Loss of Forest Causes Stonefly to Change Color

The loss of forest in New Zealand has led some stoneflies to change color, a new study finds.

In forested regions, the Zelandoperla stonefly mimics the dark color of its cousin, the poisonous Austroperla stonefly, allowing it to trick birds into thinking it poses a threat. But with the loss of woodland, Austroperla has seen it numbers dwindle. With no poisonous relative to mimic, Zelandoperla did not need to spend energy rendering its dark color, and so it turned a lighter hue.

The findings, published in the journal Science, are a “textbook” example of humans shaping the evolution of wildlife, authors say. Stoneflies and the birds that prey on them have evolved together over millions of years. In just a few centuries, humans slashed forest cover in New Zealand by more than half, disrupting the delicate balance that exists among these creatures.

Viewed more optimistically, authors say, the study shows that wildlife can adapt to major disruptions in relatively short order, offering hope that nature can be resilient in the face of ongoing degradation.

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