Nigel Andrew at Woodlands Centre: Climate change and insects

Are you interested in either climate change, insects, ecological science or nature conservation? Then come to a talk by Nigel Andrew on Friday evening 25th September.

Nigel is the President of the Ecological Society of Australia and Associate Professor of Entomology at the University of New England. He will speak on Climate Change and Insects: is conservation working?

Nigel will give an overview of how he and other researchers are going about assessing insect responses to climate change.

CC Orange striped hover fly by John Tann

The talk is hosted by Armidale Branch of the National Parks Association of NSW, a non-government community group which advocates nature conservation both in national parks and across our rural landscape. The talk will be preceded by a meeting at which people can learn about some of the Associations’ activities in the last year – all welcome from 6pm for soup and meeting members, the AGM at about 6.45 or just the talk which will start at 7.30pm in the Woodlands Centre, 80 Mann St (Armidale Tree Group nursery).

Insects are amazing and most are tiny. But they are so ancient and abundant that they play essential roles in ecosystems and agriculture. Like everything else, insects will be affected by climate change. Will many insect species be able to move or adapt quickly enough to survive and keep providing services like pollination?

Assoc Prof. Andrew says “One of the great challenges in predicting how biological organisms will respond to a rapidly changing climate is determining if responses of organisms are idiosyncratic, or whether general statements can be made based on evolutionary relationships, or ecological associations.

“I will also assess the role of insect conservation in preserving species and ecological services.”

By: Kate Boyd