Range shifts of subtropical butterflies under climate change

• Main Authors: Hsueh-YiPan, 潘學儀
• Other Authors: I-Ching Chen
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2015
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/04818355856319907511

博士 === 國立成功大學 === 生命科學系 === 103 === According to IPCC AR5, global temperature has increased 0.85°C from 1880 to 2012. Increasing temperature has forced species shifting to higher latitude or higher elevation in search of cooler climate. However, such evidence has been lacking for tropical lowlands. Here we report the first warming induced species range shifts in the subtropical area. We identified a qualified historical butterfly survey conducted by Endemic Species Research Institute (ESRI) in central Taiwan (23°N-25°N) from 1993 to 1998. We resurveyed 26 sites, using the same field protocol and with the help of the original researchers. We found that the centroids of butterfly distributions have shifted to higher latitude by 10.9 km for the past two decades, in responding to 0.18°C warming during this period. Ninety–two percent of the species have followed their climate niche. Idiosyncratic species responses were found but none of following biological traits - historical distribution, body size or larval host plant specificity explained the variation. Furthermore, species richness pattern along elevation changed from hump-shape to linear decline with elevation.