ABSTRACT
Mountains are characterised by their high elevation relative to the surrounding areas, for having steep slopes, rugged terrain, and environmental heterogeneity. Mountain habitats are crucial for insect conservation because they are rich in diversity and are important biodiversity refugia. Mountains host as much as 87% of terrestrial biodiversity on about 25% of the Earth’s surface. The most important feature of mountains for living organisms are their steep environmental gradients and environmental heterogeneity. This chapter highlights the pressures that insect populations are likely to face in these environments. These pressures include rising global temperatures, land use changes, and biological invasions. The steep and inaccessible terrain of mountains means certain pressures are less likely to be problematic in these environments. There are few conservation interventions that can be uniquely applied in mountain regions but maintaining functioning ecosystems along elevational gradients is crucial for insect conservation.
