Improvement in conservation value of insect communities in South Patagonian forests managed with variable retention

Abstract

Compared with higher plants and mammals, conservation of insect diversity was rarely included in ecosystem management planning. This is usually because insects are considered unpleasant and dangerous for human beings. However, insects play unique ecological roles (e.g., pollinators, food chains lower levels, maintenance and improvement of soil quality, and plague control). In addition, loss of insects is rarely appreciated due to their small individual size and usually large populations.