Chennai, 7 March (H.S.): A comprehensive study published in Science reveals a disturbing decline of butterflies across the continental United States. The research, led by scientists from Michigan State University, analyzed data from over 76,000 surveys and found a 22% decline in butterfly abundance between 2000 and 2020.

The study's findings indicate that 107 species of butterflies have lost more than half their populations, with 13 times as many species declining as increasing. The decline is widespread, with the exception of the Pacific Northwest, where a single species, the California tortoiseshell butterfly, experienced a population boom.

Butterflies are more than just beautiful creatures; they play a crucial role in pollination and are an important food source for other animals, said Elise Zipkin, a Red Cedar Distinguished Professor of quantitative ecology at Michigan State University and co-author of the study. The decline of butterflies is a wake-up call for policymakers to take action to protect these vital species.

The study's authors emphasize that the decline of butterflies is not just an environmental issue, but also has significant implications for human well-being. People depend on plants, microbes, and animals for the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat, said Zipkin. Yet, we are losing species at rates that rival the major mass extinction events on our planet.

The researchers suggest that reducing the widespread use of insecticides and creating policies to conserve and protect biodiversity are crucial steps in reversing the decline of butterflies.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Dr. R. B. Chaudhary