Glowing under pressure: An overview of the effects of climate on the biodiversity and distribution of fireflies
Article Main
Abstract
Fireflies (Lampyridae) are widely recognized as bioindicators of environmental quality and are increasingly reported to be vulnerable to global environmental change. Climatic variability, habitat modification, and anthropogenic disturbances may influence their distribution, phenology, and population dynamics; however, synthesised evidence on climate-related impacts remains limited.This study aimed to systematically review the effects of climate change and associated environmental stressors on firefly biodiversity and geographic distribution. A structured literature search was conducted in Scopus and Web of Science following PRISMA guidelines. Fifty-two records were identified, twelve duplicates were removed, and twenty-two peer-reviewed studies met predefined inclusion criteria focusing on fireflies and climate-related variables. Data were extracted and synthesized using thematic analysis. Results indicate that temperature and precipitation variability were the most frequently examined climatic drivers, influencing phenological timing, habitat suitability, and species occurrence patterns. Several studies reported shifts in seasonal emergence and changes in localised distribution associated with altered rainfall regimes and warming trends. Artificial light at night and habitat fragmentation were commonly identified as interacting stressors that may exacerbate climate-related vulnerabilities. Geographic bias was observed, with most studies conducted in North America and East Asia.This review provides a consolidated assessment of climate-related influences on fireflies and highlights regional research gaps and methodological limitations. The findings contribute to evidence-based understanding of how climatic and environmental factors shape firefly biodiversity and distribution patterns.
Article Details
Article Details
Biodiversity, Climate change, Fireflies, Lampyridae, Systematic biology
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