Butterfly ranges shift worldwide amid climate change, with most species expanding their reach
A global analysis of range-shift records for 1,758 butterfly species—10% of known butterfly species—found that 80% had expanded their range and that 79% of all recorded range shifts were linked to climate change and extreme weather events.
A global analysis of range-shift records for 1,758 butterfly species—10% of known butterfly species—found that 80% had expanded their range and that 79% of all recorded range shifts were linked to climate change and extreme weather events.
The short version
- The new study, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, also reports range contractions for 27% of species, and 22% of species showed a change in elevation.
- Because many species exhibited multiple types of range shifts, the percentages for expansions, contractions and elevation changes are above 100%.
- by German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies .
What happened
It was led by researchers from Monash University, the German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), the Friedrich Schiller University Jena, and the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research (UFZ). The analysis also reveals distinct global patterns in how butterfly ranges are shifting.
Why it matters
Horizontal expansions were recorded on every continent, with particularly high numbers in tropical countries.
Summary by Nerd News Network. Read the full article at Phys.org via the links above and below.