance. Apart from decline in all levels of biodiversity, land use also causes climate change and environmental pollution which in turns affects the population of insect species. However, protection of area of high biodiversity hotspots should be encouraged by resources managers. Also natural forest that has been disturbed should be left alone in order to recuperate and get back to its original state.