Habitat utilization of the Glanville fritillary butterfly in the Tianshan Mountains, China, and its implication for conservation

Abstract

In 2004 and 2005, we investigated the distribution of the Glanville fritillary butterfly (Melitaea cinxia) and its host plant in the Tianshan Mountains of China, in order to clarify its habitat utilization. Female butterflies were almost captured on dry meadows on slopes, where plenty of host plant (Veronica spicata) is distributed. Although there are host plants on meadows at higher altitude ([2,050 m), no butterfly was found there. Among the meadows with host plants, a patch of dry meadow (newlyfound meadow) was considered as a natal site because of the high density and freshness of butterflies. Unlike females, male butterflies were almost captured in valleys, where there are no host plants and fewer nectar plants. It might be related to specific mating system of M. cinxia in the study site, or specific environmental factors. Thus valleys are important habitat for males. Although the status of M. cinxia is yet unknown in China, we give some suggestions for conservation based on this study. First, dry meadows with host plants are the essential component for persistence of M. cinxia, among which the specific sites with more favourable conditions, such as natal site, are most important. Second, as a site with adult resource requirement, valleys should be included as part of the habitat of the butterfly. Finally, meadows at higher altitude are not utilized at present but they are potential habitats which need to be maintained for any shifts in altitudinal range in response to global warming in the future. Hence, the trade-off of present cost and future benefit should be taken into account when formulating a conservation strategy for M. cinxia in the Tianshan Mountains of China.

Different male mate location behaviour of the Glanville fritillary butterfly in different landscapes in the Tianshan Mountains, northwestern China

“…In our previous investigations in 2004 and 2005, most males were captured in valleys and most females were found on slopes (Zhou et al 2012). To explain this difference, we suggested two possible explanations: first, valleys were used as mating sites, where males and receptive females congregate for mating; alternatively, the environmental conditions on slopes were unfa- vourable for males, although males must move to slopes for mating (Zhou et al 2012).…”

“…This single observation implies that males are forced to valleys because of the higher temperatures on slopes. Therefore, it is possible that almost all male butterflies occupying valleys came from slopes, since almost all males were found either on slopes or in valleys (Zhou et al 2012). In Nantaizi, the daily behaviour of Glanville fritillary males seems to have the following pattern.…”

“…Climatic conditions, especially daily temperature variation, differ greatly between these islands and high mountainous inland, which could result in different mate location strategy in the Tianshan Mountains. In a previous investigation (Zhou et al 2012) in Nantaizi of the Tianshan Mountains, most male butterflies (63% in 2004 and 53% in 2005) were captured in valleys, despite an absence of the larval host plants (Veronica spicata) and with few nectar plants available. However, females were mostly found on meadow slopes (61% in 2004(61% in and 80% in 2005(61% in , Zhou et al 2012.…”

Three amino acid substitutions contributing to thermostability of phosphoglucose isomerase in the Glanville fritillary butterfly

“…In contrast, the females fly in the regions with higher temperatures, such as meadow slopes (Zhou et al. , 2012). It is therefore possible that females may adopt the thermoregulation behavior of males to cope with increased temperatures.…”

“…In the Chinese butterfly population, males are less tolerant to high temperatures than females, and they express significantly higher amounts of HSPs after heat shock (Lei et al, 2016). Males also exhibit specific behaviors to avoid harm from high temperatures; for example, they fly to the regions, such as valleys, with relatively low ambient temperatures (Zhou et al, 2012). In contrast, the females fly in the regions with higher temperatures, such as meadow slopes (Zhou et al, 2012).…”