Award details

Biodiversity, spatial and temporal population dynamics and long-term fluctuations in insect populations

Reference	BBS/E/C/00041001
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Mr Ian Woiwod
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Rothamsted Research
Department	Rothamsted Research Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	289,774
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/1997
End date	31/03/1999
Duration	24 months

Abstract

To study the fundamental spatial and temporal variability of insect populations, their regulation and biodiversity relationships. To search for significant long- term patterns and trends in abundance and species diversity, initially within the 600 species of macrolepidoptera (moths) sampled by light traps and 350 species of aphids by suction traps of the Rothamsted Insect Survey (RIS) since 1960. To relate trends to known environmental changes such as global warming, agricultural practice, land use and pollution. To develop techniques of analysis to improve our basic understanding of spatial and temporal variation and biodiversity in insect populations and thereby enhance the utilisation of the Survey databases for long term monitoring of insect populations and to aid the detection of significant trends as they occur. This will enable undesirable losses to be prevented and also enable moth and aphid populations to be used as indicator groups to monitor the general ecological health of the environment. Formerly PU01. Objectives 1996 a) Continue operation of the RIS national and Rothamsted Estate light trap networks and identify all macrolepidoptera on a daily basis. b) Analyse relationships between biodiversity and climate. c) Complete light trap standardisation experiments. d) Develop statistical methodology for the analysis of biodiversity. 1997 a) Continue operation of RIS national and local light trap networks and identify all macrolepidoptera on a daily basis. b) Analyse changes in moth phenology in relation to climate change. c) Seek significant changes in insect population size over the last 20 years in relation to environmental change. d)Continue development and testing of population dynamic theory.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Agri-food (AF)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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