Jeffrey Glassberg and Climate Change by Astrid Caldas

Climate change is among the biggest Climate change can also affect flight challenges of this century, not because the times in butterflies. Warmer temperatures will Earth has not gone through drastic climate result in more generations of multiple-brooded changes before, but because the changes species, but how this will affect egg-laying happening now are compounding other, severe periods and other life traits that are determined problems faced by the environment. There by photoperiod (which is unchanged by are more species in danger of extinction than climate change) is unknown. ever before, and climate change only adds to Butterflies will respond to climate change that number. Human activities have degraded differently depending on species, and even the the quality of the landscape so much that same species may have a different response species and habitats may have less capacity to to climate change depending on the specific respond to environmental threats –including location where it is found. Population charac- ‘Quino’ Edith’s Checkerspots may not warm up to their changed climate. a changing climate. Therefore, it is essential teristics and constraints, as well as interactions April 3, 1998. Jacumba Mtn, San Diego Co., CA. that new, effective conservation plans include with biotic and abiotic factors, are expected to a climate adaptation component, either from be localized and in many instances unique. suggest that this could be a positive factor ISI Web of Science between January 2005 early stages or as a later inclusion. That is Matthew Aardema, and his co-workers, in overcoming habitat fragmentation and the and December 2009 about climate change especially true with butterflies. recently discussed the issue of local adaptation ability of the species to persist under new and/or biodiversity. Only 9 out of 73 papers Many studies have already shown that in conservation, and the usefulness conditions. that showed a link between climate change butterflies are among the species that have and importance of strategies such as captive Where am I going with all this? My main and declining biodiversity studied , responded the most to climate change, usually rearing, habitat restoration, and managed point is that if conservationists are aware of eight of which dealt with . These in the form of northward or elevation range relocation. Their main point is that depending the importance of climate change in shaping papers showed butterflies to be very sensitive shifts. Federally listed as endangered, ‘Quino’ upon the location and characteristics of the future scenarios, and realize that conservation to climate change, but there is much we Variable Checkerspot is an example of a population, different conservation strategies practices that have worked in the past may not still don’t know. I would advocate for not butterfly population that is directly threatened are called for. We may need reintroductions work anymore, they can adapt those practices only more climate-related studies, but also by climate change and habitat destruction and assisted migrations of species whose to include climate change stressors and for a return to more basic, natural history Climate change will also affect species’ populations are declining and that have synergies, and still come out ahead. studies that can shed light on environmental life cycles, flight times, essential interactions, adequate, available habitat that could sustain In for such conservation plans to and ecological traits that are important for a and ultimately survival. There are many a viable population under a warmer climate. be developed, there is a pressing need for a species. With more of those in hand, we can at documented instances of disruption of Ann and Scott Swengel have suggested that better understanding of how climate affects least have a shot at designing more effective essential interactions of butterflies with other strategies based on the natural stability butterflies and moths, and also their essential conservation plans. their foodplants, most notably of Edith’s of habitats may be successful in keeping local interactions. Various studies have recently Last but not least (and I hate to say Checkerspots and the mismatched timing with populations stable under climate change and reviewed butterflies under the light of climate this) European scientists are well ahead of their caterpillar foodplants. human disturbance. change, describing how butterflies and moths United States scientists in the understanding Recently, a number of researchers have But it’s not all gloom and doom! For are responding to unprecedented – and many of patterns of butterfly response to climate warned that the common biological effect of instance, there may be some cases where times faster – changes in their environment. change. For every climate-related butterfly shifting towards earlier-timed reproduction climate change and global warming might Unfortunately, the number of such study in the United States there are at least can have multiple and cascading effects. have a positive effect on the survival of a articles is surprisingly low and somewhat 10 in Europe. We really need to step up to the Species lacking adaptability may have reduced butterfly species. In a 2011 paper, Anouk worrisome. In a recent issue of the Journal challenge: If we, and future generations, are to fitness, increased mortality, and disrupt a Cormont and collaborators found that some of Conservation dedicated exclusively keep enjoying butterflies for years to come, we whole food web which had evolved to thrive species’ dispersal ability, as measured by to Lepidoptera conservation, one article, by need more climate change-related studies, and when there was a synchronous timing of flight duration and behavior, increased Robert Wilson and Ilya Maclean, included a we need to be aware of climate change effects resources that can no more be found. with increased temperatures. The authors literature review of all papers published on on butterflies. 30 American Butterflies,Spring 2012 31