昆虫为脊椎动物提供保护、卫生清洁甚至栖息地，这使其成为保护工作的重点。对于许多脊椎动物而言，昆虫不仅仅是食物来源。
Insects provide protection, sanitation and even shelter to vertebrates, making them a priority for conservation efforts For many vertebrates, insects are more than a food source.
一项最新研究指出，作为“维持世界运转的小生物”，昆虫在生态系统中发挥着保护、卫生清洁和提供栖息地等关键功能。
As “little things that run the world”, insects provide critical functions such as protection, sanitation and shelter across ecosystems, according to a new study.
该研究于周三发表在《自然-综述：生物多样性》杂志上，阐明了昆虫支持包括鸟类、蝙蝠、爬行动物、两栖动物和哺乳动物在内的各类脊椎动物的多种方式。
The study, published in Nature Reviews Biodiversity on Wednesday, sheds light on the various ways insects support vertebrates, ranging from birds and bats to reptiles, amphibians and mammals.