Exploring the Seasonal Specialization of Butterflies and Its Responses to a Changing Climate
As climate change continues to increase environmental uncertainty, butterfly species may have to adapt to survive. Recent research has found that butterflies may be able to do this by increasing seasonal specialization.
This research, published in the journal Ecology Letters, studied the responses of butterflies to climate change in the long-term. They found that temperate butterflies have been adapting to climate change by increasing seasonal specialization. This means that species are shifting to a more seasonal lifestyle, emerging and reproducing during a shorter, specific window of time. This allows them to more accurately predict the conditions they will encounter during their life cycle.
This adaptation to climate change could be a key factor in the survival of many temperate butterfly species in the years to come. By increasing their seasonal specialization, they may be better equipped to survive in an increasingly unpredictable environment.
source: Phys.org