Moth Communities Reveal High Stability Despite Ongoing Compositional Shifts Over Five Years Following Hurricane Disturbance.

ABSTRACT: Extreme climatic events are expected to increase in frequency and severity under climate change, with lasting consequences for ecological communities worldwide. Global insect declines have raised concerns for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem stability, as shifts in insect communities can trigger cascading effects across trophic levels. Yet insect responses to large-scale disturbances remain poorly understood, particularly in tropical forests where long-term datasets are scarce and taxonomic knowledge is limited. We examined the response trajectories and stability of moth communities in two forest types in Puerto Rico following the September 2017 hurricanes Irma and María. Using monthly surveys conducted 5 months before and 6 months after the storms, followed by annual surveys over 5

SUBMITTER: Alonso-Rodriguez AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12511569 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature