Effects of climate change on altitudinal distribution, trophic interactions and genetic diversity of butterflies in low-mountain regions.

气候变化被认为是对生物多样性的主要威胁。由于气温升高，动植物物种的分布和丰富度在海拔和纬度上发生了变化。然而，气候变化对昆虫种群的多营养相互作用和遗传多样性的影响研究很少。在这个项目中，我们将通过(1)比较当前和历史的分布数据，(2)进行野外实验，以及(3)沿海拔梯度分析种群遗传学，来研究气候变化对蝴蝶的潜在影响。土地利用变化的额外量化提供了对这两个因素的相对重要性的洞察。在德国巴伐利亚州(FichtelgeBirge)的一个低山地区，目前出现的蝴蝶物种将与50至60年前的详细历史发生数据进行比较。为了分析蝴蝶寄主及其寄生蜂在时间和地理上的同步性，以及蝴蝶在不同海拔的局部适应，将进行相互移植实验。对于选定的蝴蝶物种，遗传多样性将沿着海拔梯度进行评估，并将与博物馆存档个体的遗传多样性进行比较。

Climate change is considered as a major threat to biodiversity. In consequence of rising temperatures, altitudinal and latitudinal shifts in distributions and abundances of plant and animal species have been observed. However, effects of climate change on multitrophic interactions and genetic diversity of insect populations have been rarely studied. In this project we will investigate the potential impact of climate change on butterflies by (1) comparing current and historical distribution data, (2) performing field experiments, and (3) analysing population genetics along an altitudinal gradient. The additional quantification of land use change provides insights into the relative importance of both factors. In a low-mountain region in Bavaria, Germany (Fichtelgebirge), current occurrences of butterfly species will be compared with detailed historical occurrence data 50 to 60 years ago. To analyse temporal and geographical synchronization of butterfly hosts and their parasitoids and local adaptations of butterflies at different altitudes a reciprocal transplant experiment will be performed. For a selected butterfly species genetic diversity will be assessed along an altitudinal gradient and will be compared with genetic diversity of archived museum individuals.