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Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1007/s10144-005-0222-3
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Title (Primary) Population ecology of the endangered butterflies Maculinea teleius and M. nausithous and the implications for conservation
Author Nowicki, P.; Witek, M.; Skórka, P.; Settele, J.; Woyciechowski, M.
Source Titel Population Ecology
Year 2005
Department BZF
Volume 47
Issue 3
Page From 193
Page To 203
Language englisch
Abstract Butterflies of the genus Maculinea are highly endangered in Europe. The cuckoo species M. rebeli has been thoroughly investigated through both empirical and modelling studies, but less is known about the population ecology of predatory Maculinea. We present the findings of a 2-year research study on sympatric populations of two endangered butterflies: Maculinea teleius and M. nausithous in the Kraków region, southern Poland. The study comprised mark–release–recapture sampling and laboratory rearing of butterflies from larvae collected in the field. For both species the sex ratio was slightly, but consistently, female-biased and there was little year-to-year change in the seasonal population sizes. Daily numbers showed greater variation between the 2 years of the study due to the differences in daily survival rate. The average life span of laboratory-raised butterflies kept in ideal conditions was more than 6 days, compared to only 2–3 days in the field. The recruitment of both males and females consistently followed a bimodal pattern. A small proportion of individuals (maximum 25%) changed sites, in spite of relatively short distances of ca. 100 m separating them. The results indicate that populations of both species are typically stable within their sites, possibly due to larval polymorphism, but there is little inter-site mobility and thus landscape corridors seem necessary to enhance metapopulation viability. A further problem to be considered in the conservation of Maculinea butterflies is the fact that their very short life span in relation to flight-period length reduces the effective population size.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=3657
Nowicki, P., Witek, M., Skórka, P., Settele, J., Woyciechowski, M. (2005):
Population ecology of the endangered butterflies Maculinea teleius and M. nausithous and the implications for conservation
Popul. Ecol. 47 (3), 193 - 203 10.1007/s10144-005-0222-3