Role of Insects in Nutrient Cycling and Ecosystem Services
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59436/jsiane.v1i2.09Keywords:
Nutrient Cycling, Ecosystem Services, Entomology, Decomposition, Pollination, Soil Ecology, Biodiversity ConservationAbstract
Insects occupy nearly every terrestrial and freshwater habitat on earth, and their collective influence on nutrient cycling and ecosystem function is enormous. Yet much of the scientific and public conversation about insects fixates on their roles as pests or pollinators, overlooking the less visible but arguably more consequential work they do below the soil surface and within decomposing organic matter. This review synthesizes current understanding of insect-mediated nutrient cycling, covering decomposition, dung burial, bioturbation, and the broader suite of ecosystem services insects provide. Drawing on field studies, meta-analyses, and economic valuation research published through 2021, the paper examines how different functional groups of insects contribute to nitrogen and phosphorus turnover, soil structure, pest regulation, and pollination. Attention is also given to the well-documented decline in insect populations worldwide and the cascading consequences these losses may carry for ecosystem stability. The central argument here is straightforward: without insects, terrestrial nutrient cycles would slow dramatically, and the economic costs of replacing the services they provide for free would be staggering.
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