June 20th, 2024

A 30-meter pass in the Pyrenees through which insects migrate

Scientists from the University of Exeter discovered a significant insect migration phenomenon in the Pyrenees mountains, with over 17 million arthropods crossing annually. The migration is crucial for ecosystem functions like pollination and nutrient transfer, emphasizing the importance of conserving these migratory pathways.

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A 30-meter pass in the Pyrenees through which insects migrate

Scientists from the University of Exeter have discovered a significant insect migration phenomenon through a 30-meter pass in the Pyrenees mountains, with over 17 million arthropods crossing annually. The migration includes a diverse range of species, from dragonflies to flies. The study, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, highlights the importance of this pass as a key route for flying insects navigating the high Pyrenees. Researchers observed up to 3,000 flies per meter and minute during peak migration times. The migration is crucial for ecosystem functions like pollination and nutrient transfer. The findings shed light on the intricate movements of insects across mountain ranges, emphasizing the significance of understanding and conserving these migratory pathways. The study's innovative approach and detailed observations provide valuable insights into the dynamics of insect migration, showcasing the critical role these tiny creatures play in maintaining biodiversity and ecological balance.

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By @throwup238 - 5 months
> Works that document joint migrations with very different species are rare. “This is because the small insects that migrate are usually invisible in an extensive landscape, requiring specialized equipment such as entomological radars or nets supported by balloons for their detection,” explains Hawkes.

Hold up, there is a radar that detects bugs? Where can I get me one of those and why doesn’t every IDE come with one?

By @rob74 - 5 months
Seeing that for passes the measurement generally given is their height, not their width, the title is a bit confusing (at least for me): the pass is at a height of 2,273 m, and it's 30 m wide.
By @wwilim - 5 months
So the pass must be running at 1500 FPS (flies per second)
By @nraynaud - 5 months
I was expecting it to be Roland’s Breach

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Roland%27s_Brea...

By @tristramb - 5 months
Online presentation from last year by Will Hawkes the lead author: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_alwE7b1do
By @ggm - 5 months
I'll say the same thing here I said the other time this was posted inside the last 2 weeks: This is a very narrow ecological "corridor" which an accidental release of a nicotinoid pesticide could wreak havoc on.

You would think under global warming there were more opportunistic passing places now.

By @madaxe_again - 5 months
It worries me seeing this publicised - all it takes is one unhappy farmer to hear a ninth hand version of this down the pub, and to decide that this is why his crop is failing, that it’s Spanish/French immigrant insects, and that he needs to go up there and spray them all, for the wellbeing of his country and nature.

I mean, see sycamore gap. See all of it, all the time.