Butterflies on the move to higher ground as warming redraws Alpine habitats
Climate change presents animals and plants with a fundamental challenge: What can they do when their established habitats become increasingly warm? They can adapt to the changing conditions—or move to areas where the climate remains suitable for them.
Climate change is forcing butterflies to adapt or relocate as their habitats warm. A study of German Alpine butterflies by Dr. Esme Ashe-Jepson from Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg reveals that less capable species have largely shifted their ranges to higher, cooler elevations, rather than adapting in place. Butterfly size and color affect their tolerance of heat, with larger, pale species tending to reside at lower elevations and smaller, darker species frequenting higher altitudes.
The study highlights that species composition changes rather than individual species adapting to local conditions, suggesting that conservation efforts should focus on habitat connectivity to facilitate climate-driven range shifts.
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