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Effects
of biodiversity loss on
insects
Nick Haddad studies how one major global
change,
the loss of biodiversity, propogates up the food chain from plants to
insects. This work is in collaboration with Dave Tilman,
John
Haarstad, and other scientists at Cedar
Creek Natural History Area of the University of Minnesota, and is
conducted in the largest diversity experiment of its kind.
Previous research has shown how loss of plant diversity is directly
related to loss of insect diversity. His work has also shown that
higher plant diversity can reduce insect abundances, unless the the
plants are closely related (that is, in the same functional group).
Current research focuses on how long-term loss of biodiversity in
experimental plots has influenced the level and dynamics of insect
diversity.
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