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Sex-biased recapture rates present challenges to quantifying population sizes and dispersal behavior of the regal fritillary butterfly (Speyeria idalia)

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Abstract

The range of the regal fritillary butterfly (Speyeria idalia) has declined substantially due to habitat loss, leading to concerns about the long-term persistence of this species and a current assessment for protection under the Endangered Species Act. Understanding population sizes and dispersal patterns will be important for this assessment and implementing future conservation efforts. The regal fritillary is found in several small remnant prairies south of Sedalia, MO, USA and believed to have relatively large and persistent populations. The objective of this study was to conduct a marking study to quantify local population sizes, capture rates, and movements among state owned Conservation Areas. A total of 109 regal fritillaries were marked at three preserves; however, most effort was directed at Friendly Prairie Conservation Area that yielded a population size estimate of 79 individuals. Males were recaptured more often than females, while the population size estimate was sensitive to a small number of female recaptures. Therefore, a long-term monitoring program will be more efficient if it tracks male abundances, resulting in increased statistical power to detect trends. The low recapture rates of females hindered the ability to assess movement patterns, as females of most butterfly species exhibit long-distance dispersal. Movements of at least 2.9 km and 3.4 km for two males demonstrates connectivity among prairie remnants and may be the reason for the persistent population in this region. Increasing prairie habitat in an arrangement to facilitate movement across the landscape should be implemented to benefit the regal fritillary and other prairie habitat-sensitive butterflies.

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Acknowledgements

This project was partially funded by the Missouri Department of Conservation (Cooperative Agreement No. 435) and conducted under the Missouri Department of Conservation permit numbers 18245 and 18459. Thank you to A Geheber, A Madison, B Matthews, and D Wolcott for assistance with field surveys. Two anonymous reviewers provided valuable and thoughtful comments on a previous draft of this manuscript.

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  1. School of Natural Sciences, WC Morris 319B, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO, 64093, USA

    Daniel A. Marschalek

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I have no potential conflicts of interest, this research did not involve human or other vertebrate animal subjects, and all captured butterflies were released.

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This research did not involve human or other vertebrate animal subjects, and all captured butterflies were released.

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Marschalek, D.A. Sex-biased recapture rates present challenges to quantifying population sizes and dispersal behavior of the regal fritillary butterfly (Speyeria idalia). J Insect Conserv 24, 891–899 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-020-00259-7

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