Habitat amount and distribution modify community dynamics under climate change

Habitat fragmentation may present a major impediment to species range shifts caused by climate change, but how it affects local community dynamics in changing has so far not been adequately investigated empirically. Using long-term monitoring data of butterfly assemblages, we tested the effects amount and distribution semi-natural habitat (SNH), moderated traits, on climate-driven turnover. We found that spatially dispersed SNH favoured colonisation warm-adapted mobile species. In contrast, extinction risk cold-adapted increased (as opposed aggregated) habitats when was low. Strengthening networks maintaining or creating stepping-stone patches could thus allow expand their range, while increasing area natural its spatial cohesion be important aid persistence threatened warming climate.