Wilting Wildflowers and Bummed-Out Bees: Climate Change Threatens U.S. State Symbols

Abstract

Species designated as state symbols in the United States carry cultural importance and embody historical heritage. However, they are threatened by climate change and even face the risk of local or global extinction. The responses of these species to climate change have received little attention. In this study, we examine the effects of climate change on 64 state flowers and 68 state insects in the United States by employing correlative species distribution models (SDMs). We select a variety of commonly used SDM algorithms to construct an ensemble forecasting framework aimed at predicting the potential climatic habitats for each species under both historical (1981-2010) and future (2071-2100) climate scenarios (SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5), and how these changes might influence the habitat suitability of flower and insect species within their symbolic states and across the United States. Our results indicate that 30 - 66% of state flowers and 18 - 51% of state insects are projected to experience substantial losses of climatically suitable habitat within their symbolic states. Under the high-emissions scenario (SSP5-8.5), ten state flowers and three state insects are likely to face local extinction by the 2080s. Although most of these species may find suitable habitats in other states, only two are projected to have such areas located adjacent to their current symbolic states, potentially limiting natural dispersal. Nationally, 85% of flower species and 71 - 79% of insect species are expected to shift their suitable habitat both poleward and uphill, with the magnitude of latitudinal and elevational shifts significantly greater under SSP5-8.5 than under SSP1-2.6. These findings highlight the vulnerability of culturally significant species to climate change and underscore the urgency of integrating climate adaptation into conservation planning. Proactive, forward-looking conservation and management strategies may be critical for preserving cultural heritage and maintaining ecosystem resilience.