For Tropical Butterflies, Deforestation = Discoloration

In 2019, scientist Ricardo Spaniol was working in the Amazon rainforest. He noticed something about the butterflies he studies. They weren't as colorful as before. 

“Discovering that forests are losing their colors was frightening,” Spaniol told The Guardian. It also taught him a lot, he said.

Spaniol studies “discoloration.” It is the loss of pigment in creatures. It happens due to deforestation. Experts believe that as forests are cleared, creatures with brighter features struggle. As a result, only species with duller colors survive.  

“The most colorful species are often the first to disappear" when forests are cut down, Spaniol said. He explained that it is likely due to the loss of cover. That makes the brighter species stand out more. It is easier for predators to spot them.  

Experts studied butterflies on Brazil’s plantations. They focused there because those are areas where much of the forest has been cut down. Their study found 52 butterfly species that have lost some color. Their wings and bodies were both duller when compared to the same species in other parts of the forest. 

Researcher Maider Iglesias-Carrasco told The Guardian that the plantations feel empty. There, she said, it was clear that brown-colored butterflies dominated. 

The loss of color may point to even greater losses of biodiversity, Spaniol says. But all is not lost. Species observed in areas that have been allowed to regrow have been shown to regain color. 

That shows humans can help restore color to the world, Spaniol said. 

Reflect: What is a place in nature that’s important to you?

Gif of butterfly from GIPHY.