scholarly journals Low winter precipitation, but not warm autumns and springs, threatens mountain butterflies in middle-high mountains

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e12021
Author(s):  
Martin Konvicka ◽  
Tomas Kuras ◽  
Jana Liparova ◽  
Vit Slezak ◽  
Dita Horázná ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Warming ◽  
Dynamic Equilibrium ◽  
Winter Precipitation ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Butterfly Species ◽  
Larval Phase ◽  
Mountain Grasslands ◽  
Flight Season ◽  
Suitable Habitats

Low-elevation mountains represent unique model systems to study species endangered by climate warming, such as subalpine and alpine species of butterflies. We aimed to test the effect of climate variables experienced by Erebia butterflies during their development on adult abundances and phenology, targeting the key climate factors determining the population dynamics of mountain insects. We analysed data from a long-term monitoring of adults of two subalpine and alpine butterfly species, Erebia epiphron and E. sudetica (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) in the Jeseník Mts and Krkonoše Mts (Czech Republic). Our data revealed consistent patterns in their responses to climatic conditions. Lower precipitation (i.e., less snow cover) experienced by overwintering larvae decreases subsequent adult abundances. Conversely, warmer autumns and warmer and drier springs during the active larval phase increase adult abundances and lead to earlier onset and extended duration of the flight season. The population trends of these mountain butterflies are stable or even increasing. On the background of generally increasing temperatures within the mountain ranges, population stability indicates dynamic equilibrium of positive and detrimental consequences of climate warming among different life history stages. These contradictory effects warn against simplistic predictions of climate change consequences on mountain species based only on predicted increases in average temperature. Microclimate variability may facilitate the survival of mountain insect populations, however the availability of suitable habitats will strongly depend on the management of mountain grasslands.

scholarly journals Summary of an Ongoing Population Study of Parnassius ClodiusButterflies

2012 ◽  
Vol 35 ◽  
pp. 135-140
Author(s):  
Jill Sherwood ◽  
Diane Debinski
Keyword(s):  
Population Distribution ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Population Data ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Butterfly Species ◽  
Mark Recapture ◽  
Flight Season ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Number Of Males

Global and regional climate patterns suggest that future conditions in the western United States will be warmer and drier. Changing climatic conditions are predicted to impact ecosystems on many levels including at a population level. Decreases in population distribution and sizes have the potential to disrupt community and species diversity. Insects are particularly useful organisms to study because of their shorter life spans and sensitivity to changes environmental conditions. We expanded on previous population studies of a butterfly species, Parnassius clodius, located in Grand Teton National Park using mark-recapture techniques. We collected data to assess population size and sex ration on one particular population located in the park. Using mark-recapture techniques, we were able to collect data to assess population numbers, total number of males and females, sex rations and number of mated versus unmated females throughout the flight season. Here we compiled information about this population to provide benchmark information for this species and its population dynamics. The combined population data will be further used to study how changing climatic conditions have affected this population throughout the study years. The results will be valuable for understanding the population and also for understanding potential climate-related impacts on butterfly populations in other locations.

scholarly journals Identifying Rare Montane Meadow Parnassian Butterfly Populations Across Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

2013 ◽  
Vol 36 ◽  
pp. 88-93
Author(s):  
Kimberly Szcondronski ◽  
Diane Debinski
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
National Forest ◽  
Butterfly Species ◽  
Grand Teton National Park ◽  
Habitat Occupancy ◽  
Preferred Habitat ◽  
Flight Season ◽  
Parnassius Smintheus ◽  
Montane Meadow ◽  
The Ideal

