Recent trends in butterfly populations from north-east Spain and Andorra in the light of habitat and climate change

Stefanescu, Constantí; Torre, Ignasi; Jubany, Jordi; Páramo, Ferran

doi:10.1007/s10841-010-9325-z

Cited by 82 publications

(90 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Multispecies indicators "all species" included all butterfly counts (135 species); "open habitat species" comprised 41 butterfly species associated with open habitats (Herrando et al 2016) after excluding 12 species with a documented strong migratory behavior, whose abundance depends heavily on the conditions at their place of origin (Stefanescu et al 2011b); "mobile species" included 23 species with a high dispersal ability (Stefanescu et al 2011a); and finally, "grassland indicators" aggregated 16 species from the European Grassland Indicator, developed by the European Environment Agency (EEA 2013). This resulted in frequent gaps in the data making it impossible to compare populations of specific species across diverse geographical areas.…”

Section: Butterfly Datasetmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Catalan butterfly monitoring scheme has the capacity to detect effects of modifying agricultural practices

et al. 2020

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Citation: Lee, M. S., J. Comas, C. Stefanescu, and R. Albajes. 2020. The Catalan butterfly monitoring scheme has the capacity to detect effects of modifying agricultural practices. Ecosphere 11(1):Abstract. Impacts of agricultural management practices on the receiving environment are seldom suitably assessed because environmental monitoring is costly. In this regard, data generated by already existing environmental survey networks (ESNs) may have sufficient capacity to detect effects. Here, we study the capacity of the Catalan butterfly monitoring scheme (CBMS) to detect differences in butterfly abundance due to changes in agricultural practices. As a model, we compared butterfly abundance across two landscape types according to agricultural intensification. A 2 km diameter buffer area was centered on the CBMS transect, the control group were transects located in areas where intensive agriculture represented <20% of the area; a treated group was simulated by selecting transects located in areas where intensive agriculture occupied an area over 40%. The Welch t-test (a = 0.05 and 80% power) was used to compare butterfly abundance per section across landscape types. The capacity of the t-test to detect changes in mean butterfly abundance, of 12 butterfly indicators relevant to farmland, was calculated annually and for 5-, 10-, and 15-yr periods. Detection capacity of the t-test depended mainly on butterfly data sample size and variability; difference in butterfly abundance was less important. The t-test would be capable of detecting acceptably small population changes across years and sites. For instance, considering a 15-yr period, it would be possible to detect a change in abundance below 10% of the multispecies indicators (all butterfly species, open habitat species, mobile species, and grassland indicators) and two single species (Lasiommata megera and Lycaena phlaeas). When comparisons were carried out within each year, the t-test would only be capable of detecting a change below 30% for all butterfly species, mobile species, and L. megera. However, detection capacity rapidly improved with the addition of further years, and with 5 yr of monitoring, all indicators but Thymelicus acteon had a detection capacity below 30%. We therefore conclude that, from a statistical point of view, the CBMS data "as is" are sensitive enough for monitoring effects of changes in agricultural practices. It could be used, for instance, for the general surveillance of genetically modified crops.

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Section: Butterfly Datasetmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Catalan butterfly monitoring scheme has the capacity to detect effects of modifying agricultural practices

et al. 2020

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“…Abandonment of common pastures in the Spanish Pyrenees with subsequent shrub encroachment and reforestation would lead to shading of the host plants and a loss of habitat for S. spini (cf. Löffler et al, 2013) and probably many other thermophilous grassland species (Steffan-Dewenter & Tscharntke, 2002;WallisDeVries et al, 2002;Stefanescu et al, 2011). Areas above the climatic timberline might be too cold and suitable habitats at lower elevations in the Pyrenees, where the opposed processes of agricultural intensification and abandonment are even more accentuated than in high mountain areas (García-Ruiz & LasantaMartínez, 1990;Lasanta-Martínez et al, 2005), are probably scarce.…”

Section: Implications For Conservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inhabiting warm microhabitats and risk-spreading as strategies for survival of a phytophagous insect living in common pastures in the Pyrenees

Stuhldreher¹,

Villar²,

Fartmann³

2012

Eur. J. Entomol.

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Abstract. The breakdown of the transhumant grazing system in the Spanish Pyrenees has led to a severe decline in the area of pastures. However, in the high mountain zone there are still large areas of species-rich grasslands. The aim of this study was to assess the oviposition preferences of the shrub-feeding Blue-spot hairstreak, Satyrium spini (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775), in montane common pastures in the Spanish Pyrenees and recommend a way of managing these grasslands that favours this species. Our study showed that females of S. spini laid their eggs on Dwarf buckthorn (Rhamnus pumila Turra) and Alpine buckthorn (R. alpina L.), which are novel host plant records for Spain. A warm microclimate was of crucial importance for egg-laying. Occupied plants grew mostly at sparsely vegetated grassland sites where there were large patches of bare rocks, stones or gravel. Most egg batches were laid close to the ground and 75% consisted of only one egg. The number of batches per R. pumila plant was higher on east-, southand west-facing slopes than on north-facing slopes. Presence of eggs and the number of egg batches per R. pumila plant were best explained by a long sunshine duration. At high altitudes particularly warm microhabitats seem to be more important for S. spini than at lower altitudes in Central Europe. We assume that the preference for unusually warm microhabitats is explained by the cold climatic conditions near the altitudinal range limit of the species. That most of the eggs were laid singly and not in small batches as in Central Europe might be a risk-spreading strategy to cope with the harsh climatic conditions and the high inter-annual variation in weather conditions in the high mountain zone in the Pyrenees. The best way to maintain open grasslands for S. spini and other thermophilous grassland species in the high mountain zone of the Pyrenees is to use the traditional combination of sheep and cattle grazing.

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“…Although there is only a limited amount of data on long-term trends in the numbers of species of butterfl ies in the Mediterranean region (Stefanescu et al, 2011a), it reveals alarming trends especially for species inhabiting open types of habitat such as shrubland and grassland (Stefanescu et al, 2011b). Although habitat specialists are undoubtedly declining more than habitat generalist species in temperate and Mediterranean regions Stefanescu et al, 2011b;Pennekamp et al, 2014), the decline in generalists should be taken seriously as it usually underestimates the potential risk of extinctions (Van Swaay et al, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Movement, demography and behaviour of a highly mobile species: A case study of the black-veined white, Aporia crataegi (Lepidoptera: Pieridae)

Jugovic¹,

Črne²,

Lužnik³

2017

Eur. J. Entomol.

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Recent trends in butterfly populations from north-east Spain and Andorra in the light of habitat and climate change

Cited by 82 publications

References 30 publications

The Catalan butterfly monitoring scheme has the capacity to detect effects of modifying agricultural practices

The Catalan butterfly monitoring scheme has the capacity to detect effects of modifying agricultural practices

Inhabiting warm microhabitats and risk-spreading as strategies for survival of a phytophagous insect living in common pastures in the Pyrenees

Movement, demography and behaviour of a highly mobile species: A case study of the black-veined white, Aporia crataegi (Lepidoptera: Pieridae)

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