• Health
  • Science
  • U.S.
  • Technology
  • Business
  • World
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Sports

Building a Better World

News and information

  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Our Team

Climate change spells extinction for six butterfly species

August 11, 2015 By Adrienne Dean

Climate change spells extinction for six butterfly species

Research suggests that global warming could push drought-sensitive UK butterflies into extinction by 2050.

Six species of butterflies in Britain may face local extinction by 2050 because of climate change, according to a new study published in the scientific journal Nature Climate Change.

Although many people believe that butterflies are creatures that love the warmth, periods of extremely hot and dry weather can significantly reduce populations. In fact, scientists found that even the lowest expected levels of warming could decimate populations.

“What was surprising to me was that even in the most benign scenario, the drought effects are quite severe,” said Tom Oliver, the lead author of the new study, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, and an ecologist at the Center for Ecology and Hydrology.

The study relies on data from 129 sites at which 28 butterfly species are tracked in the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme, along with historical weather data and climate model predictions from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project.

The species that researchers identified as vulnerable are the ringlet, the speckled wood, the large skipper, the large white, the small white and the green-veined white butterfly. All are common now.

By 2050, the species will not face total extinction. But populations in dry areas, particularly in southeast England, may disappear, Dr. Oliver said.

To counter the effects of climate change, butterflies need havens where they can thrive.

 

Sharing

Facebooktwittergoogle_plusredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmail

Filed Under: Science Tagged With: butterfly, climate change, extinction

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Follow Us

Facebookrss

Search:

Recent Posts

  • NASA’s InSight spacecraft makes important course correction May 26, 2018
  • Scientists outraged at latest Trump decision May 15, 2018
  • Huge uproar erupts over major incident at Utah park May 13, 2018
  • Incredible moon discovery stuns scientists May 12, 2018
  • Authorities shocked by discovery about common painkiller May 6, 2018
  • Outrageous crocodile experiment stuns scientists May 5, 2018
  • Great Barrier Reef is too quiet, scientists say May 1, 2018
  • Massive Hiroshima bomb discovery shocks scientists May 1, 2018
  • Earth will be slammed by massive asteroid April 29, 2018
  • Teens are doing something incredibly alarming in schools April 29, 2018
  • Huge discovery in Tasmania stuns scientists April 28, 2018
  • Shocking discovery in New Jersey stuns authorities April 22, 2018
  • Huge volcanic explosion could wipe out the United States April 21, 2018
  • Huge controversy erupts over world’s hottest pepper April 15, 2018
  • SpaceX is about to do something astonishing April 15, 2018

Copyright © 2021 Jones Kilmartin Group, LLC · Metro Pro Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress