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Neonicotinoids and decline in bird biodiversity in the United States

Author

Listed:
  • Yijia Li

    (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

  • Ruiqing Miao

    (Auburn University)

  • Madhu Khanna

    (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

Abstract

Neonicotinoid insecticides are being widely used and have raised concerns about negative impacts on non-target organisms. However, there has been no large-scale, generalizable study on their impact on biodiversity of avian species in the United States. Here we show, using a rich dataset on breeding birds and pesticide use in the United States, that the increase in neonicotinoid use led to statistically significant reductions in bird biodiversity between 2008 and 2014 relative to a counterfactual without neonicotinoid use, particularly for grassland and insectivorous birds, with average annual rates of reduction of 4% and 3%, respectively. The corresponding rates are even higher (12% and 5%, respectively) when the dynamic effects of bird population declines on future population growth are considered. The effects of neonicotinoids on non-grassland and non-insectivorous birds are also statistically significant but smaller, with an average annual rate of reduction of 2% over this period.

Suggested Citation

  • Yijia Li & Ruiqing Miao & Madhu Khanna, 2020. "Neonicotinoids and decline in bird biodiversity in the United States," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 3(12), pages 1027-1035, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:3:y:2020:i:12:d:10.1038_s41893-020-0582-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-020-0582-x
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    Cited by:

    1. Frederik Noack & Ashley Larsen & Johannes Kamp & Christian Levers, 2022. "A bird's eye view of farm size and biodiversity: The ecological legacy of the iron curtain," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 104(4), pages 1460-1484, August.
    2. Eric Strobl, 2022. "Preserving local biodiversity through crop diversification," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 104(3), pages 1140-1174, May.
    3. Engist, Dennis & Finger, Robert & Knaus, Peter & Guélat, Jérôme & Wuepper, David, 2023. "Agricultural systems and biodiversity: evidence from European borders and bird populations," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).
    4. Liang, Yuanning & Rudik, Ivan & Zou, Eric Yongchen, 2021. "Economic Production and Biodiversity in the United States," SocArXiv qy76a, Center for Open Science.
    5. Chen, Chen-Ti & Rudik, Ivan & Kling, Catherine L. & Rodewald, Amanda & Johnston, Alison, 2022. "Improving Co-Benefits of the Conservation Reserve Program for Air Pollution and Biodiversity," 2022 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Anaheim, California 322544, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.

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