Eye on the (Butterfly) Future

Elsita Kiekebusch, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Applied Ecology, is studying how future climate condition changes — especially temperature increases — could affect the survival and growth of butterfly populations. While her research focuses on one species of butterfly, she is discovering that temperature changes could threaten all sorts of butterfly populations, including rare and endangered species.

As a Global Change Fellow, Kiekebusch works with the Southeast Climate Science Center, stationed at NC State. The center aims to facilitate research that will help fish, wildlife, and ecosystems adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Check out our video for a peek behind the scenes of her project. And to see the work of other Global Change Fellows, visit https://globalchange.ncsu.edu/secsc/global-change-fellow-videos.