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Updated: May 10, 2026
06:58
High-Throughput Assays of Critical Thermal Limits in Insects
Published on: June 15, 2020
Insects overshoot the expected upslope shift caused by climate warming
Claus Bässler1, Torsten Hothorn, Roland Brandl
1Department of Research, Bavarian Forest National Park, Grafenau, Germany. claus.baessler@npv-bw.bayern.de
Plos One
|June 14, 2013
Summary
Climate warming causes upslope shifts in animal range margins, but not plants. Insect lineages showed unexpected non-linear responses, highlighting varied impacts of climate change on biodiversity and ecosystems.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Climate Change Biology
- Zoology
Background:
- Climate warming drives upslope shifts in species' range margins.
- These shifts are species-specific and vary across taxonomic groups.
- Understanding lineage-specific responses is crucial for predicting biodiversity changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare upper range margin shifts of plants, beetles, flies, hymenoptera, and birds between 1902-1904 and 2006-2007.
- To assess the influence of temperature changes versus habitat conditions on these shifts.
- To investigate non-linear responses to temperature in different taxonomic lineages.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of historical (1902-1904) and recent (2006-2007) species distribution data in the Bavarian Forest.
- Calculation of expected upslope shifts based on regional temperature increase and lapse rate.
- Analysis of range margin shifts across five distinct taxonomic lineages.
Main Results:
- Animal lineages (birds, insects) showed upslope shifts, while plants did not.
- Observed animal shifts were attributed to temperature changes, not habitat alterations.
- Insect lineages exhibited shifts exceeding predictions, suggesting non-linear temperature responses.
Conclusions:
- Taxonomic lineages display significant differences in their response to climate change.
- The response of ectothermic animals to warming may not align with simple temperature shifts.
- Observed range shifts can reorganize ecological communities and impact ecosystem processes.
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