Resource use of specialist butterflies in agricultural landscapes: conservation lessons from the butterfly Phengaris (Maculinea) nausithous

摘要: Most of the European grassland butterfly species are dependent on rich grasslands shaped by low intensity farming. Conservation these specialist in agricultural landscapes relies knowledge their essential resources and spatial distribution resources. In The Netherlands, dusky large blue Phengaris (Maculinea) nausithous butterflies were extinct until reintroduction 1990. addition, a spontaneous recolonization road verges an landscape occurred 2001 southern part Netherlands. We analyzed use resources, both host plants ants, latter population during summers 2003 2005. First we tested whether several years could be explained presence as well expected that resource limits this can differ between locations over time. found oviposition site selection was related to most abundant resource. While 2003, best ant Myrmica scabrinodis, 2005 it more strongly flowerhead availability plant. secondly compared net displacement individuals verge reintroduced Moerputten meadows, since movement depends structure habitat. On verges, moved significantly shorter distances than which finding Finally two surroundings population. Given short adverse features for long-distance dispersal, analysis suggests at Posterholt is trapped recently recolonized verges. These results highlight importance assessing across different relative butterflies, necessity careful manage conservation landscapes, such species.