Butterflies around the world are changing habitats – and experts say it’s ‘signalling a warning’

New research shows early-warning species is on the move, expanding or contracting geographic range and changing altitude Butterflies, often considered a “sentinel of change”, are on the move across every continent they inhabit, shifting to survive as global heating reshapes their environment. About one in 10 species have already expanded or contracted their geographic range, or shifted in altitude, according to a global study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution. Lead author Dr Shawan Chowdhury, head of Monash University’s Global Change Ecology Lab, said the study, which analysed shifts in 1,758 species across 105 countries, revealed the “astonishing” scale of change, largely driven by climate change and extreme weather. “Butterflies are early‑warning indicators and are signalling a warning across the entire planet. If their ranges shift this dramatically, it signals profound changes across ecosystems,” he said. About 80% of butterflies that shifted expanded their ranges, often moving into newly suitable areas as temperatures rise. Some moved surprisingly fast, he said. The tawny coster butterfly – originally native to India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka – entere