Scientists are calling on the public to help track how British butterflies are moving north as the climate heats up.
Examining 50 years of data, researchers from the wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation, which runs the annual Big Butterfly Count, have identified a clear northerly shift among many species, including the familiar garden favourites the comma, peacock and holly blue.
This is the result of climate breakdown creating warmer habitats, letting certain breeds grow substantially. The migratory red admiral is one example; typically found in southern England in the summer before migrating to Europe for winter, these winged creatures now reside year-round in the UK. Their populations have also increased threefold.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
Scientists are calling on the public to help track how British butterflies are moving north as the climate heats up.
The migratory red admiral is one example; typically found in southern England in the summer before migrating to Europe for winter, these winged creatures now reside year-round in the UK.
Previously only seen in the south-west of England, the day-flying moth was first spotted as far north as London during the 2021 Big Butterfly Count.
Dr Zoë Randle, the senior surveys officer at Butterfly Conservation, said: “We’re also seeing other species which have previously suffered severe declines, such as the comma, recovering, with a huge increase of 94% in where it is found.
This means that if climate change continues, they could become trapped in isolated fragments of remaining habitat, facing the very real threat of extinction.
With up to 80% of Britain’s butterflies already showing signs of depletion in either population number or distribution, observing their patterns and preserving habitats is imperative.
The original article contains 531 words, the summary contains 163 words. Saved 69%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
