Spatio-temporal ecological niche modelling of multigenerational insect migrations

Sep 5, 2019Proceedings. Biological sciences

Modeling how insect migration patterns change across space and time over multiple generations

AI simplified

Circadian Biology on OpenScience ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Abstract

The Painted Lady butterfly migration cycle could encompass about 15,000 km in latitude from northernmost Europe to equatorial Africa.

Temporal and spatial factors are essential for modeling the ecological niches of migratory animals.
Data from 36 years and 646 breeding sites across 30 countries were utilized for the analysis.
Breeding records are linked to specific months and years, facilitating time-partitioned modeling.
Obligated latitudinal movements were observed for successive generations of the Painted Lady butterfly.
High probabilities of reproduction are limited to scattered locations throughout the year.
January and February are identified as potentially vulnerable periods for the species due to low habitat suitability.

AI simplified

Modelling ecological niches of migratory animals requires incorporating a temporal dimension, in addition to space. Here, we introduce an approach to model multigenerational migratory insects using time-partitioned environmental variables (by months and years) and time- and behaviour-partitioned records (breeding records to model reproductive habitat). We apply this methodology to modelling the Palearctic-African migratory cycle of the Painted Lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui), based on data encompassing 36 years (646 breeding sites from 30 countries). Each breeding record is linked to a particular time (month and year), and the associated values of the bioclimatic variables are used for an ensemble modelling strategy, to finally obtain monthly projections. The results show obligated movements, mostly latitudinal, for the species' successive generations across the overall range, and only scattered locations show high probabilities of reproduction year-round. The southernmost reproductive areas estimated for the Palearctic-African migratory pool reach equatorial latitudes from December to February. We thus propose a potential distribution for the winter 'missing generations' that would expand the V. cardui migration cycle to encompass about 15 000 km in latitude, from northernmost Europe to equatorial Africa. In summer, Europe represents the major temporary resource for V. cardui, while January and February show the lowest overall suitability values, and they are potentially the most vulnerable period for the species to suffer yearly bottlenecks. In summary, we demonstrate the potential of the proposed niche modelling strategy to investigate migratory movements of insects.

Full Text

Full text is available at the source.

View full text (PDF) ↗View full text (XML) ↗View full text ↗

Spatio-temporal ecological niche modelling of multigenerational insect migrations

Abstract

Full Text

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief