A study published on Monday has revealed that many native species of butterfly may soon become extinct due to climate change, Livemint reports.
The study was conducted by scientists led by Tom Oliver of the NERC Centre of Ecology and Hydrology in Britain. The scientists studied data from 129 sites to see how 28 species coped up with a severe drought in 1995. Scientists believe that hot spells will become common as global warming sets in.
Scientists have warned that certain British Isles species will not make it beyond mid century, if efforts to control global warming are not intensified.
According to Livemint, scientists reported in the journal Nature Climate Change, "Widespread, drought-sensitive butterfly population extinction could occur as early as 2050."
The only methods by which the chances of survival of these species can be increased are by protecting wilderness areas and reducing fragmentation of natural habitats combined with a two degree Celsius cap on global warming.
More than a fifth of the species, the Ringlet, the Speckled Wood and the Large Skipper, experienced major population decrease during 1995.
The scientists also warned that warming-enhanced drought may have a similar impact on bees, dragonflies and beetles, thus posing a threat to our biodiversity.
