PUB - Publikationen an der Universität Bielefeld

Insects represent a highly diverse and ecologically important taxon, making it imperative to understand their responses to global change. This review delves into the key processes underlying insect niche realisation processes, such as niche choice, niche conformance, and niche construction, as well as their interplay. We illustrate the role of these processes in ecological interactions and the impacts on fitness outcomes across diverse insect species. Notably, we illustrate how insects exhibit varying degrees of niche specialisation and flexibility in response to environmental cues, emphasising the dynamic nature of niche realisation processes. Furthermore, we examine the impact of global change on insect niche realisation processes, highlighting examples of niche choice, conformance, and construction under, for example, anthropogenic land use change, temperature variation, and altered precipitation patterns. Our study underscores the importance of considering the relevance of intraspecific variation in niche realisation processes, as individuals differ in their responses, influencing species persistence. We discuss the limitations of traditional species-level niche assessments and advocate for the integration of individual-level niche analyses to accurately assess species’ responses to global change. By integrating insights from diverse insect taxa, we provide a framework for elucidating the strategies employed by insects to thrive amidst global change. Together, this review enhances our understanding of the diversity of niche realisation processes which may inform targeted conservation strategies to safeguard insect biodiversity in the face of ongoing global change.