Global warming is changing life on Earth in ways we are just starting to understand. Rising temperatures are affecting ecosystems, human communities, and many animal and plant species. Insects are among the most vulnerable. They are important for keeping the environment healthy.
A recent study published in Nature by researchers from the universities of Würzburg and Bremen shows that global warming could have a severe impact. Tropical areas like the Amazon are especially at risk. The study finds that up to half of all insect species in the Amazon could face deadly heat if temperatures keep rising.
Insects such as moths, flies, and beetles are particularly at risk. Dr. Kim Holzmann, a researcher at the Chair of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology at Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU), explains, “Current evaluations of insect heat tolerance present a complex but alarming picture.” One key finding is that insects’ ability to handle high temperatures does not simply match the climate they live in.
While species living at higher altitudes can sometimes adapt their heat tolerance in the short term, many insects in lowland areas where conditions are already warm have little capacity to cope with additional heat. This makes them highly vulnerable as global temperatures climb. Individual species are not the only ones suffering from this vulnerability. Tropical insects serve crucial roles in their ecosystems. They pollinate plants, break down organic material, and act as predators and prey within food chains. Dr. Marcell Peters, an animal ecologist at the University of Bremen and co-author of the study, warns, “Rising temperatures could have a massive impact on insect populations, particularly in regions with the highest biodiversity in the world.
If these species decline, it could disrupt entire ecosystems.” The research also highlights notable differences in heat tolerance among various insect groups. The structure and stability of proteins within the insects’ bodies appear to link these differences. “Protein stability is a trait that is deeply conserved in the evolutionary history of insects,” Peters says. “This means their basic ability to tolerate heat is built into their biology and cannot change quickly enough to match rapid climate shifts.” In other words, the genetic and physiological traits that determine heat tolerance are not easily adaptable, leaving many species at risk.
The Amazon region is home to an incredible variety of insects. It now faces serious threats from rising temperatures. Dr. Holzmann warns that if global warming continues, up to half of the insect species could face dangerous heat stress. This loss could cause ripple effects across the ecosystem. This could affect plant reproduction, alter nutrient cycles, and make it difficult for animals that depend on insects for sustenance to survive.
Even though this research is important, we still know little about how tropical insects handle heat. Insects are about 70% of all known animal species, but most research looks at temperate areas. We have not studied many tropical insects, and our understanding of their heat tolerance remains limited. To learn more, scientists studied over 2,000 insect species in East Africa and South America. They collected data in 2022 and 2023 from different heights, including cool mountains, hot rainforests, and lowland savannas.
Alongside field experiments, the scientists analyzed the genomes of many species. The study found that protein stability helps some insects survive heat better than others, indicating that this trait may be a key factor in their adaptability to changing climates. The German Research Foundation funded the research. An international team of scientists worked together on it. The study shows how global warming can affect entire ecosystems.
Insects are often overlooked but play a key role in life in tropical regions, such as pollination and nutrient cycling, which are essential for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem stability. If global temperatures continue to rise, many insect species could face serious risks. This danger could threaten the health and balance of entire ecosystems everywhere.
