Is the expansion of the pine processionary moth, due to global warming, impacting the endangered Spanish moon moth through an induced change in food quality?

Abstract

Recent climate change is known to affect the distribution of a number of insect species, resulting in a modification of their range boundaries. In newly colonized areas, novel interactions become apparent between expanding and endemic species sharing the same host. The pine processionary moth is a highly damaging pine defoliator, extending its range northwards and upwards in response to winter warming. Its expansion in the Alps has resulted in an invasion into the range of the Spanish moon moth, a red listed species developing on Scots pine. Pine processionary moth larvae develop during winter, preceding those of the moon moth, which hatch in late spring. Using pine trees planted in a clonal design, we experimentally tested the effect of previous winter defoliation by pine processionary moth larvae upon the survival and development of moon moth larvae. Feeding on foliage of heavily defoliated trees (>50%) resulted in a significant increase in the development time of moon moth larvae and a decrease in relative growth rate compared to feeding on foliage of undefoliated trees. Dry weight of pupae also decreased when larvae were fed with foliage of defoliated trees, and might, therefore, affect imago performances. However, lower defoliation degrees did not result in significant differences in larval performances compared to the control. Because a high degree of defoliation by pine processionary moth is to be expected during the colonization phase, its arrival in subalpine pine stands might affect the populations of the endangered moon moth.

Which host‐dependent insects are most prone to coextinction under changed climates?

“…; Franzen and Ockinger ; Imbert et al. ; Hoiss et al. , ) and changes in obligate mutualisms with other organisms besides plants (Prado et al.…”

“…Insects that are able to remain within their original montane habitat (and perhaps thrive; see Nash et al 2013) may have additional stressors to cope with. These include competition and predation from lower altitudinal species expanding upward (Molina-Montenegro et al 2009;Franzen and Ockinger 2012;Imbert et al 2012;Hoiss et al 2012Hoiss et al , 2013 and changes in obligate mutualisms with other organisms besides plants (Prado et al 2010). The majority of montane studies (44) from our review highlighted that limited environmental tolerances were important, suggesting that many insect species would not be able to remain in situ with global warming.…”

Biological consequences of global change: opportunities and challenges

“…Charles-Edouard Imbert et al (2012) test the expansion of the pine processionary moth and monitor its impact on the endangered Spanish moon moth. Harold Koopowitz and Bradford A. Hawkins (2012) discuss species conservation strategies under global climate change.…”

Checklist of the genus Aparasphenodon Miranda-Ribeiro, 1920 (Anura: Hylidae): distribution map, and new record from São Paulo state, Brazil

“…Thus the new record presented here is of interest to the understanding of how climatic changes can affect species range expansion, a relatively well documented phenomenon for species inhabiting temperate areas (Melles et al 2011;Imbert et al 2012;Mair et al 2012), but that is still poorly addressed in tropical environments, such as the Atlantic Forest. Our results also point out that after more than 20 years without any further record Aparasphenodon brunoi is still present in the restinga forests of São Paulo state, a very anthropized environment in the São Paulo's Atlantic Forest, which obviously needs urgent conservation plans.…”