Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Christopher A. Halsch, Arthur M. Shapiro, James A. Fordyce, Chris C. Nice, James H. Thorne, David P. Waetjen, Matthew L. Forister
Summary: Insects have adapted to Earth's changing climate over millions of years, but recent climate change and anthropogenic pressures pose new challenges. Research shows that the impact of climate change on insects can be significant compared to changes in land use. A case study on butterflies in Northern California highlights the complexity of montane-adapted insects responding to changing abiotic conditions.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Amy S. Gill, Jeffrey C. Oliver, Helen Fitting, Brooke K. Kubby, Elise S. Gornish
Summary: Dryland restoration is challenging in arid and semiarid regions due to land degradation, non-native species, and climate change. This study in southeastern Arizona found that protecting agaves from herbivory and providing shade resulted in the highest survival rate, while shade alone led to larger agaves. Dense Lehmann lovegrass cover was found to protect agaves from direct sunlight and predation. Land managers can mechanically reduce Lehmann lovegrass or plant agaves in existing vegetation to promote population recovery of Palmer's agave.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Vivaswat Shastry, Katherine L. Bell, C. Alex Buerkle, James A. Fordyce, Matthew L. Forister, Zachariah Gompert, Sarah L. Lebeis, Lauren K. Lucas, Zach H. Marion, Chris C. Nice
Summary: In this study, the presence and genetic diversity of Wolbachia infections in North American butterflies of the genus Lycaeides were investigated using genotype-by-sequencing data. The results revealed high infection frequencies in most sampling localities, suggesting interspecific transfer between host lineages as the major mode of infection acquisition. Multiple Wolbachia strains were also observed, indicating complex dynamics between strains and hybridization between butterfly lineages.
G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Aramee C. Diethelm, Michael Reichelt, Thomas E. Dilts, James P. Farlin, Audrey Marlar, Elizabeth G. Pringle
Summary: Environmental stress can lead to changes in organismal traits and intraspecific variation, influenced by trait plasticity and ecological constraints. Plants can adjust to abiotic stress like drought through chemical changes, but the ability to produce costly metabolites may be limited by local selection and ecological constraints. Climate at the seed source predicts plant chemical plasticity in response to water stress, influencing intraspecific variation in phytochemical traits, showing that local adaptation can shape phytochemical strategies for water limitation.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Christopher A. Halsch, Sarah M. Hoyle, Aimee Code, James A. Fordyce, Matthew L. Forister
Summary: This study found widespread pesticide contamination in milkweed plants sold in nurseries across the US, with some pesticides known to have sub-lethal effects on monarch butterflies. There was only modest predictive ability of retailer size and milkweed species in determining pesticide levels.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Kathleen L. Prudic, Terese Maxine P. Cruz, Jazmyn I. B. Winzer, Jeffrey C. Oliver, Natalie A. Melkonoff, Hank Verbais, Andrew Hogan
Summary: Urban botanical gardens serve as habitats for local wildlife, particularly in the warm and dry climate of the southwest US. They exhibit higher numbers and diversity of butterfly species, acting as important green refugia for pollinators and other wildlife in the face of ongoing aridification due to climate change.
Article
Ecology
Thomas E. Dilts, Marcus E. Blum, Kevin T. Shoemaker, Peter J. Weisberg, Kelley M. Stewart
Summary: This paper introduces a technique that removes the correlation of topographic ruggedness with curvature to accurately represent fine-scale surface ruggedness. The modified ruggedness metrics passed ideal ruggedness criteria and accurately captured surface ruggedness. The habitat selection relationship between desert bighorn sheep and ruggedness was scale-dependent.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Thomas J. Dilts, Scott A. Black, Sarah L. Hoyle, Sarina Jepsen, Emily L. May, Matthew L. Forister
Summary: One of the defining features of the Anthropocene is the decline in ecosystem services and biodiversity caused by the reduction of common organisms, including insects, which play important roles in natural communities and agricultural systems. Protecting insects cannot rely solely on legal protection of distant natural areas, but also requires intelligent management of intensively farmed landscapes, such as the Central Valley of California. A modeling tool for landscape connectivity in insects, considering pollinators in particular, shows that connectivity is possible through the restoration or improvement of agricultural margins, which exceed natural areas in total area. The modeling approach is flexible and can be applied to study changes in land cover and pesticide application rates.
Article
Biology
Christopher A. Halsch, Dominic J. Zullo, Matthew L. Forister
Summary: The pressures of global change, including exposure to environmental toxins, introduction of non-native species, and climate change, have negative effects on the survival of caterpillars. High pesticide exposure and a non-native diet result in significant reductions in survival, while the interactive effects are weaker. This study suggests that the cumulative effects of stressors acting in isolation are sufficient to severely reduce survival and population persistence in the wild.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Christopher A. Halsch, Arthur M. Shapiro, James H. Thorne, Kyle C. Rodman, Adriana Parra, Lee A. Dyer, Zachariah Gompert, Angela M. Smilanich, Matthew L. Forister
Summary: This study examines the effects of climate change on butterfly populations through changes in weather patterns and plant productivity. The results show that snow pack has a positive effect on butterfly occurrence, while low snow pack during droughts leads to reductions in butterfly populations. Additionally, plant primary productivity has consistently negative effects on butterfly occurrence.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
