Climate change and animal ranges studied

A U.S. study has provided insights into how climate change might impact various species’ geographic ranges.

The research led by University of Notre Dame Assistant Professor Jessica Hellmann looks at how species might, or might not, change their geographic range under climate change.

The study’s lead author, postdoctoral researcher Shannon Pelini, said scientists have hypothesized that populations near the northern boundaries of geographic ranges in the Northern Hemisphere would be pre-adapted to warming and thus will increase with warming, facilitating range expansions.

Hellmann and her team tested that assumption using two butterfly species — the Propertius duskywing and the Anise swallowtail.

The researchers found populations at the northern range edge in both species experienced problems when exposed to warmer conditions. The duskywing performed well in the summer months, initially suggesting populations could increase with warming conditions. However, the researchers said it performed poorly under warmer winter conditions, which would likely offset the summer population gains. Additionally, range expansion of the species was inhibited by the lack of host plants.

The study is detailed in the June 23 edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.