Feb. 12, 2013 — In a new study, Boston
University researchers and collaborators have found that butterflies show signs
of being affected by climate change in a way similar to plants and bees, but
not birds, in the Northeast United States. The researchers focused on
Massachusetts butterfly flight periods, comparing current flight periods with
patterns going back more than 100 years using museum collections and the
records of dedicated citizen scientists. Their findings indicate that
butterflies are flying earlier in warmer years.
"Butterflies are very responsive to
temperature in a way comparable to flowering time, leafing out time, and bee
flight times," says Richard Primack, professor of biology and study
co-author. "However, bird arrival times in the spring are much less
responsive to temperature." As a result, climate change could have
negative implications for bird populations in the Northeast, which rely on
butterflies and other insects as a food source.
The team, which includes
Caroline Polgar (Boston University), Sharon Stichter (Massachusetts Butterfly
Club), Ernest Williams (Hamilton College), and Colleen Hitchcock (Boston College)
will publish its findings in the February 12 online edition of the
journal Biological Conservation.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment
You only need to enter your comment once! Comments will appear once they have been moderated. This is so as to stop the would-be comedian who has been spamming the comments here with inane and often offensive remarks. You know who you are!