Biology Publications
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-1-2016
Journal
Curr Opin Insect Sci
Volume
17
First Page
55
Last Page
61
URL with Digital Object Identifier
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cois.2016.07.001
Abstract
The responses of insects to climate change will depend on their responses to abiotic and biotic stressors in combination. We surveyed the literature, and although synergistic stressor interactions appear common among insects, the thin taxonomic spread of existing data means that more multi-stressor studies and new approaches are needed. We need to move beyond descriptions of the effects of multiple stressors to a mechanistic, predictive understanding. Further, we must identify which stressor interactions, and species' responses to them, are sufficiently generalizable (i.e. most or all species respond similarly to the same stressor combination), and thus predictable (for new combinations of stressors, or stressors acting via known mechanisms). We discuss experimental approaches that could facilitate this shift toward predictive understanding.
