Use of road verges by butterfly and burnet populations, and the effect of roads on adult dispersal and mortality

Published source details Munguira M. & Thomas J. (1992) Use of road verges by butterfly and burnet populations, and the effect of roads on adult dispersal and mortality. Journal of Applied Ecology, 316-329.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Restore or maintain species-rich grassland along road/railway verges Action Link

Restore or maintain species-rich grassland along road/railway verges

A replicated, site comparison study in 1989 along 12 road verges in Dorset and Hampshire, UK (Munguira and Thomas 1999) found that there was higher butterfly and burnet moth abundance, species richness and diversity along verges containing more species’ larval food plants, and higher butterfly and burnet moth species richness and diversity, but not abundance, along verges with more plants in flower. There was higher abundance, species richness and diversity of butterflies/burnet moths along verges containing more plant species that represented larval food plants for more species. There was also higher species richness and diversity of butterflies/burnet moths along verges with more plants in flower, but this did not affect the total abundance of butterflies. Additionally, there was higher butterfly/burnet moth abundance and species richness, but not diversity, along wider verges. All data are presented as model results. Weekly from June–September 1989, butterflies and burnet moths were surveyed along a 100 x 2 m transect at each of 12 A-road verges in Dorset and Hampshire. Plants in flower were recorded along a 50 cm strip along the 100-m transect. A verge was considered to contain a species’ larval food plant if there were 30 examples of it at the site.

(Summarised by: Eleanor Bladon)