Study

Comparing movement of four butterfly species in experimental grassland strips

  • Published source details Söderström B. & Hedblom M. (2007) Comparing movement of four butterfly species in experimental grassland strips. Journal of Insect Conservation, 11, 333-342.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Retain or plant trees to act as windbreaks

Action Link
Butterfly and Moth Conservation

Restore or create habitat connectivity

Action Link
Butterfly and Moth Conservation
  1. Retain or plant trees to act as windbreaks

    A site comparison study in 2003 in a grassland in Uppsala, Sweden (Söderström & Hedblom 2007) reported that grassland strips providing shelter were more likely to be used by one of four butterfly species than strips providing nectar resources or strips with no resources. Results were not tested for statistical significance. Of 27 mazarine blue Polyommatus semiargus released on a sheltered strip with few flowers, 11 flew along it, compared to 4/29 on a flower-rich strip with no shelter, and 5/29 on a strip with no shelter and few flowers. Of 27 pearly heath Coenonympha arcania released on the sheltered strip, 4 flew along it, compared to 12/31 released on the flower-rich strip and 5/30 on the unsheltered strip with few flowers. The numbers of common blue Polyommatus icarus and ringlet Aphantophus hyperantus which flew along strips were similar between strip types (see paper for details). Three 30 × 2 m strips of long grass (21–28 cm high) were created in a field. One strip had nectar resources removed but was sheltered by a plantation on one side, one had abundant nectar resources but no shelter, and one had neither shelter nor nectar resources. The surrounding grassland was cut to 2–4 cm. From 27 June–16 July 2003, butterflies were caught in the morning in six grasslands, and transported to the experimental site (<20 km). Each day, 2–4 individuals/species were released, one-by-one, from the north end of each strip. Butterflies were followed for two minutes, and the distance and direction travelled were recorded.

    (Summarised by: Andrew Bladon)

  2. Restore or create habitat connectivity

    A site comparison study in 2003 in a grassland in Uppsala, Sweden (Söderström & Hedblom 2007) reported that grassland strips providing nectar resources or shelter were each more likely to be used by one of four butterfly species than strips with no resources. Results were not tested for statistical significance. Of 31 pearly heath Coenonympha arcania released on a flower-rich strip with no shelter, 12 flew along it, compared to 4/27 released on a sheltered strip with few flowers, and 5/30 on a strip with few flowers and no shelter. Of 27 mazarine blue Polyommatus semiargus released on the sheltered strip, 11 flew along it, compared to 4/29 on the flower-rich strip, and 5/29 on the unsheltered strip with few flowers. The numbers of common blue Polyommatus icarus and ringlet Aphantophus hyperantus which flew along strips were similar between strip types (see paper for details). Three 30 × 2 m strips of long grass (21–28 cm high) were created in a field. One strip had abundant nectar resources but no shelter, one had nectar resources removed but was sheltered by a plantation on one side, and one had neither nectar resources nor shelter. The surrounding grassland was cut to 2–4 cm. From 27 June–16 July 2003, butterflies were caught in the morning in six grasslands, and transported to the experimental site (<20 km). Each day, 2–4 individuals/species were released, one-by-one, from the north end of each strip. Butterflies were followed for two minutes, and the distance and direction travelled were recorded.

    (Summarised by: Andew Bladon)

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