Insect biomass development in Switzerland

This project addresses the ecologically important question about insect abundance trends in Switzerland. A recent, well recognized study in Germany revealed a 75% decline in insect biomass over a period of 27 years. As a result, members of the Federal Parliament submitted interpellations asking for actions against the loss of insects. WSL, Agroscope and the Ornithological Institute maintain insect and bird data bases spanning more than three decades. Insect data will first be harmonized in order to make them comparable across time and habitats. Then, we will investigate this valuable source by analyzing retrospective trends of insect and bird abundance in Switzerland.