Successful despite poor flight performance: range expansion is associated with enhanced exploratory behaviour and...

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Zoology

Background:

• Anthropogenic environmental changes necessitate species adaptations, including range shifts.
• Range expansions rely on both dispersal capabilities and successful establishment in new territories.
• Understanding adaptations in expanding populations is crucial for predicting species' responses to climate change.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare core and edge populations of the northward expanding butterfly Lycaena tityrus.
• To identify traits in edge populations that facilitate range expansion.
• To investigate sex-specific differences in morphology and behavior related to dispersal.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of established core populations and newly established edge populations of Lycaena tityrus.
• Assessment of developmental times, body size, thermal sensitivity, and exploratory behavior.
• Evaluation of flight endurance and exploratory behavior differences between males and females.

Main Results:

• Edge populations of Lycaena tityrus showed shorter development times, smaller body size, higher heat sensitivity, and enhanced exploratory behavior compared to core populations.
• These differences suggest local adaptation and increased dispersal ability in edge populations.
• Males exhibited longer flight endurance and more pronounced exploratory behavior than females.

Conclusions:

• Enhanced exploratory behavior in edge populations is a key factor facilitating the current range expansion of Lycaena tityrus.
• The observed adaptations in edge populations provide insights into species' responses to environmental change.
• Sex-specific behavioral differences, particularly in males, may further contribute to dispersal and range expansion dynamics.