Species richness changes lag behind climate change

Species-energy theory indicates that recent climate warming should have driven increases in species richness in cool and species-poor parts of the Northern Hemisphere. We confirm that the average species richness of British butterflies has increased since 1970-82, but much more slowly than predicted...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the Royal Society. B, Biological sciences Biological sciences, 2006-06, Vol.273 (1593), p.1465-1470
Main Authors: Menéndez, Rosa, Megías, Adela González, Hill, Jane K., Braschler, Brigitte, Willis, Stephen G., Collingham, Yvonne, Fox, Richard, Roy, David B., Thomas, Chris D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal Migration
Animals
Biodiversity
Butterflies
Butterflies - physiology
Climate
Climate Change
Climate models
Geography
Global warming
Greenhouse Effect
Habitats
Materials
Modeling
Neural Networks, Computer
Papilionoidea
Species
Species diversity
Species extinction
Species Richness
United Kingdom
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Summary:Species-energy theory indicates that recent climate warming should have driven increases in species richness in cool and species-poor parts of the Northern Hemisphere. We confirm that the average species richness of British butterflies has increased since 1970-82, but much more slowly than predicted from changes of climate: on average, only one-third of the predicted increase has taken place. The resultant species assemblages are increasingly dominated by generalist species that were able to respond quickly. The time lag is confirmed by the successful introduction of many species to climatically suitable areas beyond their ranges. Our results imply that it may be decades or centuries before the species richness and composition of biological communities adjusts to the current climate.
ISSN:0962-8452
1471-2954
DOI:10.1098/rspb.2006.3484