Extreme weather impacts on butterfly populations in Southern Texas, USA

• Published in: Journal of insect conservation 2024-02, Vol.28 (1), p.89-102
• Main Authors: Zerlin, Rebecca R., Elissetche, Juan C., Campbell, Tyler A., Patrock, Richard J., Wester, David B., Rideout-Hanzak, Sandra
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abundance; Animal Ecology; Biodiversity; Biomedical and Life Sciences; butterflies; Butterflies & moths; climate; Climate change; Climate prediction; cold; Conservation Biology/Ecology; Controlled burning; ecoregions; Entomology; Extreme weather; fire regime; Home range; Hurricanes; Insects; Life Sciences; Low temperature; Original Paper; Populations; Prairies; prescribed burning; Prescribed fire; refuge habitats; Refugia; species; Storms; summer; Texas; Weather; Winter; Winter storms
• ISSN: 1366-638X; 1572-9753
• DOI: 10.1007/s10841-023-00525-4

Climate change is altering biodiversity of ecosystems worldwide by causing shifts in species’ home ranges, potential extinctions of species, and Extreme Climatic Events (ECEs), such as hurricanes and extreme temperatures. The purpose of this study was to examine effects of two extreme weather events on butterfly populations in the Gulf Prairies and Marshes ecoregion in Willacy and Kenedy Counties, TX, USA. These weather events occurred during an ongoing study of effects of prescribed burning during summer or winter on butterfly populations. We tested effects of Category 1 Hurricane Hanna by comparing butterfly abundance in the month prior to and following the hurricane (July and August 2020). We tested effects of Winter Storm Uri by comparing butterfly abundance in the three months following the storm (March through May 2021) with abundance during the same period in the previous year (March through May 2020). We measured no effect of the Category 1 hurricane on butterfly populations overall and across all prescribed fire regimes. There was a significant reduction in butterfly abundance following the 2021 winter storm, and effects depended on prescribed fire regime. Our findings indicate that extremely cold temperatures in subtropical regions will likely have greater negative effects on butterfly populations than low-magnitude hurricanes. Implications for insect conservation With extreme climate events (ECEs) predicted to increase in the future, measures should be taken to provide protection and refugia for butterflies, particularly from prolonged, uncharacteristically low temperatures. Protection includes maintaining undisturbed areas with accumulated plant matter, in preparation for these unpredictable events.