Meta-Analysis and Synthesis of Insect Biodiversity Data From Nigerian Protected Areas: Patterns, Gaps, and Conservation Implications (2000-2025)

Nigeria's network of national parks, game reserves, and forest reserves harbor significant insect biodiversity, but research effort has been geographically uneven and taxonomically biased toward vertebrates, leaving insect diversity poorly documented at the national scale. A comprehensive synthesis of existing insect biodiversity data from protected areas is a prerequisite for evidence-based conservation planning. This study conducts a systematic meta-analysis and synthesis of insect biodiversity data from Nigerian protected areas published between 2000 and 2025, combined with novel field surveys to fill identified geographic and taxonomic gaps. Systematic literature searches will retrieve all peer-reviewed and gray literature reports of insect occurrence data from Nigerian protected areas. Data will be harmonized into a standardized georeferenced database. Rarefaction curves, species accumulation analysis, and geographic gap analysis will characterize the completeness and spatial distribution of biodiversity knowledge. Twelve field surveys will be deployed in protected areas with the lowest data coverage. Threat analysis will identify protected areas where insect biodiversity is most at risk from climate change and land use encroachment. Priority conservation areas based on insect endemism and irreplaceability will be identified. This study makes an original integrative contribution to Nigeria's biodiversity informatics capacity, producing the first nationally synthesized insect occurrence database that can anchor long-term monitoring programs for the National Park Service. Keywords: insect biodiversity, meta-analysis, protected areas, conservation gaps, Nigeria