The world is becoming less colourful. Across #Brazil and much of the #tropics, #butterflies are fading as #forests give way to industrial #plantations. Once vibrant with flashes of red, blue and gold, their wings are now turning brown and grey. New research shows that colourful #species struggle to survive in eucalyptus plantations where the #light is harsh, the #air is dry and the forest floor is stripped bare. The result is an eerie quietness.
#Scientists describe a sense of emptiness where the rich texture of life has drained away.
Colour in #butterflies is not decoration. It evolved over millions of years as a language of #survival helping them attract mates, evade predators and blend into complex forest backdrops. In diverse #ecosystems colour signals #abundance and #complexity. In degraded #landscapes drabness becomes an advantage. The most colourful species are often the first to disappear when native #vegetation is lost,
