By: Shannon Gauthier The effects of changes on climate and habitat have had negative effects for butterfly species. A recent study was done observing the effects that change on climate and habitat can have on one specific species (butterflies).
The study was conducted by Matthew Foriester, Andrew McCall and etc. It was published in the PNAS journal showing the effects that climate change and habitat change can have on butterflies. They analyzed over three decades of butterfly presence and absence, which had been collected over a number of years. This research was collect every two weeks, by a single observer so that they results remained consistent. The information was then used by Foriester and McCall to assess the extent at which climate change and habitat changes have affected the patterns of butterflies. The study that was conducted by Foriester and McCall consisted of two main predictions. The first of which is that at lower levels of elevation there would be a decline in population if there happened to be any decline in population at all. And the second the population levels should increase as the elevation increase. The reason they determined these predictions was because species at mid-level elevations seemed satisfied with their habitats. Foriester and McCall referenced too many other studies on butterflies while conducting their research they came across one that showed that butterflies are not all the sensitive to change on their environment and climate. Knowing this new information made Foriester and McCall narrow their results and split them into two separate categories. Splitting them into these two categories allows them to better determine how much of an effect climate and habitat changes have on specific butterfly species.
The experiment took place every two weeks for 19-35 years at 10 different sites. Each site was specifically chosen for maximum habitat diversity and number of butterfly species. At each specific site population was shown by the number of species compared to years and number of visits per year. When Foriester and McCall were looking at climate change they looked specifically for 3 things. Average daily temperatures, and minimal daily temperatures and average daily precipitate. The final thing that they looked at was the original hypothesis, that climate and habitat change has an effect on butterflies.
This studying is showing that the population had declined in 50% of the sites that were being studied, showing that changes to the environmental has a major effect on the butterfly populations making it almost unsuitable for them. It also showed the difference in turnovers between the two different groups of butterflies. The first group experienced a low level of turnover while the second group experienced the complete opposite. Showing that first group were not being present at their usual locations and those changes to the environment were the cause to that. While the second group experienced the complete opposite they had more presence going and coming every single year.
This study has shown that even little changes to an environment can have a negative effect on a species. Butterflies may be the main focus of this study but it shows why certain things happen. Why animals become extinct and why animals no longer occupy a certain location. Every single effect on climate and habitat affects these things. A certain rise in temperature can force high elevations to become not as liveable. This study shows is answering the questions why and where, and is showing results that can back up their answers.
Forister, M,. McCall, A., Sanders, N., Fordyce, J., Thorne, J., O`Brien, J., Waetjen, D., Shaprio, A. Compound effects of climate change or habitat alteration shift patterns of butterfly diversity. (Jan 19th, 2010). http://www.pnas.org/content/107/5/2088.full
www.pnas.org/content/107/5/2088.full
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