Distribution, Population Structure and Habitat Use of the Endangered Saint Francis Satyr Butterfly, Neonympha Mitchellii Francisci

Kuefler, Daniel; Haddad, Nick M.; Hall, Stephen A.; Hudgens, Brian R.; Bartel, Becky; Hoffman, Erich

doi:10.1674/0003-0031(2008)159[298:dpsahu]2.0.co;2

Cited by 40 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…The St. Francis' satyr is a U.S. federally listed endangered butterfly that is a subspecies of Neonympha mitchellii [32]. The current population is estimated to consist of only a few thousand individuals [33].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Individuals are capable of short dispersal along streams and depend on a closely spaced network of wetlands in order to persist once individual sites dry out. Host plants for the St. Francis' satyr are wetland sedges in the Carex family, particularly Carex mitchelliana [32].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…St. Francis' satyr phenology is known to be sensitive to heat accumulation in the environment [32,35], and precipitation levels influence water levels in the streams and creeks where St. Francis' satyrs are found. The two most dominant factors in creating a high quality habitat-the presence of beavers and the absence of woody encroachment-are both influenced by human modification of the landscape [33].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For each subpopulation, we calculated a Pollard-Yates (PY) index [38], which is a standard index of population size and is highly correlated with mark-recapture estimates of population size [37]. We estimated subpopulation size based on the PY index by using an equation modified from Reference [32]. Data from each subpopulation were then aggregated to form an estimate of the total population size for the species outside of artillery impact areas.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The St. Francis' satyr inhabits ephemeral wetlands and is restricted entirely to Fort Bragg Military Installation in central North Carolina [32]. The population size of the St. Francis's satyr has declined dramatically in the past decade [33]; however, recent restoration work within local wetlands has shown promise for supporting large populations again [34].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Water Availability Coincides with Population Declines for an Endangered Butterfly

Cayton

Haddad

2018

Diversity

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Abstract:As global climate change causes population declines across numerous taxa, it becomes critical to understand the specific pathway by which climatic and anthropogenic factors influence population size. Water availability is a key environmental condition that links climate and humans to species response, especially for rare or threatened butterflies that are highly sensitive to changes in climate and the surrounding landscape. We use the wetland-dependent endangered St. Francis' satyr butterfly (Neonympha mitchellii francisci) to test how changes in water availability affect population size via changes in host plant growth. We show that long-term declines in water availability are directly linked to a decline in host plant growth and contributed to a population decrease of 95% for St. Francis' satyrs in the past decade, threatening the persistence of the species. Recent restoration work, which includes efforts to increase water availability via hardwood removal, has been successful in increasing population numbers. Many butterflies are broadly dependent on water availability and flow, and only by understanding the specific pathway that directly links water availability to species response can we make effective conservation plans to prepare for the altered water conditions of the future.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Water Availability Coincides with Population Declines for an Endangered Butterfly

Cayton

Haddad

2018

Diversity

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Defining and Alleviating Threats: Recovery Planning

2013

Lepidoptera and Conservation

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Habitat restoration alters adult butterfly morphology and potential fecundity through effects on host plant quality

et al. 2016

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Abstract. Conservation strategies for threatened species frequently include habitat restoration, but the success of such recovery efforts has been mixed. When the target is an insect herbivore, restoration efforts have traditionally attempted to increase the abundance of its host plant, but these actions' impact on host plant quality has largely been ignored. Here, we test the impact of two forms of habitat restoration, tree removal and stream damming, on the physical and chemical properties of a wetland sedge and on the adult traits of its larval consumer, a wetland butterfly. Tree removal altered plant physical and chemical traits in a manner largely consistent with reduced host plant quality. Females emerging from these plots had fewer mature oocytes in their ovaries upon emergence, suggesting that tree removal has a negative effect on butterfly potential fecundity. Stream damming did not affect plant traits but forewing length increased more steeply with body mass for females from these plots, indicating that small females from dammed plots have a relatively higher wing loading ratio that likely increases the energetic cost of flight. This idea was supported by results from our subsequent capture-mark-recapture study, where both female and male butterflies were less likely to emigrate from dammed plots. Male dispersal was also affected by restoration, but individual body mass rather than wing allometry mediated this effect. Our results highlight the need to consider restoration's impact on host plant quality, in addition to other aspects of habitat quality, when undertaking habitat restoration for threatened herbivores.

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Distribution, Population Structure and Habitat Use of the Endangered Saint Francis Satyr Butterfly, Neonympha Mitchellii Francisci

Cited by 40 publications

References 21 publications

Water Availability Coincides with Population Declines for an Endangered Butterfly

Water Availability Coincides with Population Declines for an Endangered Butterfly

Defining and Alleviating Threats: Recovery Planning

Habitat restoration alters adult butterfly morphology and potential fecundity through effects on host plant quality

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