Butterfly populations in Catalonia in northern Spain are better than their UK counterparts at regulating their body temperature by basking in the sunshine, but rising global temperatures due to climate change may put Spanish butterflies at greater risk of extinction.
However, as temperatures rise, both populations switch to heat-avoiding behavior. As global temperatures rise, British butterflies may initially benefit, while Spanish butterflies may not be able to survive if they are not able to adapt quickly enough.
The study results are reported in the Journal of Animal Ecology.
Habitat loss, particularly in the UK, is an equally important threat to butterflies. Diverse habitats offer butterflies a greater variety of microclimates, and initiatives such as “no-mow May,” allowing wildflowers to grow along roadsides, and planting more trees can help counter habitat loss.
Like all insects, butterflies are cold-blooded, and use their environment to regulate their internal temperature. Understanding how butterflies thermoregulate is important for predicting which species are most at risk from the effects of climate change.
2024-01-09 06:00:03
Article from phys.org rnrn