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A roadmap for ladybird conservation and recovery
Author(s) -
Soares António O.,
Haelewaters Danny,
Ameixa Olga M. C. C.,
Borges Isabel,
Brown Peter M. J.,
Cardoso Pedro,
de Groot Michiel D.,
Evans Edward W.,
Grez Audrey A.,
Hochkirch Axel,
Holecová Milada,
Honěk Alois,
Kulfan Ján,
Lillebø Ana I.,
Martinková Zdenka,
Michaud J. P.,
Nedvěd Oldřich,
Roy Helen E.,
Saxena Swati,
Shandilya Apoorva,
Sentis Arnaud,
Skuhrovec Jiri,
Viglášová Sandra,
Zach Peter,
Zaviezo Tania,
Losey John E.
Publication year - 2023
Publication title -
conservation biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.2
H-Index - 222
eISSN - 1523-1739
pISSN - 0888-8892
DOI - 10.1111/cobi.13965
Subject(s) - threatened species , ecology , abundance (ecology) , coccinellidae , species richness , geography , habitat , population , environmental resource management , predation , conservation biology , biology , environmental science , predator , demography , sociology
Abstract Ladybirds (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) provide services that are critical to food production, and they fulfill an ecological role as a food source for predators. The richness, abundance, and distribution of ladybirds, however, are compromised by many anthropogenic threats. Meanwhile, a lack of knowledge of the conservation status of most species and the factors driving their population dynamics hinders the development and implementation of conservation strategies for ladybirds. We conducted a review of the literature on the ecology, diversity, and conservation of ladybirds to identify their key ecological threats. Ladybird populations are most affected by climate factors, landscape composition, and biological invasions. We suggest mitigating actions for ladybird conservation and recovery. Short‐term actions include citizen science programs and education, protective measures for habitat recovery and threatened species, prevention of the introduction of non‐native species, and the maintenance and restoration of natural areas and landscape heterogeneity. Mid‐term actions involve the analysis of data from monitoring programs and insect collections to disentangle the effect of different threats to ladybird populations, understand habitat use by taxa on which there is limited knowledge, and quantify temporal trends of abundance, diversity, and biomass along a management‐intensity gradient. Long‐term actions include the development of a worldwide monitoring program based on standardized sampling to fill data gaps, increase explanatory power, streamline analyses, and facilitate global collaborations.