Using integrative approaches to address data, knowledge, and capacity gaps in Southeast Asia insect conservation

Abstract

Insects represent around 80% of terrestrial animal biodiversity and are critical for the functioning of ecosystems including many ecosystem services that humans rely on, such as pollination and nutrient recycling. However, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that insect populations are declining globally due to anthropogenic impacts, such as climate change and habitat loss. Despite this, a high proportion of insect species remain undescribed and limited data on their population dynamics and distributions is hampering insect conservation efforts. This is particularly critical in tropical biodiversity hotspots, such as Southeast Asia, which are also undergoing rapid environmental changes. This thesis aims to better understand and tackle these data and knowledge gaps to contribute to insect conservation and research efforts in Southeast Asia. The chapters of this thesis present an integrative approach using field-, laboratory-, and museum-based research, and desk-based reviews and conservation assessments. Firstly, I performed a quantitative review and identified the data, knowledge, and capacity gaps in Southeast Asian insect research. Secondly, I performed a quantitative comparison of dung beetle communities captured between two commonly used dung beetle trapping methods. Thirdly, I optimised and used a DNA metabarcoding protocol to construct novel quantitative dung beetle-vertebrate trophic networks across a large forest area in Singapore. Lastly, I analysed a large dataset of dung beetle occurrence records from Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, and performed a preliminary conservation status assessment of the region’s dung beetles. In these chapters, I provide proposed solutions, which include integrative taxonomy approaches, local capacity building, increased funding for continued research and monitoring of tropical insects, and public engagement, to address the data, knowledge, and capacity gaps present in the region. I also provide recommendations on sampling techniques and establishing open-access resources for future rapid biodiversity assessments and ecological studies of Southeast Asian dung beetle communities. Through the solutions proposed and the integrative tools presented, I hope that this body of work will serve as a catalyst, enabling future ecological and conservation research for insects in Southeast Asia.