Meeting Abstract

123.4  Monday, Jan. 7  Responses to climate change: morphology and behavior, in Rocky Mountain Colias species MACLEAN, H J*; HIGGINS, J K; KINGSOLVER, J G ; BUCKLEY, L B; University of North Carolina Chapel Hill heidi.maclean@gmail.com

Colias butterflies have long been a model system for understanding thermoregulatory behavior and local adaptation to climate. What are the behavioral, ecological and evolutionary responses of Colias to recent climate changes in the Rocky Mountains? Colias use behavioral postures to maintain body temperatures required for flight (30-40˚C) and to avoid overheating, and adapt to local climate conditions via differences in melanin on the ventral hind wings and the thickness of thoracic setae (‘fur’). Our recent reciprocal transplants with high-elevation Colias meadii and lower-elevation Colias eriphyle show that butterflies from higher elevations with darker wings and thicker setae tend to initiate morning flight sooner regardless of location. Moreover, the high-elevation phenotype experiences more frequent overheating and consequences thereof.