How climate change might impact insect movement via physiological mechanisms

Abstract

Climate change is altering the abundance and geographic distributions of insects, with potential consequences for human health, sustainable agriculture, and ecosystem function. How insects will be affected during their routine movements by climate-change-associated warming remains poorly understood. Here, we therefore review the potential impacts of, and mechanisms involved in coping with, heat stress during movement from an ecophysiological perspective. Within a movement ecology framework, we propose key ecophysiology attributes that support insect movement with warming conditions. By identifying major knowledge gaps and focusing on movement-related traits discussed here, future studies can further strengthen mechanistic links between functional traits and insect redistribution under climate change and, therefore, provide more robust forecasting tools.