Excess atmospheric nitrogen and other air pollutants pose a major threat to biodiversity in the UK, with substantial evidence linking nitrogen deposition to adverse ecological effects such as altered plant communities. While impacts on flora are well understood, the direct and indirect effects of air pollution on terrestrial invertebrates remain under-researched.
In 2022, Natural England hosted two PhD placements through the ACCE Doctoral Training Partnership to conduct rapid reviews of the current evidence on lethal, sub-lethal, and habitat-mediated impacts of air pollutants on higher trophic species. This review focuses on the lethal and sub-lethal impacts of six major pollutant groups—ammonia, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, ozone, particulate matter, and heavy metals—on invertebrates.
The review highlights evidence gaps across all pollutant groups, particularly regarding direct physiological impacts and the combined effects of multiple pollutants. Notable findings include the disruption of pollinator behaviour by nitrogen oxides and ozone through interference with floral scent detection, and early evidence of physiological effects of particulate matter. The review underscores the need for more comprehensive research across a broader range of invertebrate taxa and pollutant interactions.
This evidence base could help to inform future research priorities in England and support broader public and stakeholder engagement with air quality as a critical ecological issue.