Terrestrial insect populations are declining in many parts of the world, and one potential driver is stressor-induced changes to fertility, often leading to infertility. Environmental stressors such as extreme temperatures and xenobiotic exposure, among others, can harm insect sperm viability or ovary function and therefore impair their ability to reproduce. Many environmental factors have yet to be investigated. Worryingly, research has shown that in at least some circumstances, stressor-induced infertility can emerge in subsequent generations, perpetuating this damage through time. In a world where extreme weather events are becoming more frequent due to climate change, and where some landscapes are becoming more toxic due to agriculture and other industrial activity, a call for research that helps us better understand how these stressors affect insect reproduction is overdue.
Every species needs to reproduce to maintain viable populations. Despite being critical players in ecosystems around the world, the impact of environmental stressors on insect fertility is often overlooked. In this Research Topic, we aim to collate new research to help close this knowledge gap. Our goal is to better understand how our changing environment – particularly climate change, pollution, and xenobiotic exposure – is affecting insect reproduction, and therefore their ability to maintain their populations and distributions.
We welcome the submission of reviews and original research articles that address stressor-induced shifts in insect fertility. Reviews should broadly cover what is known about the effects of environmental stressors on insect fertility, drawing parallels to mammalian systems where appropriate. Authors may choose to focus on male fertility, female fertility, or both. Original research articles should investigate effects of environmental stressors including, but not limited to: temperature stress, xenobiotic exposure, and other pollutants on topics such as sperm function, sperm viability, related aspects of male fertility, ovariole development, egg provisioning, oviposition, or other aspects of female fertility. Articles involving stored sperm within females, reproductive behavior, sex-biased stressor tolerance, and transgenerational effects of stressors are also welcome.
Terrestrial insect populations are declining in many parts of the world, and one potential driver is stressor-induced changes to fertility, often leading to infertility. Environmental stressors such as extreme temperatures and xenobiotic exposure, among others, can harm insect sperm viability or ovary function and therefore impair their ability to reproduce. Many environmental factors have yet to be investigated. Worryingly, research has shown that in at least some circumstances, stressor-induced infertility can emerge in subsequent generations, perpetuating this damage through time. In a world where extreme weather events are becoming more frequent due to climate change, and where some landscapes are becoming more toxic due to agriculture and other industrial activity, a call for research that helps us better understand how these stressors affect insect reproduction is overdue.
Every species needs to reproduce to maintain viable populations. Despite being critical players in ecosystems around the world, the impact of environmental stressors on insect fertility is often overlooked. In this Research Topic, we aim to collate new research to help close this knowledge gap. Our goal is to better understand how our changing environment – particularly climate change, pollution, and xenobiotic exposure – is affecting insect reproduction, and therefore their ability to maintain their populations and distributions.
We welcome the submission of reviews and original research articles that address stressor-induced shifts in insect fertility. Reviews should broadly cover what is known about the effects of environmental stressors on insect fertility, drawing parallels to mammalian systems where appropriate. Authors may choose to focus on male fertility, female fertility, or both. Original research articles should investigate effects of environmental stressors including, but not limited to: temperature stress, xenobiotic exposure, and other pollutants on topics such as sperm function, sperm viability, related aspects of male fertility, ovariole development, egg provisioning, oviposition, or other aspects of female fertility. Articles involving stored sperm within females, reproductive behavior, sex-biased stressor tolerance, and transgenerational effects of stressors are also welcome.
