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The population ecology of a natural population of the pierid butterfly Colias alexandra

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Summary

Key factor analysis techniques were used to examine factors determining the abundance of a population of non-pest Colias. The number of individuals entering each successive life stage in the sample population are summarized in life tables for 1975 to 1979. Survivorship to the adult is a relatively consistent proportionality (-x=1.2%, S.D.=1.14; 1975–1979). Factors resulting in reduced natality and, less importantly, mortality during larval diapause determine the population trends for C. alexandra. Egg mortality, pre-diapause larval mortality and postdiapause mortality contribute little to these trends. Possible key sources contributing to reduced natality are examined. Mortality of adults (including removal by collectors), poor weather conditions during the oviposition period, unseasonal snow or drought which affect nectar sources or oviposition sites are among the factors which cause reduced natality and result in population depression.

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Author notes

  1. Jane Leslie Hayes

    Present address: Department of Zoology, University of California, 95616, Davis, California, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, University of Kansas, 66045, Lawrence, Kansas, USA

    Jane Leslie Hayes

  2. The Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, 81224, Crested Butte, Colorado, USA

    Jane Leslie Hayes

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  1. Jane Leslie Hayes
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Leslie Hayes, J. The population ecology of a natural population of the pierid butterfly Colias alexandra . Oecologia 49, 188–200 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00349187

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00349187

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