Climate Change: Butterfly Species Face Extinction by 2050 as Droughts Worsen (VIDEO)

First Posted: Aug 11, 2015 09:33 AM EDT

Severe drought isn't just impacting crops. It could also cause butterflies to go extinct by 2050. Scientists have found that drought-sensitive butterflies could experience population extinctions in the UK if current predicted climate conditions continue.

"The results are worrying," said Tom Oliver, one of the researchers, in a news release. "Until I started this research, I hadn't quite realized the magnitude and potential impacts from climate change. For drought-sensitive butterflies, and potentially other taxa, widespread population extinctions are expected by 2050. To limit these losses, both habitat restoration and reducing CO2 emissions have a role. In fact, a combination of both is necessary."

The researchers combined data form 129 sites for 28 species that were monitored as part of the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme. The researchers also examined trajectories for CO2 emissions and climate models.

In all, the researchers identified six species of drought-sensitive butterflies, including the ringlet, the speckled wood, large skipper, large white, small white and green-veined white, that would be most likely to go extinct by 2050 even under the most favorable emissions scenario.

"We consider the average response across Great Britain," said Oliver. "Losses are likely to be more severe in drier areas with more intensive land use, whilst wetter areas with less fragmented habitat will provide refugia. We assume that butterflies won't have time to evolve to become more drought-tolerant, because their populations are already small, and evolution would need to be very rapid. The study looked at butterflies but the conclusions are potentially valid for other species such as birds, beetles, moths and dragonflies."

The findings reveal the importance of curtailing CO2 emissions in order to prevent rises in temperature and drought. With that said, it's also important to institute conservation strategies now in order to preserve these species.

The findings are published in the journal Nature Climate Change.