The pristine, protected ecosystem of Grand Teton National Park (GRTE) is the ideal location to study the relationships between butterfly populations and the habitats on which these insects depend. Two montane meadow butterfly species, Parnassius clodius and Parnassius smintheus, were investigated in this study to identify patterns of habitat occupancy relating to variables across GRTE and into the surrounding territory of Bridger–Teton National Forest (BTNF). Population dynamics of P. clodius have been intensively studied by our research group over several consecutive years in one isolated population in Grand Teton National Park. However, little has been investigated regarding the Parnassian butterflies’ population range across the GRTE ecosystem. For this study, presence-absence butterfly surveys were conducted across 45 meadow sites in preferred habitat during the Parnassius flight season (June – July 2013). We found that P. clodius occupied 80% of the meadows surveyed, which was far greater than was originally predicted. P. smintheus, the more rare Parnassian butterfly in the GRTE ecosystem, was only found at 9% of the meadows surveyed. Understanding population ranges and habitat limits of these butterfly populations will be useful for managers and scientists within GRTE, and will assist conservation efforts for other related Parnassian species that are threatened or endangered worldwide due to habitat loss and climate change.

ASSESSMENT OF CHANGES IN THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WATER, SNOW AND ICE REGIMES IN THE BASINS OF THE SMALL NORTHERN DVINA RIVER UNDER MODERN CONDITIONS AND THEIR POSSIBLE CHANGES IN THE FUTURE

2021 ◽  
pp. 117-127
Author(s):  
M. V. GEORGIEVSKY ◽  
◽  
N. I. GOROSHKOVA ◽  
V. A. KHOMYAKOVA ◽  
A. V. STRIZHENOK
Keyword(s):  
Snow Cover ◽  
Climate Warming ◽  
Snow Water Equivalent ◽  
Winter Precipitation ◽  
Spring Runoff ◽  
The Future ◽  
Snow Water ◽  
Project Data ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Slight Downward Trend

The article presents an analysis of the impact of climate change on the main characteristics of ice phenomena, snow cover and the water regime in the Small Northern Dvina River basin occurring in recent decades. Recently, a significant climate warming has been observed in the basin. As a result, winters are getting warmer and shorter. There is also an increase in winter precipitation and the number of thaws. Climate warming directly affects the duration of snow cover, which decreases both due to the later formation and to the earlier destruction of snow. There is also a slight downward trend in the annual values of the maximum snow water equivalent, which may be the result of an increase in the number of thaws in winter, when a part of the snow cover melts contributing to the winter river runoff. The analysis of the main characteristics of the ice cover on the rivers of the studied basin shows that their changes are similarly to changes in the snow cover: there is a reduction in the freeze-up period due to its later formation and earlier complete destruction. The maximum ice thickness on the rivers of the basin also tends to decrease. There is an increase in winter and a decrease in spring runoff. Predictive estimates of changes in the observed trends in the future are presented in the fi nal part of the article based on the CMIP5 project data.

scholarly journals Climatic Change Can Influence Species Diversity Patterns and Potential Habitats of Salicaceae Plants in China

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 220 ◽  
Author(s):  
WenQing Li ◽  
MingMing Shi ◽  
Yuan Huang ◽  
KaiYun Chen ◽  
Hang Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Last Glacial Maximum ◽  
Climate Warming ◽  
Southwest China ◽  
Diversity Patterns ◽  
Suitable Habitats ◽  
The Last Glacial Maximum ◽  
Niche Models ◽  
The Last Glacial

Salicaceae is a family of temperate woody plants in the Northern Hemisphere that are highly valued, both ecologically and economically. China contains the highest species diversity of these plants. Despite their widespread human use, how the species diversity patterns of Salicaceae plants formed remains mostly unknown, and these may be significantly affected by global climate warming. Using past, present, and future environmental data and 2673 georeferenced specimen records, we first simulated the dynamic changes in suitable habitats and population structures of Salicaceae. Based on this, we next identified those areas at high risk of habitat loss and population declines under different climate change scenarios/years. We also mapped the patterns of species diversity by constructing niche models for 215 Salicaceae species, and assessed the driving factors affecting their current diversity patterns. The niche models showed Salicaceae family underwent extensive population expansion during the Last Inter Glacial period but retreated to lower latitudes during and since the period of the Last Glacial Maximum. Looking ahead, as climate warming intensifies, suitable habitats will shift to higher latitudes and those at lower latitudes will become less abundant. Finally, the western regions of China harbor the greatest endemism and species diversity of Salicaceae, which are significantly influenced by annual precipitation and mean temperature, ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation, and the anomaly of precipitation seasonality. From these results, we infer water–energy dynamic equilibrium and historical climate change are both the main factors likely regulating contemporary species diversity and distribution patterns. Nevertheless, this work also suggests that other, possibly interacting, factors (ambient energy, disturbance history, soil condition) influence the large-scale pattern of Salicaceae species diversity in China, making a simple explanation for it unlikely. Because Southwest China likely served as a refuge for Salicaceae species during the Last Glacial Maximum, it is a current hotspot for endemisms. Under predicted climate change, Salicaceae plants may well face higher risks to their persistence in southwest China, so efforts to support their in-situ conservation there are urgently needed.

