Some of Europe’s native butterflies may have to be moved to colder climes if they are to survive global warming, a new study suggests.
The University of York study tracked the impact of changes in climate on the genetic diversity of the mountain ringlet butterfly over the 21,000 years since the last ice age.
The study suggests that future conservationists may have to evacuate some populations of butterflies to cooler habitats, higher up in mountains or further north in places including Scotland, Scandinavia and the Alps.
Genetic diversity loss
The findings reveal that current predictions of a rise in temperatures of 2-3 degrees Celsius by 2070 would lead to a loss of the unique genetic diversity in the species, reducing their ability to adapt to rising temperatures or relocate to cooler habitats on their own.
The results are likely to be true for other cold-adapted and mountain-dwelling butterflies in Europe such as the yellow-spotted ringlet, bright-eyed ringlet and the dewy ringlet.
With many hills and mountains across Europe set to become too warm, conservationists may need to help some cold-loving species move to areas such as Scotland, Scandinavia and the Alps, which, may provide the right conditions in the future for them to thrive, the authors of the study say.
Controversial steps
Lead author of the study, PhD researcher Melissa Minter from the Department of Biology at the University of York, said: “Genetic diversity is so important to the survival of a species, particularly in the face of climate change, because the greater the variation in genes, the more likely is that individuals in a population will have the genetic capacity to adapt to changes in the environment.”
A mountain ringlet butterfly. Image credit: Melissa Minter, University of York.
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Posted On: 05/10/2020