Ecol. Lett. http://doi.org/dwbz (2020).

To cope with seasonal variation, many organisms have evolved seasonal plasticity, which requires the ability to predict coming change using external cues. Photoperiod variation, which remains constant from year to year and is not influenced by short-term fluctuations, is one commonly used cue. However, anthropogenic climate change, including changes in temperature and seasonality, has resulted in mismatches between photoperiod and expected environmental conditions. It is unclear how well organisms can compensate for these novel mismatches.

Credit: All Canada Photos / Alamy Stock Photo

Matthew Nielsen and Joel Kingsolver investigated hindwing melanization in the orange sulfur butterfly, Colias eurytheme. Melanization aids thermoregulation but is determined by larval photoperiod exposure as opposed to temperature. By repeating a study published in 1973, the authors found that contemporary butterflies had higher-than-past wing reflectance when developed under short-, but not under long-, photoperiods. This aligns with the greater long-term change in spring than summer temperature at the collection site. The work provides evidence for cue-environment mismatch correction but suggests that it may not occur uniformly under all conditions.