Climate change and the abundance of edible insects in the Lake Victoria region

摘要

Global warming is adversely affecting the earth’s climate and its profound effects are virtually on all ecosystem. Every living animal will be affected in one way or another by climatic changes and insects being an integral biotic component of nearly all ecosystems are not an exemption. However, the various ways by which change will occur is yet to be determined by scientists. Insects being an integral biotic component of nearly all ecosystems will be affected by the change in a variety of ways not yet determined by scientists. This partial review and empirical observation paper discusses how edible lake flies in Lake Victoria and termites in the lake region are responding to climate change and how they are likely to impact on entomophagy and gastrophagy as part of food chain among the riparian communities. The dynamics of the insect population have been observed by several households that collect the insects for domestic purposes. The focus is given to the lake flies (Ephemeroptera and Diptera), termites (Isoptera) and formicidae ants (Hymenoptera) which form part of livestock and human feed. Several factors of climate change are identified and discussed in relation to how they influence insect abundance. Ability to respond successfully to challenges requiring a lot of collaboration across different fields of study is solicited. It requires understanding of all stakeholders, how they will be affected by climate change and strategic adaptive measures open to all. Analysis of impact on humans’ livelihoods with specific focus on developing countries is discussed. The interrelationship in the metamorphosis of entomology and entomophagy in food production in the region is proposed.