Moths and butterflies are among the most sensitive indicators of climate change in habitats in the countryside, according to the National Biodiversity Data Centre (NBDC).
At a two-day conference that finished in Waterford Institute of Technology yesterday, more than 80 scientists and environmentalists agreed butterflies should be adopted as indicators of climate change and a national butterfly monitoring scheme should be established to track habitat changes .
Dr Liam Lysaght of the NBDC said changes in the behaviour of butterflies and moths indicate at an "amazing" speed. "Butterflies and moths are . . . the few organisms that quickly show changes that occur in different habitats as a result of climate change." He said butterflies have changed their flying patterns and have been moving northward in recent years because of the warmer weather.
The NBCD has found that some butterfly species, such as the Marsh Fritillary and the Large Heath are under threat due to land use changes, such as the draining of wetlands and the demise of peat lands. Others such as the Holly Blue are increasing. Many species are flying earlier, indicating a seasonal shift due to climate change.
Dr Lysaght said it was crucial data from a nationwide biodiversity survey should be supplied to inform planning policy and spatial development policy.
There is no current record of the fluctuating biodiversity levels of habitats in Ireland. However, according to the NBDC, butterflies and moths are sending out a message that huge changes are taking place.