Low‐quality habitat corridors as movement conduits for two butterfly species

Published source details Haddad N.M. & Tewksbury J.J. (2005) Low‐quality habitat corridors as movement conduits for two butterfly species. Ecological Applications, 15, 250-257.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Restore or create habitat connectivity Action Link

Restore or create habitat connectivity

A replicated, controlled study in 2000–2001 in eight pine plantations in South Carolina, USA (Haddad and Tewksbury 2005) found that common buckeye Junonia coenia and variegated fritillary Euptoieta claudia butterflies were more likely to move between connected habitat patches than unconnected habitat patches. A greater percentage of common buckeye and variegated fritillary butterflies moved between connected (common buckeye 2000: 5%, 2001: 4%; variegated fritillary 2000: 10%, 2001: 11%) than unconnected habitat patches (common buckeye 2000: 3%, 2001: 1%; variegated fritillary 2000: 5%, 2001: 5%). There was a lower density of butterflies in the corridors (common buckeye 2000: 0.29, 2001: 0.28; variegated fritillary 2000: 0.31, 2001: 0.29) than in patches (common buckeye 2000: 1.18, 2001: 0.93; variegated fritillary 2000: 1.86, 2001: 1.38). Eight 50 ha areas of pine plantation each contained one central butterfly habitat patch surrounded by four patches at a distance of 150 m from the centre. One of the surrounding patches was connected by a 25 m-wide corridor. Connected patches were 1.0 ha each and unconnected patches were 1.4 ha each. Patches and corridors were created by harvesting pines, followed by burning. In June–July 2000 and May–June 2001, mark-recapture butterfly surveys were conducted along 12.5 m-wide transects to cover the entirety of patches and corridors. Each patch was surveyed 23 times in 2000 and 39 times in 2001.

(Summarised by: Eleanor Bladon)