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Dispersal and connectivity effects at different altitudes in the Euphydryas aurinia complex

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Abstract

Across its European range, the Euphydryas aurinia complex (Annex II of the Habitats Directive) includes a series of distinct populations. At least 3 taxa occur in Italy, each showing slight morphological differences and distinct eco-ethological features. For the first time, we compared metapopulation dynamics of E. (a.) glaciegenita inhabiting a site in the NW Alps (2,100–2,300 m) with E. (a.) provincialis occurring in the Mediterranean biogeographical region in hilly dry grasslands (700 m). To describe patterns of dispersal, we applied the virtual migration model (VMM) to data collected using Mark-Release-Recapture (MRR). We used parameters of survival and migration to explore metapopulation characteristics. In particular we investigated the relative role of connectivity and patch quality in affecting migration rates. We observed differences between the two metapopulation systems, with the “Alpine” population occurring at higher altitude and in more open habitats, showing lower dispersal propensity. In contrast, even though the “Mediterranean” population is more prone to disperse, migration appears to have higher costs. Dispersal abilities affect metapopulation dynamics, which are at the basis of long-term perspectives of survival for butterfly populations. We discuss our results in the framework of conservation and management options for habitats occupied by these Italian taxa of the E. aurinia complex.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank authorities of the Gran Paradiso National Park and Capanne di Marcarolo Natural Park for financial support and for giving permissions to perform this research. The work was carried out with the authorization (prot. 0039115/PNM, 20/06/2013) by the Italian Ministry of the Environment MATTM and within the project ‘A multitaxa approach to study the impact of climate change on the biodiversity of Italian ecosystems’ of the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR). F. Barbero was partially supported by Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR). Authors are also very grateful to Emanuel Rocchia and Eleonora Rossi, for their fundamental help in the fieldwork.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. DBIOS Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy

    L. P. Casacci, F. Barbero, L. Bosso, E. Plazio, E. Balletto & S. Bonelli

  2. Gran Paradiso National Park, Turin, Italy

    C. Cerrato, S. Ghidotti & R. Viterbi

  3. Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, National Research Council, Turin, Italy

    C. Cerrato

  4. DISAT, Department of Environmental Sciences and Territory, University of Milano Bicocca, Milan, Italy

    S. Ghidotti

  5. DISTAV, Department of Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences, Genoa University, Genoa, Italy

    M. Paveto & M. Pesce

  6. Capanne di Marcarolo Natural Park, Alessandria, Italy

    G. Panizza

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  1. L. P. Casacci
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  2. C. Cerrato
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  4. L. Bosso
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  5. S. Ghidotti
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  8. E. Plazio
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  10. E. Balletto
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  11. R. Viterbi
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  12. S. Bonelli
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Correspondence to C. Cerrato.

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Casacci, L.P., Cerrato, C., Barbero, F. et al. Dispersal and connectivity effects at different altitudes in the Euphydryas aurinia complex. J Insect Conserv 19, 265–277 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-014-9715-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-014-9715-8

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