The emergence of cicadas in 2024 will rewire ecosystems
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April 2024 saw trillions of
April 2024 saw trillions of periodical insects begin their descent on the midwest and southeast of the United States. They caused so much noise that local residents called the police to complain. These insects are called cicadas. Two broods of cicadas, Brood XIX and Brood XIII — which come out every 13 years and 17 years respectively, are emerging at the same time for the first time in 200 years.
There are more than 3,390 species of cicadas around the world, but only seven in North America are known to be periodical. The rest emerge annually. Periodical cicadas live several inches underground, drinking sap from plant roots and when the soil temperature hits about 18 degree celsius (64 degrees Fahrenheit) they emerge. Cicadas do not bite, sting or carry diseases – and cannot be effectively controlled by pesticides.
The male cicadas produce a loud buzzing sound, by singing together from the trees to attract females. Interested females respond with a quick flip of their wings, which produces more subtle clicking sounds.
The cicadas don't just disrupt neighbourhoods with their deafening sounds, they can also create chaos in the food chains. While the insect explosion will be brief, they can shape forests for years to come. They will provide a lavish buffet for all kinds of wildlife, especially birds and small mammals. Birds of all shapes and kinds – sparrows, crows, swallows among others – shift their diet to take advantage of this cicada banquet. A study, published in 2023, found that the emergence of periodical cicadas changes the diets of entire bird communities and these effects can send ripples throughout the ecosystem.
Although they can be harmful to young trees, when females lay eggs in the tree's new growth, they can be beneficial to the region’s ecology. They aerate the soil as they create emergence holes to the surface, improving water infiltration to the ground and encouraging root growth. When they die and decompose, they add nutrients to the soil.
But despite this, relatively little seems to be known about the real-time effects of living cicadas on food webs. Scientists are capitalising on this year's dual emergence to find out more about the insects' ripple effect on other species, both in the animal and plant kingdoms.
#cicadas #insects #usa
Down to Earth is Science and Environment fortnightly published by the Society for Environmental Communication, New Delhi. We publish news and analysis on issues that deal with sustainable development, which we scan through the eyes of science and environment.
There are more than 3,390 species of cicadas around the world, but only seven in North America are known to be periodical. The rest emerge annually. Periodical cicadas live several inches underground, drinking sap from plant roots and when the soil temperature hits about 18 degree celsius (64 degrees Fahrenheit) they emerge. Cicadas do not bite, sting or carry diseases – and cannot be effectively controlled by pesticides.
The male cicadas produce a loud buzzing sound, by singing together from the trees to attract females. Interested females respond with a quick flip of their wings, which produces more subtle clicking sounds.
The cicadas don't just disrupt neighbourhoods with their deafening sounds, they can also create chaos in the food chains. While the insect explosion will be brief, they can shape forests for years to come. They will provide a lavish buffet for all kinds of wildlife, especially birds and small mammals. Birds of all shapes and kinds – sparrows, crows, swallows among others – shift their diet to take advantage of this cicada banquet. A study, published in 2023, found that the emergence of periodical cicadas changes the diets of entire bird communities and these effects can send ripples throughout the ecosystem.
Although they can be harmful to young trees, when females lay eggs in the tree's new growth, they can be beneficial to the region’s ecology. They aerate the soil as they create emergence holes to the surface, improving water infiltration to the ground and encouraging root growth. When they die and decompose, they add nutrients to the soil.
But despite this, relatively little seems to be known about the real-time effects of living cicadas on food webs. Scientists are capitalising on this year's dual emergence to find out more about the insects' ripple effect on other species, both in the animal and plant kingdoms.
#cicadas #insects #usa
Down to Earth is Science and Environment fortnightly published by the Society for Environmental Communication, New Delhi. We publish news and analysis on issues that deal with sustainable development, which we scan through the eyes of science and environment.
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در تاریخ 1403/02/19 منتشر شده
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