Climate change could cause the decline of some species of alpine butterflies

Some alpine butterflies may be at risk due to the effect of climate change on their ecosystems, according to new research from the University of Alberta.

“We often frame the effects of climate change directly on a species as the future becomes too hot, too dry, or too humid,” said Alessandro Filazzola, a biological science postdoctoral fellow and lead author of the study.

“However, climate change can have indirect effects, such as through a species’ food resources. These effects are more likely to affect butterflies, because as caterpillars they often feed on one or a few plant species” .

The researchers used climate change models to understand the effects of changing ecosystems on alpine butterflies in North America. The results show that alpine butterflies that have specialized diets, which means that they feed on only one or a few plants, are more vulnerable to climate change due to fluctuations in their food. On the other hand, butterflies with more diverse diets are less likely to be affected.

“The main result of this study is our enhanced ability to quantify the complex effects of climate change on ecosystems,” said Filazzola, who conducted the research under the supervision of Professors Jens Roland and JC Cahill.

“Understanding the effects of climate change on a species through its food is very important for biological conservation: climate change is likely to have complex effects that extend beyond the mortality of a single species.”

Models like the one used in this study provide a more holistic approach to understanding how a changing climate could affect entire ecosystems.

“Using an approach that analyzes the level of the ecosystem would improve our ability to mitigate the loss of biodiversity and maintain the provision of ecosystem services, such as pollination,” added Filazzola.

The study, “The inclusion of trophic interactions increases the vulnerability of an alpine butterfly species to climate change,” was published in Global Biology Change.