The science of astronomy for many centuries was influenced by a Ptolemaic formulation that placed the earth at the center of the universe, with other celestial bodies revolving around that planet. This conception subsequently was replaced by a Copernican model that viewed the sun as being at the center of the universe, with other bodies such as the earth revolving around it. In a parallel sense, it is possible to entertain a view that considers humans as being at the vital center of the animal kingdom, with all other creatures playing a more secondary role. The term anthropogenic has been coined to indicate the dominance of our species. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) defines it as of or relating to (the study of) human origins or human development (in various contexts). It can be used as an adjective as shown by the expression “anthropogenic climate change.” As discussed in the February 2023 issue of the journal Ecological Monographs, climate warming is considered to be among the most serious of anthropogenic stresses to the environment, because it not only has direct effects on biodiversity, but it also exacerbates the harmful effects of other human-mediated threats.
Among the most affected groups of animals are insects, central components of many ecosystems, for which climate change has pervasive effects from individuals to communities. The authors issue a warning that if no action is taken to better understand and reduce the action of climate change on insects, an ability to build a sustainable future based on healthy, functional ecosystems will be reduced drastically. A growing body of empirical literature shows that many populations of insects are declining rapidly across many parts of the biosphere. Observed trends in the demographics of many taxa, including important functional groups like pollinators, nutrient cyclers, and natural enemies, as well as in the abundance of crop, forest, and urban pests, currently is considered serious enough to merit profound concern. Important ecosystem services provided by insects are pollination, pest control, and nutrient recycling. Insects and their products also provide resources for higher trophic level organisms, including humans. In natural (unmanaged) ecosystems, abundances of pathogen and vector species are controlled through various food web interactions and habitat conditions, whereas anthropogenic land use changes, such as deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and agricultural development can modify these interactions with consequences for disease transmission affecting humans. The paper summarizes means of safeguarding insect populations for posterity and urges that initiatives be taken to implement them.