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Ecology and recovery plans for the four Spanish endangered endemic butterfly species

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Abstract

Data compiled during three fieldwork seasons and habitat models provided the tools to produce Species recovery plans for the endangered and endemic butterflies in Spain: Polyommatus violetae, P. golgus, Agriades zullichi, and Euchloe bazae. The distribution of each species has been updated with new field records. For E. bazae and P. violetae the known distribution records increased 33% and 8%, respectively. Detailed habitat descriptions, based on fieldwork data, are given for the four species and models show relatively small and fragmented habitat patches for P. violetae, P. golgus, and P. zullichi. Those areas might be particularly sensitive under a climate change scenario. Habitat of the four species is very specialized and mainly consists of open areas with grassland or scrub vegetation. Population densities are provided for the first time for these species and show low numbers for E. bazae, particularly in the area around Baza in SE Spain. 25 to 54% of the populations were apparently not threatened. For the rest, apparent habitat suitability threats were abandonment for E. bazae and P. violetae, trampling for A. zullichi, and overgrazing for P. golgus. Recovery plans included aspects on legislation, habitat management, precautionary measures (limit new developments and land use changes), research, and public awareness campaigns. Suggested habitat management actions are: (1) support extensive grazing and prevent overgrazing; (2) reduce the effect of trampling by visitors in mountain areas; and (3) woodland and scrub clearing of abandoned areas and pine plantations to improve the quality of grassland habitats.

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Acknowledgements

We thank MAVA Fondation pour la Nature for financial support (Project No. 11/198). The project was supported by Butterfly Conservation Europe, De Vlinderstichting, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, the Junta de Andalucía, National and Natural Park of Sierra Nevada, Natural Park of Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas, Natural Park of Sierra de Tejeda, Almijara y Alhama and the European Interest Group of Butterfly Conservation (UK). Fieldwork was carried out with the help of C Antonietty, H Brooke, JP Cancela, P Cawdell, R Davidson, R Fernández, E García-Barros, A Iglesias, JM Irurita, I Lacalle, J López Pajarón, J Martín Cano, Y Monasterio, JC Moreno, D Paz, M Pelayo, R Pérez, M Prentice, B Ramos, H Romo, G Shabazian, N Thompson, A Tinaut, R Travesí, C van Swaay, R Verovnik, R Vila, and I Wynhoff. C van Swaay and M Warren provided ideas for the species recovery plans, R Verovnik recorded new locations for Euchloe bazae and R. Pérez identified a new larval food plant for Polyommatus violetae. Two anonymous reviewers made important suggestions which improved a previous version of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, c/ Darwin 2, 28049, Madrid, Spain

    M. L. Munguira, S. Castro-Cobo, E. García-Barros & H. Romo

  2. Agencia de Medio Ambiente y Agua, c/ Joaquina Eguaras 10, 18013, Granada, Spain

    J. M. Barea-Azcón

  3. Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, c/ Americo Vespucio s/n, Isla de la Cartuja, 41092, Sevilla, Spain

    S. Castro-Cobo

  4. Butterfly Conservation Europe, Postbus 506, 6700 AM, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    M. L. Munguira & S. Miteva

  5. IES Vega de Atarfe, Avda. Diputación s/n, 18230, Atarfe, Granada, Spain

    J. Olivares

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  1. M. L. Munguira
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Correspondence to M. L. Munguira.

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This study was funded by MAVA Fondation pour la Nature (Grant Number 11/198).

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Munguira, M.L., Barea-Azcón, J.M., Castro-Cobo, S. et al. Ecology and recovery plans for the four Spanish endangered endemic butterfly species. J Insect Conserv 21, 423–437 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-016-9949-8

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