From Heat to Coolness
Entomologist Michael Braby discovered that in the last 30 years, at least 100 species of Australian butterflies have changed their traditional territories. The research was conducted while working on a new guide that used a collection of over 2000 pull-out drawers containing dried specimens collected over the last 100 years. For the analysis, ancient materials were compared with modern museum data and images from mobile applications iNaturalist and Butterflies Australia.
Range Shifts and Their Causes
Range shifts have been recorded among sedentary species of the Nymphalidae and Lycaenidae families. At least 23 species have moved south along the eastern coast, with an average movement of about 218 km over 30 years, or roughly 10 km per year. The absolute record for territory expansion was shown by the butterfly Anthene lycaenoides, which shifted its range by 960 km and settled in the Brisbane region. The main driver of such shifts is climate change, notes Michael Braby.
The study also points to additional factors that affect butterfly distribution. Among them:
- accidental transport of insects by vehicles,
- expansion of garden plantings,
- overgrown burnt areas after forest fires.
It is worth noting that three alien species have invaded Australia from Southeast Asia. The results of the study were published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution. Weather anomalies have reshaped the ranges for 10% of all butterflies on our planet, and range shifts have been confirmed for nearly 2000 species across 105 countries.
The change in butterfly ranges in Australia is an important indicator of the impact of climate change on biological species. The research highlights how global changes in temperature and humidity can cause significant shifts in ecosystems, affecting species diversity. It also indicates the need for monitoring and adapting conservation measures in the context of a changing climate to protect local species and their habitats.
As climate change continues to impact various species, it's important to consider its broader implications on marine life as well. For instance, the recent decline in humpback whale sightings off the Australian coast, which have dropped by 60% due to persistent ocean heatwaves, illustrates how interconnected these environmental shifts are. Understanding the changes in butterfly habitats can provide valuable insights into the overall health of ecosystems affected by global warming.