Diversity of Insects in Nature protected Areas (DINA): an interdisciplinary German research project

Research output: Contribution to journalComment/debateContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Gerlind U.C. Lehmann - , Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU), Humboldt University of Berlin (Author)
  • Nikita Bakanov - , University of Kaiserslautern-Landau (Author)
  • Martin Behnisch - , Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (Author)
  • Sarah J. Bourlat - , Research Museum Alexander Koenig - Leibniz Institute for Animal Biodiversity (Author)
  • Carsten A. Brühl - , University of Kaiserslautern-Landau (Author)
  • Lisa Eichler - , Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (Author)
  • Thomas Fickel - , Institute for Social-Ecological Research (ISOE), Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (Author)
  • Matthias F. Geiger - , Research Museum Alexander Koenig - Leibniz Institute for Animal Biodiversity (Author)
  • Birgit Gemeinholzer - , University of Kassel (Author)
  • Thomas Hörren - , Entomological Society Krefeld (EVK) (Author)
  • Sebastian Köthe - , Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU) (Author)
  • Alexandra Lux - , Institute for Social-Ecological Research (ISOE), Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (Author)
  • Gotthard Meinel - , Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (Author)
  • Roland Mühlethaler - , Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU) (Author)
  • Hanna Poglitsch - , Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (Author)
  • Livia Schäffler - , Research Museum Alexander Koenig - Leibniz Institute for Animal Biodiversity (Author)
  • Ulrich Schlechtriemen - , Integrated Environmental Monitoring (TIEM) (Author)
  • Florian D. Schneider - , Institute for Social-Ecological Research (ISOE), Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (Author)
  • Ralf Schulte - , Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU) (Author)
  • Martin Sorg - , Entomological Society Krefeld (EVK) (Author)
  • Maximilian Sprenger - , Integrated Environmental Monitoring (TIEM) (Author)
  • Stephanie J. Swenson - , Justus Liebig University Giessen (Author)
  • Wiltrud Terlau - , Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences (Author)
  • Angela Turck - , Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences (Author)
  • Vera M.A. Zizka - , Research Museum Alexander Koenig - Leibniz Institute for Animal Biodiversity (Author)

Abstract

Insect declines and biodiversity loss have attracted much attention in recent years, but lack of comprehensive data, conflicting interests among stakeholders and insufficient policy guidance hinder progress in preserving biodiversity. The project DINA (Diversity of Insects in Nature protected Areas) investigates insect communities in 21 nature reserves in Germany. All selected conservation sites border arable land, with agricultural practices assumed to influence insect populations. We taught citizen scientists how to manage Malaise traps for insect collection, and subsequently used a DNA metabarcoding approach for species identification. Vegetation surveys, plant metabarcoding as well as geospatial and ecotoxicological analyses will help to unravel contributing factors for the deterioration of insect communities. As a pioneering research project in this field, DINA includes a transdisciplinary dialogue involving relevant stakeholders such as local authorities, policymakers, and farmers, which aims at a shared understanding of conservation goals and action pathways. Stakeholder engagement combined with scientific results will support the development of sound policy recommendations to improve legal frameworks, landscape planning, land use, and conservation strategies. With this transdisciplinary approach, we aim to provide the background knowledge to implement policy strategies that will halt further decline of insects in German protected areas.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2605-2614
Number of pages10
JournalBiodiversity and Conservation
Volume30
Issue number8-9
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2021
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Insect diversity, Metabarcoding, Pesticides, Societal dialogues, Spatial analysis, Stakeholder analysis