Phenological sensitivity and seasonal variability explain climate-driven trends in Mediterranean butterflies.

ABSTRACT: Although climate-driven phenological shifts have been documented for many taxa across the globe, we still lack knowledge of the consequences they have on populations. Here, we used a comprehensive database comprising 553 populations of 51 species of north-western Mediterranean butterflies to investigate the relationship between phenology and population trends in a 26-year period. Phenological trends and sensitivity to climate, along with various species traits, were used to predict abundance trends. Key ecological traits accounted for a general decline of more than half of the species, most of which, surprisingly, did not change their phenology under a climate warming scenario. However, this was related to the regional cooling in a short temporal window that includes late winter and early

SUBMITTER: Colom P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9043697 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature