Monarch Butterflies: Rising Temperatures Threaten Survival
- Rising temperatures are decreasing monarch butterflies' ability to fight off a common parasite,potentially threatening the species' iconic migration,according to a new study from the University of Georgia.
- Researchers found that monarch butterflies exposed to elevated temperatures exhibited 22% less tolerance to infection from Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (OE), a parasite first discovered in the 1960s.
- The prevalence of OE infections in monarch populations has increased dramatically since 2002, more than tripling during that period.
Warmer temperatures Weaken Monarch Butterflies‘ Resistance to Parasites
Rising temperatures are decreasing monarch butterflies’ ability to fight off a common parasite,potentially threatening the species’ iconic migration,according to a new study from the University of Georgia.
Researchers found that monarch butterflies exposed to elevated temperatures exhibited 22% less tolerance to infection from Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (OE), a parasite first discovered in the 1960s. OE infection can lead to reduced wingspans, lower body weight, and shorter lifespans in adult monarchs, and also hinder their ability to complete their annual migration.
The prevalence of OE infections in monarch populations has increased dramatically since 2002, more than tripling during that period.
“What dose tolerance of an infection mean? If you have the flu, it’s the difference between you being in the hospital or just having a stuffy nose,” says Sonia Altizer, lead author of the study and head of the entomology department at the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. “Monarchs took a bigger hit if thay were infected when temperatures were higher.”
The study’s findings highlight the vulnerability of monarch butterflies to climate change. Read more at Futurity.