Ecology and recovery plans for the four Spanish endangered endemic butterfly species

Munguira, Miguel L.; Barea‐Azcón, José Miguel; Castro-Cobo, Sara; García‐Barros, Enrique; Miteva, S.; Olivares, Javier Irurita; Romo, Helena

doi:10.1007/s10841-016-9949-8

Cited by 13 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…On the other hand, cold-adapted species have retreated to cooler conditions higher up in hills and mountains (54) or have gone locally extinct. Certain species that already live on mountain tops are especially threatened, including some endemic species in the Sierra Nevada in south Spain (55).…”

Section: Causes Of Declinementioning

confidence: 99%

The decline of butterflies in Europe: Problems, significance, and possible solutions

Warren

Maes

Swaay

et al. 2021

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

278

183

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We review changes in the status of butterflies in Europe, focusing on long-running population data available for the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Belgium, based on standardized monitoring transects. In the United Kingdom, 8% of resident species have become extinct, and since 1976 overall numbers declined by around 50%. In the Netherlands, 20% of species have become extinct, and since 1990 overall numbers in the country declined by 50%. Distribution trends showed that butterfly distributions began decreasing long ago, and between 1890 and 1940, distributions declined by 80%. In Flanders (Belgium), 20 butterflies have become extinct (29%), and between 1992 and 2007 overall numbers declined by around 30%. A European Grassland Butterfly Indicator from 16 European countries shows there has been a 39% decline of grassland butterflies since 1990. The 2010 Red List of European butterflies listed 38 of the 482 European species (8%) as threatened and 44 species (10%) as near threatened (note that 47 species were not assessed). A country level analysis indicates that the average Red List rating is highest in central and mid-Western Europe and lowest in the far north of Europe and around the Mediterranean. The causes of the decline of butterflies are thought to be similar in most countries, mainly habitat loss and degradation and chemical pollution. Climate change is allowing many species to spread northward while bringing new threats to susceptible species. We describe examples of possible conservation solutions and a summary of policy changes needed to conserve butterflies and other insects.

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Section: Causes Of Declinementioning

confidence: 99%

The decline of butterflies in Europe: Problems, significance, and possible solutions

Warren

Maes

Swaay

et al. 2021

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

278

183

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“…(3) An additional subpopulation existed in La Granja d'Escarp – the only one inhabiting Catalonia and located more than 20 km away from the current closest population –, but it is now regarded as extinct (Munguira et al, 2017; Vila et al, 2018). As a potential cause for extinction, a wildfire that occurred on 2003 can be mentioned, as it affected the region where the species and the host plant were recorded.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(5) The density of adult individuals is very low. According to Munguira et al (2017), densities were 400 adults/km 2 in E. b. bazae and 1,700 adults/km 2 in E. b. iberae. They found these densities to be lower than other endangered Iberian species with very restricted range, such as the endemics from Sierra Nevada (southern Iberia) Polyommatus golgus (Hübner, 1813) (3,500-5,500 adults/km 2 , classified as VU) and Agriades zullichi Hemming, 1933 (1,200-13,300 adults/km 2 , classified as EN).…”

Section: The Response Of E Bazae To Climate Changementioning

confidence: 99%

“…An example of a thermophilous species with a restricted distribution is the Iberian endemic Euchloe bazae Fabiano, 1993. It is a specialist of semiarid steppes and, prior this study, it has been recorded in only twelve 10 km × 10 km Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) squares (Munguira et al, 2017). Two subspecies have been described, corresponding to two groups of allopatric populations: one is located in the Ebro Valley, northern Iberia ( E. bazae iberae Back, Olivares and Leestmans, 2005), and the other in Hoya de Baza, southern Iberia ( E. bazae bazae Fabiano, 1993).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Genetic assessment and climate modelling of the Iberian specialist butterfly Euchloe bazae (Lepidoptera: Pieridae)

Escuer

Hinojosa

Minguet‐Parramona

et al. 2022

Insect Conserv Diversity

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1. Although both positive (expansion of thermophilous species) and negative effects (retraction of cold-adapted species) have been attributed to global warming, range shifts may be constrained by the ecological traits of species.2. This can be especially true for highly specialised organisms like the Spanish Greenish Black-tip (Euchloe bazae), an Iberian endemic specialist of semiarid steppes with a debated taxonomic and conservation status.3. Here, we first seek to clarify the taxonomic status of this butterfly and its populations by using multilocus phylogenetic inference. Then, we update its distribution range and employ ecological niche modelling, combined with other sources of data, to re-evaluate its conservation status. 4. Our results confirm E. bazae as a well-differentiated species with one of the most restricted distribution ranges among the European butterflies.5. We demonstrate that its two disjunct populations, regarded as subspecies, are genetically differentiated and should be treated as independent management units. 6. Climate models under two future emission scenarios suggest an increase of the area climatically suitable. However, the suitability of the areas currently occupied is estimated to decrease, meaning that rapid range shifts could be required for the survival of the species. 7. Given the presumably low dispersal capabilities of E. bazae, its current restricted distribution, high degree of population fragmentation (divided in two distant populations), low intrapopulation genetic variability, decline in extension and abundance, low densities, high yearly fluctuations, and numerous threats to its habitat, we consider that their populations are extremely fragile and we propose to consider it 'Endangered' [EN B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv); B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv)]. Resum (Catalan)1. Tot i que s'han atribuït tant efectes positius (expansi o d'espècies termòfiles) com negatius (contracci o d'espècies adaptades al fred) a l'escalfament global, canvis en les distribucions poden estar condicionats pels trets ecològics de les espècies.

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“…2). At the species level, these include the decline in species (Zakkak et al 2014), and the threat to the conservation of endangered, endemic butterfly species in Spain (Munguira et al 2017). Moreover, land abandonment has caused clear detrimental impacts to vertebrates that primarily use open habitats.…”

Section: Passive Rewildingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rewilding and the risk of creating new, unwanted ecological interactions

Delibes‐Mateos¹,

Barrio²,

Barbosa³

et al. 2019

Rewilding

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Ecology and recovery plans for the four Spanish endangered endemic butterfly species

Cited by 13 publications

References 16 publications

The decline of butterflies in Europe: Problems, significance, and possible solutions

The decline of butterflies in Europe: Problems, significance, and possible solutions

Genetic assessment and climate modelling of the Iberian specialist butterfly Euchloe bazae (Lepidoptera: Pieridae)

Rewilding and the risk of creating new, unwanted ecological interactions

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