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New species records for butterflies (Lepidoptera) on Herschel Island, Yukon, Canada, with notes on natural history

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 March 2013

Maria C. Leung  and
Donald G. Reid
Maria C. Leung*
Affiliation:
Wild Tracks Ecological Consulting, 39 Harbottle Road, Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada Y1A 5T2
Donald G. Reid
Affiliation:
Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, PO Box 31127, Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada Y1A 5T2
*
1Corresponding author (e-mail: Leungreid@northwestel.net).
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Abstract

Comparisons of past and current butterfly species distributions are being used to gauge the effects of climatic change in various parts of the world. Historic butterfly records from Herschel Island, Yukon, Canada, presented an opportunity to do such a comparison in an Arctic tundra region known to have a diverse butterfly fauna. We compared historic species records (1916–1983) with newly collected ones (2007–2009) to assess possible changes in species distributions. Of the 21 species documented for Herschel Island, six were newly found and two were not reconfirmed. We postulate that warmer temperatures facilitated the apparent northerly range expansions of several species by making butterfly flight and dispersal possible. This is supported by interannual comparisons on a smaller time scale, 2007–2009. During this period, we observed accelerated butterfly phenology and higher relative abundance of butterflies associated with earlier snowmelt and with earlier and more intense early summer heating.

Résumé

Des comparaisons des distributions antérieures et actuelles d'espèces de papillons sont utilisées afin d’évaluer les effets des changements climatiques dans différentes parties du monde. Des inventaires historiques de papillons de l’île Herschel au Yukon (Canada) offrent une opportunité de faire une telle comparaison dans une région arctique de toundra connue pour la diversité de sa faune de papillons. Nous avons comparé les inventaires historiques (1916–1983) avec des inventaires récents (2007–2009) afin d’évaluer de possibles changements de distribution des espèces. Parmi les 21 espèces documentées pour l’île Herschel, il y avait six nouvelles espèces et deux qui n'ont pas été reconfirmées. Nous suggérons que les températures plus chaudes facilitent l'expansion nordique apparente de plusieurs espèces en permettant le vol et la dispersion des papillons. Ceci est supporté par les comparaisons interannuelles sur une plus petite échelle de temps, de 2007 à 2009. Durant cette période, nous avons observé une phénologie accélérée chez les papillons et une plus grande abondance relative des papillons associés avec une fonte des neiges hâtive et avec des chaleurs de début d’été plus hâtives et plus intenses.

Type
Biodiversity & Evolution – NOTE
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 145 , Special Issue 2: Arctic Entomology in the 21st Century , April 2013 , pp. 227 - 234
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 2013

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