Butterflies Shed Light on How Some Species Respond to Global Warming
With global warming and climate change making headlines nearly every day, it could be reassuring to know that some creatures might cope by gradually moving to new areas as their current ones become less hospitable. Nevertheless, natural relocation of species is not something that can be taken for granted, according to Jessica Hellmann, Associate Professor at the University of Notre Dame Department of Biological Science in Notre Dame, Ind. By studying two species of butterfly, she and her team have found evidence suggesting that a number of genetic variables affect whether and how well a species will relocate.
Dr. Hellmann and her team have conducted a series of studies in which manipulating the temperature of the butterfly larvae’s environment revealed how the two species might respond to global warming. She will discuss the team’s work at the 2010 American Physiological Society’s Intersociety Meeting in Westminster, Colo., August 4-7. The program is entitled, Global Change and Global Science: Comparative Physiology in a Changing World.
Duskywing and Swallowtail Butterflies: Coping with Change
The Notre Dame team studied the larvae — or caterpillar phase — of two butterfly species, the Propertius duskywing butterfly (Erynnis propertius) and the Anise swallowtail butterfly (Papilio zelicaon). These butterflies, both cold-blooded insects, were chosen because of their ecological differences but they live in the same ecosystem, allowing Dr. Hellmann to compare their responses in a single study.
The duskywing is a small butterfly that does not easily fly great distances and stays close to the West Coast of the United States. Because it does not fly great distances, the genetic makeup of the group does not spread very far. The species is also characterized by the fact that its larvae consume only the new leaves of oak trees, making it highly specialized. The Anise swallowtail, on the other hand, is a much larger butterfly, and can fly greater distances with greater ease. Its genes are more likely to be spread out over a larger range as its flies between the Rocky Mountains and westward to and around California. The swallowtail larvae eat an assortment of plants, which also helps to spread genes across its range.
The researchers performed a number of experiments between butterfly larvae from the northernmost ranges of their habitat (Vancouver Island, Canada; “northern larvae”) and butterflies from the central part of their habitat (California and southwest Oregon; “central larvae”). They exposed each group of larvae to conditions simulating the other group’s summer and winter climates and fed each group food grown in the other group’s location, all with a special focus on how the northern larvae responded. According to Dr. Hellmann, understanding how populations at the edge of a species’ range respond to warming will provide insight on whether the species will shift with climate change.
The team theorized that northern members of a species whose genes are more spread out, like the swallowtail’s, might be pre-adapted to rising temperatures and could perhaps even thrive as the northern climate gets warmer. Conversely, species like the duskytail, whose genes are not as spread out, could be locally adapted to climatic conditions at the edge of the range and northern populations might reduce under climate change.
Either way, it boils down to whether the species in Vancouver would respond positively to their climate becoming more like California’s. So far, the answer for both species is “no,” for different reasons in each species.
“In summer conditions, the duskywing larvae grew bigger, faster, and they survived better, which suggested that they liked it warmer, but winter was another story,” said Dr. Hellmann. “In the warmer winter, they increased metabolism and burned through energy faster. This suggests that they were adapted to the cooler winters of Vancouver.”
As for northern swallowtails in central conditions, “They just didn’t care,” Dr. Hellmann said. “They didn’t respond to warming at all. They didn’t do better or worse. This means that assumptions about warming possibly benefiting species [with more spread out genes], particularly at the northern edge of the range, are not appropriate.”
The Genetic Connection
The team has begun studying the genetic explanation for how the two species respond to warming. They are investigating what genes are responsible for the individualized responses, and will use genomic tools to learn which genes are involved when the species is experiencing climate change, said Dr. Hellmann. “We will also try to determine which genes these butterflies are synthesizing when they experience climate warming. We want to know if northern and southern members of the same species are expressing their genome differently or the same.”
The answers may explain the differences between various populations of the same species — northern vs. central — and why some species might not be inclined to relocate as the climate heats up.
“Expecting creatures to pick up and move north makes sense theoretically,” Dr. Hellmann said. “But the reality is that genetic and physiological interactions are so complicated, it’s hard to imagine how it will play out for all species everywhere.”
Dr. Hellmann leads the research team comprised of Shannon Pelini, Jason Dzurisin, Shawn O’Neil and Scott Emrich, all of the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN; and Caroline Williams and Brent Sinclair, of the University of Western Ontario, London, ON, CN. Dr. Hellman will discuss the team’s work the conference, Global Change and Global Science: Comparative Physiology in a Changing World, being held August 4-7, 2010.
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the University of Notre Dame Department of Biological Science in Notre Dame, scientists tested two types of butterflies to see how they would react to certain climates. The butterflies were studied as larvae, or caterpilars. The types were Propertius duskywing butterfly and Anise swallowtail butterfly. In summer conditions, the duskywing larvae grew bigger and thrived. the other species did not show much response to the change in climate conditions
It seems at though global warming and climate change are making healdines everyday. However, some creatures seem to be coping by gradually moving to new areas. Dr. Hellmann and her team at The University of Notre Dame Department of Biological Science in Notre Dame, Ind have been studying two differnet species of butterflys (Duskywing and Swallowtail Butterflies) and have found evidence of whether and how a species will relocate. The swallowtail’s, might be pre-adapted to the rising temperatures and could maybe even survive as the northern climate gets warmer. However,many species like the duskwig, whos genes are not spread out, could be locally adapted to climatic conditions at the edge of the range and northern populations might reduce under climate change. In conclusion, studying is still in effect of the explanation for how the two species respond to warming.
this blog is about a group of scientist in Notre Dame who are testing weather species ( butterflies ) would be able to adapt or relocate during global warming. they had two different species of butterflies and exposed each group to the others conditions. what they had found was that the butterflies who were smaller and could not fly as far had a harder time adjusting to climate change while the species that was bigger and could fly farther having a more diverse gene pool did wel almost thrived onthe other conditions. this showed that they had more diverse genes whitch had better adapted them for climate change.
The Notre Dame reseach team that is preforming a series of tests on how butterflies are recacting to global warming. The team is preforming tests on two different kinds of butterflies, Anise swallowtail butterfly and Propertius duskywing. The butterflies were exposed to the other larvae group’s summer and winter climates. After observing the butterflies in the enviroments, the began studying the genetic explanations for how the two species respond to warming. “Expecting creatures to pick up and move north makes sense theoretically, But the reality is that genetic and physiological interactions are so complicated, it’s hard to imagine how it will play out for species everywhere.” Dr. Hellmann stated.
1. Two butterfly species were studied by a research team from Notre Dame to see how well the butterfly species can relocate when their environment changes.
2. The study will control temperature in the butterfly environment to help understand how the butterflies will adapt to global warming.
3. The study was for the caterpiller phase of the duskywing and the swallowtail butterflies.
4. The duskywing is small, doesn’t fly far, stays on the west coast, and only eats new leaves on oak trees.
5. The swallowtail is a large butterfly, it flies great distances, its range is from the Rocky Mountains to California, and it eats a variety of plants.
From this passage, i learned how global warming could effect two types of butterflies and their migration patterns. The Duskywing, and the Swallowtail Butterflies greatly differ in their ability to adapt to heat. The Duskywing does much better in the summer than it does in the winter, although in the winter, its metabolism lets itself burn through matter faster, so its about equal. The Swallowtail can adapt to any heat, and can travel great distances so as it gets hotter, they can travel to different areas, seeking a better environment. overall, the butterflies can adapt to the change of global warming, does this say anything about what other creatures are able to do?
Professor Jessica Hellmann at the University of Notre Dame decided to do a series of studies with her team. They are studying how a spiecies of butterflys react to global warming. These two spiecies names are the Duskywing and the Swallowtail Butterflies. They are both cold blooded butterflys and were picked to study because they have ecological differences or there relationship differences and they also live in the same ecosystem. Jessica Hellman and her team have started the studies and she will tell about her and her teams progress at the Global Change and Global Science Conference being held in August.