scholarly journals Improvement of the Water Management by Applying the No Tillage System for the Winter Wheat Production

2021 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 22
Author(s):  
Felicia CHEȚAN ◽  
Cornel CHEȚAN
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Water Status ◽  
Conservative System ◽  
Winter Precipitation ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Soil Tillage ◽  
Yield Test ◽  
Tillage System ◽  
Agricultural Research And Development

The Transylvanian Plain has a particular aspect, as the hilly areas are predominant and here the soil erosion phenomena through levigation are frequently encountered. The effect of water availability on yields has been thoroughly researched, being one of the main limitative factors of the winter wheat yields. Starting from these considerations, during the agricultural years 2012-2018, a bi-factorial yield test was performed at Agricultural Research and Development Station (ARDS) Turda, for a period of seven years. The study explored the influence of the water status under the influence of two tillage systems and the climatic conditions specific for this area on winter wheat yields. In the field conditions of Turda during experimental interval, the soil tillage system had a rather small impact on the winter wheat yields. In the conventional system (CS) a reserve of accessible water is preserved better during the spring period, this being attributed to a better infiltration into the soil of winter precipitation (snow). In the conservative system (NT), the observed trend suggests that restoration of the ground water reserve is more difficult than in the CS but the loss of water in the CS is just as fast.

scholarly journals The influence of Arctic air masses on climatic conditions of the snow accumulation period in the center of the European territory of Russia

2021 ◽  
pp. 16-25
Author(s):  
Julia Nikolaevna Chizhova
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
Arctic Oscillation ◽  
Winter Precipitation ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
The North ◽  
The Arctic Oscillation ◽  
The North Atlantic Oscillation ◽  
The Relationship

The subject of this article is exmination of the influence of the Arctic air flow on the climatic conditions of the winter period in the center of the European territory of Russia (Moscow). In recent years, the question of the relationship between regional climatic conditions and such global circulation patterns as the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the Arctic Oscillation (AK) has become increasingly important. Based on the data of long-term observations of temperature and precipitation, the relationship with the AK and NAO was considered. For the winter months of the period 2014-2018, the back trajectories of the movement of air masses were computed for each date of precipitation to identify the sources of precipitation. The amount of winter precipitation that forms the snow cover of Moscow has no connection with either the North Atlantic Oscillation or the Arctic Oscillation. The Moscow region is located at the intersection of the zones of influence of positive and negative phases of both cyclonic patterns (AK and NAO), which determine the weather in the Northern Hemisphere. For the winter months, a correlation between the surface air temperature and NAO (r = 0.72) and AK (r = 0.66) was established. Winter precipitation in the center of the European territory of Russiais mainly associated with the unloading of Atlantic air masses. Arctic air masses relatively rarely invade Moscow region and bring little precipitation (their contribution does not exceed 12% of the total winter precipitation).

scholarly journals Predicting the Potential Global Geographical Distribution of Two Icerya Species under Climate Change

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 684
Author(s):  
Yang Liu ◽  
Juan Shi
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South America ◽  
Prediction Models ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Future Climate Change ◽  
Scientific Management ◽  
Climate Change Scenarios ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Invasive Pests ◽  
Suitable Habitats

Climate change is predicted to alter the geographic distribution of a wide variety of taxa, including insects. Icerya aegyptiaca (Douglas) and I. purchasi Maskell are two polyphagous and invasive pests in the genus Icerya Signoret (Hemiptera: Monophlebidae) and cause serious damage to many landscape and economic trees. However, the global habitats suitable for these two Icerya species are unclear. The purpose of this study is to determine the potentially suitable habitats of these two species, then to provide scientific management strategies. Using MaxEnt software, the potential risk maps of I. aegyptiaca and I. purchasi were created based on their occurrence data under different climatic conditions and topology factors. The results suggested that under current climate conditions, the potentially habitable area of I. aegyptiaca would be much larger than the current distribution and there would be small changes for I. purchasi. In the future climate change scenarios, the suitable habitats of these two insect species will display an increasing trend. Africa, South America and Asia would be more suitable for I. aegyptiaca. South America, Asia and Europe would be more suitable for I. purchasi. Moreover, most of the highly habitat suitability areas of I. aegyptiaca will become concentrated in Southern Asia. The results also suggested that “min temperature of coldest month” was the most important environmental factor affecting the prediction models of these two insects. This research provides a theoretical reference framework for developing policies to manage and control these two invasive pests of the genus Icerya.

The link between precipitation and recent outbreak of anthrax in North-West Siberia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ekaterina Ezhova ◽  
Dmitry Orlov ◽  
Elli Suhonen ◽  
Dmitry Kaverin ◽  
Alexander Mahura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Active Layer ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
Winter Precipitation ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Yamal Peninsula ◽  
Stable Region ◽  
Active Layer Thickness ◽  
Bacterial Disease ◽  
Monitoring Site ◽  
North West

<p>Anthrax is a bacterial disease affecting mainly livestock but also posing a risk for humans. During the outbreak of anthrax on Yamal peninsula in 2016, 36 humans were infected and more than 2.5 thousand reindeer died or were killed to prevent further contamination [1]. Anthrax is a natural focal disease, which means that its agents depend on climatic conditions. The revival of bacteria in previously epidemiologically stable region was attributed to thawing permafrost, intensified during the heat wave of 2016. We studied recent dynamics of air temperature as well as summer and winter precipitation in the region. In addition, we analysed the effect of winter precipitation and air temperature on the dynamics of active layer thickness using data from Circumpolar Active Layer Monitoring sites [2]. Our analysis suggests that permafrost was thawing intensively during several years before the outbreak, when snowy cold winters followed warmer winters. Thick snow prevented soil from freezing and enhanced permafrost thawing. In addition, we showed that summer precipitation drastically decreased in the region of outbreak during recent years, likely contributing to the spread of disease.  </p><p>[1] Popova, A.Yu. et al. Outbreak of Anthrax in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District in 2016, Epidemiological Peculiarities. Problemy Osobo Opasnykh Infektsii [Problems of Particularly Dangerous Infections]. <strong>4</strong>, 42–46 (2016).</p><p>[2] Circumpolar Active Layer Monitoring site: https://www2.gwu.edu/~calm/ [2/08/2019].</p>

Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) of the island of Korčula, Croatia

2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 171-185
Author(s):  
Toni Koren ◽  
Ivona Burić ◽  
Boris Lauš ◽  
Stanislav Gomboc ◽  
Nikola Tvrtković
Keyword(s):  
Rare Species ◽  
New Records ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Butterfly Species ◽  
As Species ◽  
Butterfly Fauna ◽  
Suitable Habitats ◽  
Very High ◽  
Cupido Minimus

A study of the butterfly fauna of the Croatian island of Korčula is presented. Fieldwork was carried out from 2011 to 2017, during several visits in different vegetation seasons, from the end of April until November. Altogether, 53 species were recorded during the survey, including 21 new records for the island. Along with literature records, 60 butterfly species have so far been recorded on Korčula. When compared with other Adriatic islands, only Cres, Lošinj, Krk and Brač have more butterfly species than Korčula. In general, the number of species, as well as species abundance, was very high in most localities, indicating the long-term persistence of suitable habitats on the island. Records of rare species such as Iolana iolas, Cupido minimus, Aglais urticae, Satyrus ferula and Pyrgus armoricanus present important extensions of their known ranges on the islands and in Dalmatia.

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