Overview

• The Nature study synthesizes data from over 80 pristine tropical forest sites to isolate climate-driven effects from habitat loss, pollution and pesticides.
• Scientists report significant biodiversity losses in butterflies, beetles and spiders coinciding with stronger and more frequent El Niño phases.
• Measured declines in arthropod populations correspond to reduced live leaf consumption and unstable rates of dead leaf decomposition.
• By ruling out other human impacts, the analysis implicates long-term changes to the El Niño Southern Oscillation cycle as the primary cause of these declines.
• The international team plans ongoing field studies and expanded monitoring networks in regions including Hong Kong, Mainland China, Australia and Malaysia.