[Leps-l] Butterflies and climate change

[Paul Cherubini]

On Aug 23, 2012, at 8:22 AM, Jim Mason wrote:
> Field data supports a species shift over the last
>
> two decades in Massachusetts.
>

The authors say:

"The study outlines the growth and decline of butterfly species in
Massachusetts during the past two decades. During this time,
the study found that warm-climate-adapted butterfly species
have grown by an estimated 1,000 percent, while
cold-climate-adapted species, which have long been
native to the Bay State, have declined -- some by up
to 90 percent."

But the authors don't tell the public or reporters what actually
happened to temperatures in Massachusetts in recent
decades vs the past.

Here's a look at annual mean temperatures in MA
between 1895-2011:
http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/4ALC/maann.jpg

I don't see anything in that graph that shows the 1990's
and 2000's have been substantially warmer than some
previous 20 year periods.   The graph also shows there
have been some decades long cool periods during which
warm-climate-adapted species could have declined in
Massachusetts.

Paul Cherubini
El Dorado, Calif.