昆虫多样性:一个被忽略的全球性重要问题(英文)

Insect Diversity: Addressing an Important but Strongly Neglected Research Topic in China

昆虫不仅是世界上最多的物种,同时也对生态系统功能和全球经济有着十分重要的作用。因此,昆虫多样性的保护对全球来说都有着十分重要的意义。然而,昆虫多样性常被"生物多样性"研究者们所忽略, 昆虫多样性与植物、气候变化的关系更是不明确。本文对将来昆虫多样性的研究方向提出了几点建议,基于中国北部两大典型的森林生态系统——东北长白山地区和华北东灵山地区。这两大地区的植被和气候已经有长期并且完整的调查,而对于其中昆虫多样性的了解却不多。因此在这两个地区开展研究认识昆虫多样性格局和进一步分析昆虫和植物的关系具有重要的科学和应用价值。

Insects are not only the most species-rich group on Earth, they also play numerous crucial roles in ecosystem functioning and the global economy. The conservation of insect diversity is therefore a topic of global importance. However, insects are mostly ignored by ＂biodiversity＂ research; for example, relationships between insect diversity and vegetation or climate change remain widely unknown. This paper makes suggestions for further research into insect diversity patterns based on two typical forest types in northern China： Changbai Mountain, northeast China and Dongling Mountain, central northern China. Plants and climate have been well studied in these areas but substantial knowledge gaps prevail in relation to insect diversity patterns. It is therefore important to investigate insect biodiversity patterns in these regions.