Increasing neonicotinoid use and the declining butterfly fauna of lowland California
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Abstract
The butterfly fauna of lowland Northern California has exhibited a marked decline in recent years that previous studies have attributed in part to altered climatic conditions and changes in land use. Here, we ask if a shift in insecticide use towards neonicotinoids is associated with butterfly declines at four sites in the region that have been monitored for four decades. A negative association between butterfly populations and increasing neonicotinoid application is detectable while controlling for land use and other factors, and appears to be more severe for smaller-bodied species. These results suggest that neonicotinoids could influence non-target insect populations occurring in proximity to application locations, and highlights the need for mechanistic work to complement long-term observational data.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Increasing neonicotinoid use and the declining butterfly fauna of lowland California |
| Series title | Biology Letters |
| DOI | 10.1098/rsbl.2016.0475 |
| Volume | 12 |
| Year Published | 2016 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Royal Society |
| Contributing office(s) | California Water Science Center |
| Description | 20160475: 5 p. |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Sacramento County, Solano County, Yolo County |
| Online Only (Y/N) | N |
| Additional Online Files (Y/N) | N |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |