Butterflies Reeling from Impacts of Climate and Development

[Staff]

Butterflies Reeling from Impacts of Climate and Development
ScienceDaily
Jan. 12, 2010

Butterflies reeling from impacts of climate and development
excerpt from above:

Using a battery of statistical approaches, Shapiro and his colleagues concluded that climate change alone cannot account in full for the deteriorating low-elevation numbers. Land-use data show that the butterfly losses have been greatest where habitat has been converted from rural to urban and suburban types.

He added that one of the most surprising findings was that ruderal ("weedy") butterfly species that breed on "weedy" plants in disturbed habitats and are highly mobile are actually declining faster than "non-weedy" species -- those that specialize in one habitat type....

[TheLorax]

I find it encouraging the authors noted habitat destruction as being primarly responsible for the decline of our beloved butterflies.

With each and every nutritionally deficient ornamental plant sold, the continued degradation of what little habitat is left becomes increasingly apparent. We are whittling away at habitat when we choose plants poorly.