Weather and butterfly responses: a framework for understanding population dynamics in terms of species’ life-cycles and extreme climatic events

Ubach, Andreu; Páramo, Ferran; Prohom, Marc; Stefanescu, Constantí

doi:10.1007/s00442-022-05188-7

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…First, to explain the variation in the abundance of both species across mainland climate regions, we tested for differences in density dependence among populations. A recent study has shown that density dependence in our study region plays an important role in the population dynamics of most butterfly species including the Brimstone and Cleopatra (Ubach et al., 2022). Density dependence is likely related to the impact of natural enemies, particularly parasitoids, which have been shown to be a major cause of mortality (e.g.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 87%

Factors shaping the abundance of two butterflies sharing resources and enemies across a biogeographic region

Colom,

Traveset,

Shaw

et al. 2023

Journal of Biogeography

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AimIntraspecific variation in species relative abundance is shaped by a complex interplay of abiotic and biotic factors, making it both necessary and challenging to assess their combined relative importance in explaining variations across space and time. We used two congeneric butterfly species for which extensive count data and a deep understanding of their natural history is available to test three hypotheses explaining intraspecific variation in their abundance: (H1) seasonal dispersal behaviour driven by climate, (H2) resource availability and (H3) apparent competition mediated via shared parasitoids.TaxonGonepteryx rhamni (Brimstone) and G. cleopatra (Cleopatra).LocationNE Iberian Peninsula, where both species coexist, and a nearby archipelago (Balearic Islands), where only Cleopatra occurs.MethodsWe analysed spatial abundance variations for both species in the mainland and island–mainland differences in the abundance of Cleopatra. Abiotic and biotic factors, including temperature, host plant and overwintering habitat availability, larval parasitism and density dependence, were tested to explain the observed variations.ResultsH1 can explain variation in butterfly abundance between mainland regions since in warmer summers populations increased in cooler areas but decreased in warmer areas. H2 explains the variation within mainland climate regions with a strong positive relationship between resource availability and abundance but is unlikely to explain the island–mainland variation in the abundance of Cleopatra. H3 could neither explain biogeographical variation in abundance because although richer parasitoid communities were found on the mainland, larval mortality rates were similar or lower on the mainland than in the islands.Main ConclusionsClimate and resource availability jointly account for variation in butterfly abundance across the mainland, but neither these factors nor parasitism can explain island–mainland differences. Both coexisting butterfly species and their larval parasitoids may have undergone evolutionary processes, resulting in spatial segregation that promotes the coexistence of the two butterfly species on the mainland.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 87%

Factors shaping the abundance of two butterflies sharing resources and enemies across a biogeographic region

Colom,

Traveset,

Shaw

et al. 2023

Journal of Biogeography

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“…A recent study has shown that density dependence in our study region plays an important role in the population dynamics of most butterfly species including the Brimstone and Cleopatra (Ubach et al 2022). Density dependence is probably related to the impact of natural enemies, particularly parasitoids, which have been shown by many butterfly studies carried out in the region to represent a major cause of mortality (e.g.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 91%

Spatial variation in relative abundances of two butterfly species sharing both host plant and natural enemies

Colom

Traveset

Shaw

et al. 2022

Preprint

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The decline of insect populations is of great concern because they play an essential part in several services that are key for ecosystem functioning and human well-being. Therefore, full understanding of the processes and factors shaping spatial variation in insects is required for their effective conservation. Here, we study a system comprising two congeneric butterfly species (Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni and Cleopatra G. cleopatra) that share both host plants and natural enemies and analyse whether biotic and/or abiotic factors explain their relative abundances. The two species coexist in continental Spain but not on a nearby archipelago, where only the Cleopatra occurs. The hypotheses tested were based on (H1) dispersal behaviour; (H2) apparent competition mediated via shared parasitoids; and (H3) environmental conditions (overwintering habitat availability, abundance of host plants and temperature). H1 explained differences in Brimstone abundance between climate regions on the mainland since in warmer summers populations increased in cooler areas but decreased in warmer areas. Cleopatra did not show the same pattern but was found to have twice the number of summer adults on one island than on the mainland. It is unlikely that H2 can explain this result because, although richer parasitoid communities were found on the mainland, larval mortality rates were similar. H3 was important in explaining variation in abundances between sites within each climate region even though similar environmental conditions were found on the mainland and on the islands. Our study demonstrates the complexity of any attempt to understand insect population dynamics in space due to the number of factors that are potentially involved. We argue thus that a more comprehensive approach taking into account landscape topography and resource connectivity on a broader scale is required to unravel the factors shaping the relative abundance of insects in island systems.

