Climate change is undeniably underway and impacting our lives and that of all life on earth. Being the most diverse group of animals, insects are intimately connected to ecosystem function, culture, economics and human health. As the climate changes, those connections and the interactions between insects will also transform and may break. Consequently, understanding how insects respond to climate change is vital to navigating the unstable natural, economic and cultural landscapes ahead of us. Broadly, I’m interested in three areas of research:
- To assess the response of insect diversity to the ever-intensifying impacts of global climate change
- To quantify the changes in ecosystem functions/services as insect communities respond to climate change
- To develop science outreach, education and communication programs with the aim to engage the public and promote science awareness and literacy
Read about some of the research I’ve worked on and helped with here.
Vinko Culjak Mathieu 