Massive insect decline could have 'catastrophic' environmental impact, study says

[progree]

2. So the insect mass has a half-life of about 27 years if it declines at a rate of 2.5%/year

Last edited Mon Feb 11, 2019, 09:24 AM - Edit history (1)

Assuming exponential decay, where each year it declines by 2.5% of whatever is left. Actually 27.3778 years.
(1-0.025)^27.3778 = (0.975)^27.3778 = 0.5000006 . "^" is the exponent symbol, e.g. 2^3 = 8.

With linear decay, they will be half gone in 20 years (2.5% * 20 = 50%).

Insect biomass is declining by a staggering 2.5% a year

They will be 92% gone in a century assuming exponential decay ( 0.975^100 = 7.95%, 100% - 7.95% = 92.05% )

At a linear rate, they will be all gone in 40 years.