Media report on Azevedo-Schmidt study
Science Alert, Science Daily, Nature World News, Phys.org, Earth.com, SciTech Daily and other international outlets reported on a study led by University of Maine Climate Change Institute postdoctoral research associate Lauren Azevedo-Schmidt that suggests that insects are feasting on plants more so now than in the past 66.8 million years. The study from Azevedo-Schmidt and colleagues found that leaves carbon-dated from 1955 to present had twice the average amount of insect damage than in any of the 64 fossil assemblages dating back tens of millions of years. “The difference in insect damage between the modern era and the fossilized record is striking,” Azevedo-Schmidt said. MSN Australia shared the Science Alert report.