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“…Brachymeria scirropoda is a synonym of Brachymeria tibialis, which also parasitises a range of Lepidoptera and occurs in England. Tricholyga segregata (=Exorista segregata) is apparently Exorista fasciata, a polyphagous tachinid parasitoid of Lepidoptera (Tschorsnig, 2017) which occurs in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Pteromalus puparum is a pupal parasitoid of Pieridae and Papilionidae butterflies, found in England, Wales and Scotland.…”

Section: A Community Interactionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The last records of Aporia crataegi in the UK were from the early 1920s, both 1923 and 1925 being listed as possible years of the last sighting (Pratt 1983; Eeles 2023). However, there remains some debate whether A. crataegi still had a viable population in the preceding decades, the species having always been prone to extreme population fluctuations, including crashes in response to unsuitable climatic conditions (e.g., Ubach et al . 2022).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assisted colonisation prospects for the black-veined white butterfly in England

Thomas,

Cunningham,

Hulme

et al. 2024

Preprint

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The black-veined white butterfly, Aporia crataegi, reached the north-western edge of its European geographic distribution in the British Isles in the 19th century, but became extinct in the early 20th century, following several cold decades. Substantial areas of potential breeding habitat in southern Britain are currently available to this species, which requires scattered hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) and suckering blackthorn scrub (Prunus spinosa), including infrequently cut hedgerows. These habitats are needed at a relatively large scale as the butterfly occurs as networks of colonies (metapopulations), ranging over large tracts of connected landscape. A number of events have increased habitat availability over the past 70 years (myxomatosis reduced rabbit populations, which permitted host plant scrub regeneration; hedgerow management policies reduced cutting frequencies; rewilding and landscape connectivity initiatives are resulting in additional scrub). However, while A. crataegi males occasionally disperse several kilometres, it is unlikely that A. crataegi females will cross the English Channel in sufficient numbers to establish populations in southern England, without assistance. Here, we (i) provide a review of the literature on species interactions, the habitat requirements, distribution and dispersal of A. crataegi and (ii) provide evidence that southern, eastern and central England are likely to be climatically suitable for reintroductions of A. crataegi. Substantial areas of England are already expected to be amongst the climatically most suitable parts of Europe for this insect. We identify a landscape of at least 100 km2 containing multiple patches of suitable habitats, and highlight co-benefits for other species that inhabit scrubland and successional mosaics. We use a climate-matching approach to assess climatically-similar locations to obtain source material most likely to establish in Britain. Areas of northern France and mid elevations in the Iberian Peninsula, including in the Pyrenees, provide potential suitable source locations due to close climatic matching and a large number of species records. We recommend reestablishment from more than one source, providing genetic diversity in the reintroduced population, enabling subsequent local adaptation to British conditions. We highlight the opportunity for monitored releases to be undertaken within the landscape highlighted here, so as to evaluate population growth, host plant use, and rates of colonisation away from release sites that differ in their management, habitat, host plant characteristics, and proximity to other sites. This approach would aim to develop knowledge as a living lab to inform future best practice releases. In conclusion, the black-veined white, A. crataegi, has potential to become a model species for assisted colonisation projects where natural and human-created barriers have prevented range expansion into regions where the 21st century climate is suitable for a species.

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Weather and butterfly responses: a framework for understanding population dynamics in terms of species’ life-cycles and extreme climatic events

Cited by 8 publications

References 54 publications

Factors shaping the abundance of two butterflies sharing resources and enemies across a biogeographic region

Factors shaping the abundance of two butterflies sharing resources and enemies across a biogeographic region

Spatial variation in relative abundances of two butterfly species sharing both host plant and natural enemies

Assisted colonisation prospects for the black-veined white butterfly in England

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