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Climatic change is advancing the phenology of moth species in Ireland

O’Neill, Bridget F.; Bond, Ken; Tyner, Angus; Sheppard, Ralph; Bryant, Tony; Chapman, Jason; Bell, James; Donnelly, Alison

Authors

Bridget F. O’Neill

Ken Bond

Angus Tyner

Ralph Sheppard

Tony Bryant

Jason Chapman

Alison Donnelly



Contributors

O'Neill, Bridget F.
Other

Bond, Ken
Other

Tyner, Angus
Other

Sheppard, Ralph
Other

Bryant, Tony
Other

Chapman, Jason
Other

Bell, James
Other

Donnelly, Alison
Other

Abstract

Recent increases in global temperatures have contributed to advancing phenology of plants and animals. These increases in temperature have been shown to affect the phenological phases (phenophases) of plants and birds in Ireland, but less is known about the effect on the phenophases of Irish insects. Records of the flight periods of 59 species of Irish moths over the past 35 years (1974–2009) were obtained from a public monitoring group. Observations were analysed across the country using generalized additive models (GAMs) weighted by total yearly population numbers for each species. The results of the statistical analyses showed that 45 of the 59 species studied have a significantly earlier first sighting date now than when observations began. With this earlier emergence, 44 of the 59 species also have a significantly longer flight season over the same 35-year period. The extent of these changes varies across the country and by species life history. In particular, species emerging in spring are advancing at a much faster rate than species emerging during the summer. Many of these changes in first sighting are negatively correlated with rising temperatures in Ireland, particularly in late spring and early summer (May and June). The variation in phenological advancement in the moth species of Ireland is extremely complex and may be influenced more by species life history than by the phenology of interacting species, such as host plants.

Citation

O’Neill, B. F., Bond, K., Tyner, A., Sheppard, R., Bryant, T., Chapman, J., …Donnelly, A. (2012). Climatic change is advancing the phenology of moth species in Ireland. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, 143(1), 74-88. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1570-7458.2012.01234.x

Journal Article Type Article
Online Publication Date Mar 1, 2012
Publication Date 2012-04
Deposit Date Feb 9, 2024
Journal Entomologia Experimentalis Et Applicata
Print ISSN 0013-8703
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 143
Issue 1
Pages 74-88
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1570-7458.2012.01234.x
Publisher URL https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1570-7458.2012.01234.x