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A recent study led by researchers at Yale indicates that global climate change poses a severe threat to butterfly populations, potentially transforming their biodiverse mountain habitats from safe havens into perilous environments.
This phenomenon can be likened to an inverse “butterfly effect,” suggesting that small changes in butterfly populations could trigger large-scale ecological consequences, disrupting ecosystems far beyond their immediate surroundings.
Published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution, the study highlights significant gaps in global data on insect populations, which may hinder conservationists and policymakers from effectively addressing the biodiversity crisis resulting from climate change across numerous insect species.
Walter Jetz, a Yale ecologist, and his team, which included entomologist Stefan Pinkert from the University of Marburg, examined phylogenetic and geographic data pertaining to over 12,000 butterfly species around the globe.
The team discovered that the majority of butterfly diversity is concentrated in tropical and subtropical mountain regions, where approximately two-thirds of all butterfly species reside, and where there are 3.5 times more biodiversity hotspots compared to lower altitude areas.
However, these mountain ecosystems are rapidly transforming due to climate change. The study predicts that by 2070, 64% of the temperature range suitable for butterflies in tropical locales will diminish, with the specific climatic conditions of mountainous regions continually shrinking.
“The diversity and beauty of butterflies captivate people across the world,” Jetz, who is also the director of the Yale Center for Biodiversity and Global Change, stated. “Yet, our first global examination of butterfly diversity and existing threats reveals a troubling reality. The fascinating evolution of butterflies in high-elevation habitats may now lead to their extinction, with potentially thousands of species at risk due to rising global temperatures this century.”
Pinkert, who previously conducted research at the BGC Center, emphasized the necessity of raising awareness about insect diversity distribution and advocating for its protection. “While our findings are insightful from an ecological standpoint, they are also profoundly concerning,” he noted.
The study underscores that current biodiversity conservation efforts predominantly focus on animals and plants, largely neglecting insects. Until now, no global analysis has fully assessed the intersections between diversity, rarity, and climate change threats within insect populations.
The findings reveal substantial differences in patterns of butterfly diversity compared to more thoroughly studied groups like birds, mammals, and amphibians, calling into question current conservation priorities.
“This research was made possible through years of gathering various global data and applying innovative integrative approaches to fill a crucial information void for at least one insect group,” Pinkert explained.
Jetz expressed hope that this new research, alongside ongoing projects like the Map of Life—a global database tracking known species distributions—will enable conservation managers to incorporate insect populations into their biodiversity protection strategies.
“To ensure that much of butterfly diversity persists for future generations, we must prioritize a reduction in carbon emissions alongside proactive efforts to identify and protect vital butterfly habitats and migratory routes,” Jetz asserted.
The study also includes contributions from co-authors Nina Farwig of the University of Marburg and Akito Kawahara of the University of Florida.
This research received support from a variety of organizations, including the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the National Science Foundation, and the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation.
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