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| Associations between biological traits of animals and climate are well documented by
physiological and local-scale studies. However, whether an ecophysiological phenomenon can
affect large-scale biogeographical patterns of insects is largely unknown. Insects absorb
energy from the sun to become mobile, and their colouration varies depending on the
prevailing climate where they live. Here we show, using data of 473 European butterfly and
dragonfly species, that dark-coloured insect species are favoured in cooler climates and
light-coloured species in warmer climates. By comparing distribution maps of dragonflies
from 1988 and 2006, we provide support for a mechanistic link between climate, functional
traits and species that affects geographical distributions even at continental scales. Our
results constitute a foundation for better forecasting the effect of climate change on many
insect groups. | |
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