scholarly journals Increased Suitability of Poleward Climate for a Tropical Butterfly (Euripus nyctelius) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) Accompanies its Successful Range Expansion

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsun Fung Au ◽  
Timothy C Bonebrake

Abstract Distribution shifts are a common response in butterflies to a warming climate. Hong Kong has documented records of several new butterfly species in recent decades, comprising a high proportion of tropical species, some of which have successfully established. In this study, we examined possible drivers for the establishment of Euripus nyctelius Doubleday (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) by studying its thermal physiology and modeling current climate and future distributions projected by species distribution modeling (SDM). We found that E. nyctelius adults have a significantly higher critical thermal minimum than its local temperate relative, Hestina assimilis Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), suggesting a possible physiological constraint that may have been lifted with recent warming. SDMs provide further evidence that a shifting climate envelope may have improved the climate suitability for E. nyctelius in Hong Kong and South China—however, we cannot rule out the role of other drivers potentially influencing or driving range expansion, habitat change in particular. Conclusive attribution of warming-driven impacts for most tropical species is difficult or not possible due to a lack of historical or long-term data. Tropical insects will require a significant advancement in efforts to monitor species and populations across countries if we are to conclusively document climate-driven shifts in species distributions and manage the consequences of such species redistribution. Nevertheless, the warming climate and subsequent increased climatic suitability for tropical species in poleward areas, as shown here, is likely to result in future species redistribution events in subtropical and temperate ecosystems.

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 110-131
Author(s):  
Thomas K. Lameris ◽  
Jeroen Hoekendijk ◽  
Geert Aarts ◽  
Aline Aarts ◽  
Andrew M. Allen ◽  
...  

Abstract Climate warming in the Arctic has led to warmer and earlier springs, and as a result, many food resources for migratory animals become available earlier in the season, as well as become distributed further northwards. To optimally profit from these resources, migratory animals are expected to arrive earlier in the Arctic, as well as shift their own spatial distributions northwards. Here, we review literature to assess whether Arctic migratory birds and mammals already show shifts in migration timing or distribution in response to the warming climate. Distribution shifts were most prominent in marine mammals, as expected from observed northward shifts of their resources. At least for many bird species, the ability to shift distributions is likely constrained by available habitat further north. Shifts in timing have been shown in many species of terrestrial birds and ungulates, as well as for polar bears. Within species, we found strong variation in shifts in timing and distributions between populations. Ou r review thus shows that many migratory animals display shifts in migration timing and spatial distribution in reaction to a warming Arctic. Importantly, we identify large knowledge gaps especially concerning distribution shifts and timing of autumn migration, especially for marine mammals. Our understanding of how migratory animals respond to climate change appears to be mostly limited by the lack of long-term monitoring studies.


Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4652 (3) ◽  
pp. 520-532
Author(s):  
T. Y. HUI ◽  
KINGSLEY J. H. WONG

A sand-bubbler crab, Scopimera curtelsona Shen, 1936, previously known only from Hainan, China, is reported from Hong Kong. By searching past taxonomic records and examining local material, an increasing trend of S. curtelsona abundance was observed in comparison with another common sympatric dotillid, S. intermedia Balss, 1934, in Hong Kong since the early 2000s. This scenario is hypothesized to represent a northward range expansion of this tropical species from Hainan, China, by 500 km, coinciding with an increase in sea surface temperatures in Hong Kong, which are now at comparable levels with previous type locality temperatures. At a smaller scale, S. curtelsona was sympatric with two other dotillids: S. intermedia and Dotilla wichmanni De Man, 1892, on local sandflats, where the three species occupied different zones along the tidal gradient possibly due to the interaction between the variation in sediment characteristics and the crabs’ maxillipedal setation. 


2021 ◽  
Vol 197 ◽  
pp. 111000
Author(s):  
Pin Wang ◽  
William B. Goggins ◽  
Yuan Shi ◽  
Xuyi Zhang ◽  
Chao Ren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  

2021 ◽  
Vol 270 ◽  
pp. 116285
Author(s):  
Lewei Zeng ◽  
Hai Guo ◽  
Xiaopu Lyu ◽  
Beining Zhou ◽  
Zhenhao Ling ◽  
...  

Mammalia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrien André ◽  
Johan Michaux ◽  
Jorge Gaitan ◽  
Virginie Millien

Abstract Rapid climate change is currently altering species distribution ranges. Evaluating the long-term stress level in wild species undergoing range expansion may help better understanding how species cope with the changing environment. Here, we focused on the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus), a widespread small mammal species in North-America whose distribution range is rapidly shifting northward. We evaluated long-term stress level in several populations of P. leucopus in Quebec (Canada), from the northern edge of the species distribution to more core populations in Southern Quebec. We first tested the hypothesis that populations at the range margin are under higher stress than more established populations in the southern region of our study area. We then compared four measures of long-term stress level to evaluate the congruence between these commonly used methods. We did not detect any significant geographical trend in stress level across our study populations of P. leucopus. Most notably, we found no clear congruence between the four measures of stress level we used, and conclude that these four commonly used methods are not equivalent, thereby not comparable across studies.


2012 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 455-462 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jihui Zhang ◽  
S.P. Lam ◽  
S.X. Li ◽  
M.W.M. Yu ◽  
A.M. Li ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (18) ◽  
pp. 10919-10935 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Wang ◽  
Hao Wang ◽  
Hai Guo ◽  
Xiaopu Lyu ◽  
Hairong Cheng ◽  
...  

Abstract. Over the past 10 years (2005–2014), ground-level O3 in Hong Kong has consistently increased in all seasons except winter, despite the yearly reduction of its precursors, i.e. nitrogen oxides (NOx =  NO + NO2), total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), and carbon monoxide (CO). To explain the contradictory phenomena, an observation-based box model (OBM) coupled with CB05 mechanism was applied in order to understand the influence of both locally produced O3 and regional transport. The simulation of locally produced O3 showed an increasing trend in spring, a decreasing trend in autumn, and no changes in summer and winter. The O3 increase in spring was caused by the net effect of more rapid decrease in NO titration and unchanged TVOC reactivity despite decreased TVOC mixing ratios, while the decreased local O3 formation in autumn was mainly due to the reduction of aromatic VOC mixing ratios and the TVOC reactivity and much slower decrease in NO titration. However, the decreased in situ O3 formation in autumn was overridden by the regional contribution, resulting in elevated O3 observations. Furthermore, the OBM-derived relative incremental reactivity indicated that the O3 formation was VOC-limited in all seasons, and that the long-term O3 formation was more sensitive to VOCs and less to NOx and CO in the past 10 years. In addition, the OBM results found that the contributions of aromatics to O3 formation decreased in all seasons of these years, particularly in autumn, probably due to the effective control of solvent-related sources. In contrast, the contributions of alkenes increased, suggesting a continuing need to reduce traffic emissions. The findings provide updated information on photochemical pollution and its impact in Hong Kong.


2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 477-499
Author(s):  
Michael John Paton

The 2011 tsunami had a devastating effect on the east coast of Japan. Particularly poignant were the century-old markers on hillsides warning against building anywhere below. Nevertheless, such wisdom from traditional knowledge was disregarded because of the perceived invulnerability of the modern. This paper attempts to garner such traditional empirical knowledge regarding the siting of towns and cities by considering the Chinese art/science of fengshui (wind and water) or dili (principles of the earth), the original purpose of which was to site human habitation in the most favourable places for long term survival. This knowledge is then used to consider the placement of cities created by modernity, those founded on and flourishing through the advent of globalisation, such as Hong Kong, Shanghai, St Petersburg, and Sydney.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document