The University of Notre Dame Department of Biological Science in Notre Dame, scientists tested two types of butterflies to see how they would react to certain climates. The butterflies were studied as larvae, or caterpilars. The types were Propertius duskywing butterfly and Anise swallowtail butterfly. In summer conditions, the duskywing larvae grew bigger and thrived. the other species did not show much response to the change in climate conditions
Jessica Hellman, a proffesor at Notre Dame, and her research team have been observing two butterfly species on how they react to the global warming. The two species that they were testing were the swallowtail and the duskwing butterfly. The species that would be able to adapt to the global warming the best would be the swallowtail butterfly. The reason is that they are able to adapt to their climate very easily and travel long distances. This means that they are able to migrate to another area very easily if their current area’s climate becomes too extreme. The duskwing can also thrive in warm climates but is more accustomed to the northern cold winter. This means that if global warming occured, then the northern populations of the duskwings would drop. This adaption is caused by the order of the genes. The swallowtails genes are more spread out for adaptation while the duskwing’s are closely grouped and meant for withstanding cold weather.
Jessica Hellmann, indicated by studying two different speices of butterflies, that a number of genetic variables affect whether and how well a species will relocate. Hellmann and her team have experimented in which manipulating the temperature of the butterfly larvae’s environment uncovered the truth about how the two species might react to Global Warming. The team had made a theory that northern members of a species whose genes are more spread out, might be adapted to rising temperatures and could even thrive as the northern climate gets warm. Soon the team began studying the explination for how the speicies, respond to the change. This experiment might point out why a certain speices may not be able to relocate for the change.
this blog is about a group of scientist in Notre Dame who are testing weather species ( butterflies ) would be able to adapt or relocate during global warming. It seems at though global warming and climate change are making healdines everyday. However, some creatures seem to be coping by gradually moving to new areas. Dr. Hellmann and her team at The University of Notre Dame Department of Biological Science in Notre Dame, Ind have been studying two differnet species of butterflys (Duskywing and Swallowtail Butterflies) and have found evidence of whether and how a species will relocate.
The Notre Dame reseach team that is preforming a series of tests on how butterflies are recacting to global warming. The team is preforming tests on two different kinds of butterflies, Anise swallowtail butterfly and Propertius duskywing. The butterflies are exposed to the other larvae group’s summer and winter climates. After observing the butterflies in the enviroments, they began studying the genetic explanations for how the two species respond to the warming. Expecting creatures to pick up and move north makes sense theoretically, But the reality is that genetic and physiological interactions are so complicated, it’s hard to imagine how it will play out for species everywhere. This experiment might point out why a certain speices may not be able to relocate for the change.
With global warming happening some creatures might cope by gradually moving to new areas. Jessica Hellmann a professer that works at the University of Notre Dame is comparing to types of butterfly species. One is the Anise Swallowtail, and Propertius Duskywing, they are both cold blooded. The University is investigating what genes are responsible for the individualized responses. When the University exposed the butterflys to the summer conditionsit turned out that the Anise Swallowtail’s larvae did not change much and when the Propertius Duskywing was exposed it’s larvae grew bigger.
For many years, we have known that animals respond to stimulus. Just recently within the last century we have discovered that due to global warming, animals are responding. Notre Dame University has done a study on an insect (butterflies) to see whether they respond to the global warming. The have two different species of butterfly tested to ensure that the change is because of a response to stimulus, rather than just the species. They are given a gradual heat change to see whether their migration patterns change.
1. With global warming making headlines nearly every day it could be good to know that some creatures might cope by gradually moving to new areas.
2. A natural relocation of species is not something that can be taken for granted. 3. By studying two species of butterfly, Their team found evidence suggesting that a number of genetic variables affect whether and how well a species will relocate.
4. The Notre Dame team studied the larvae of two butterfly species, the Propertius duskywing butterflyand the Anise swallowtail butterfly.
5. These butterflies are both cold-blooded insects were chosen because of their ecological differences but they live in the same ecosystem.
1. Butterflies Shed Light on How Some Species Respond to Global Warming
2. 2010
3. There is no auther lissted.
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5. The duskwing buterfly is a small buterfly that doesn’t fly great distances and stays on the west coast of the united states.