I am not sure it is accurate as the shape of cars change so will the aerodynamics of bug hits. I am not saying they are wrong, it is just I have never really looked at how many bugs hit our number plate on our present or any other car. Odd place to test.
Judging by the insects we saw and got bitten by in the woods today, the population there is alive and well. We also saw a male orange tip butterfly and a hornet as well as the usual bumble bees.
you might be in a less ravaged area, round here by 63% would probably be a good thing
my observational estimate is over 90% numbers and many spp not present
Slim
Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Posts: 6689 Location: New England (In the US of A)
Posted: Thu May 01, 25 1:45 pm Post subject:
I keep seeing the headlines, but similar to MR have an abundance of insect biomass and species diversity directly around me.
I wonder how much is a rural urban divide. Also agree that improved aerodynamics should mean fewer splats. Need data from a model that just doesn't get changed over time, like the old US post office trucks. (Only now starting to be replaced)
You could be right Slim. I do notice fewer on some roads than perhaps 50 years ago, as it wasn't unusual to drive through a mass of them at times, but certainly in the woods and the garden we have more than enough. Don't know about species as I am afraid my bug ID skills are minimal.
How many people really care? Too few to be of influence?
Slim
Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Posts: 6689 Location: New England (In the US of A)
Posted: Fri May 02, 25 9:55 am Post subject:
I bet the 1/3 of species that are increasing in abundance are the more adaptable ones.
I understand the need to raise alarm, but that was written to be very alarming, while only barely mentioning that 97% of the species had pockets where they were increasing in abundance. Honestly, it's a more impressive display of adaptation to a changing world than I might have guessed
It is probably good to make people aware of issues, and that can perhaps only be done by being shocking, but scientifically, not helpful.
Changes in management will affect birds and all flora and fauna a great deal. Woodland birds in the UK are declining because of a decrease in management of a lot of woodland rather than the more intensive management in the form of coppice and ride maintenance that used to be carried out. Farmland birds are decreasing because of changes in farming too, but now a lot of farmers are putting in bug banks, open areas for ground nesting birds, hedges and other features to help birds and other fauna. For years a lot of farmers have put in things like millet and maize on the edge or corners of fields to feed birds over winter. A reduction in the use of slug pellets has also probably helped in gardens, although very tidy or paved over gardens don't help anything.
That's good news Dpack. We went looking when we were in the vicinity, but couldn't see anything. Probably wrong time of year. Also good that some satellite populations have been established so there will hopefully be more if anything happens to the main one.
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