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Larval habitat preferences of a threatened butterfly species in heavy-metal grasslands

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Abstract

Understanding the factors that determine habitat quality is of vital importance in ensuring appropriate habitat management. Here we used the Niobe fritillary (Argynnis niobe) as a study system to analyse the larval habitat preferences in a small network of heavy-metal grasslands in western Germany. The data were compared with the results of a previous study in coastal dune grasslands of the German North Sea. Based on this knowledge, we give management recommendations for the conservation of this threatened species. The key factors for the survival of A. niobe in heavy-metal grasslands were (i) open vegetation with a warm microclimate and (ii) sufficient host plants for the larvae. This reflects similar results from the previous study in coastal grey dune grasslands. However, in the heavy-metal grasslands, physiological stress generally slows down succession and favours the fritillary’s host plant, the metallophyte Viola calaminaria. As a result, the cover of the host plant was nearly twice as high in heavy-metal grasslands compared to the dune grasslands. Heavy-metal grasslands are of great significance for the conservation of A. niobe and overall butterfly diversity. Usually, the speed of succession in heavy-metal grasslands is slow and, hence, sites with high heavy-metal concentrations are characterised by relatively stable plant composition and vegetation structure. However, on soils with low heavy-metal content a loss of habitats of A. niobe and associated species of conservation concern may occur without management. On those sites sheep grazing seems to be an appropriate way to keep the habitats open and rich in violets.

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Fig. 1

Data sources: Bräu et al. (2013), Brockmann (1989), Ebert and Rennwald (1991), Föhst and Broszkus (1992), Kraus (1993), Lederer and Künnert (1963), Lobenstein (2003), NLWKN (2006), Reinhardt (1983, 2005), Stamm (1981) as well as Aquazoo – Löbbecke Museum, H. Andretzke, S. Buchholz, S. Caspari, J. Gelbrecht, S. Hafner, H. G. Joger, J. Kleinekuhle, D. Koelman, D. Kolligs, A. C. Lange, D. Lück, P. Mansfeld, B. Nannen, A. Nunner, R. Ohle, R. Reinhardt, F. Röbbelen, A. Schmidt, P. Schmidt, M. Sommerfeld, R. Trusch (all pers. comm.)

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to J. Dover, C. Haaland, D. Lück, B. Theißen and two anonymous reviewers for valuable comments on an earlier version of the manuscript. Moreover, we would like to thank D. Lück and A. Deepen-Wiezcorek for providing information about the butterfly assemblages in the heavy-metal grasslands around Stollberg. We are also grateful to R. Altmüller, H. Andretzke, R. Bolz, M. Bräu, S. Buchholz, S. Caspari, J. Gelbrecht, F. Goosmann, S. Hafner, H. G. Joger, J. Kleinekuhle, D. Koelman, D. Kolligs, A. C. Lange, D. Lück, P. Mansfeld, B. Nannen, R. Ohle, R. Reinhardt, F. Röbbelen, A. Schmidt, P. Schmidt, M. Sommerfeld, R. Trusch, J. Voith and H. Wegner for providing distribution data of Argynnis niobe.

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  1. Ostpreußenstr. 30, 48167, Münster, Germany

    Alexander Salz

  2. Department of Biodiversity and Landscape Ecology, Faculty of Biology/Chemistry, Osnabrück University, Barbarastr. 13, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany

    Thomas Fartmann

  3. Institute of Biodiversity and Landscape Ecology (IBL), Hafenweg 31, 48155, Münster, Germany

    Thomas Fartmann

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Salz, A., Fartmann, T. Larval habitat preferences of a threatened butterfly species in heavy-metal grasslands. J Insect Conserv 21, 129–136 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-017-9961-7

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