Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Management of calcareous grasslands for Nickerl’s fritillary (Melitaea aurelia) has to consider habitat requirements of the immature stages, isolation, and patch area

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Insect Conservation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We analysed the habitat preferences of adult stages and oviposition electivity of Melitaea aurelia in calcareous grasslands in the Diemel Valley (central Germany) to assess the key factors for successful management. Egg-laying and adult habitats of M. aurelia were more or less congruent. Oviposition electivity at the host plant (Plantago media) was best explained by a combination of host plant quantity and vegetation structure. Habitat quality, isolation and patch area explained 86% of the current patch occupancy of M. aurelia. With M. aurelia preferentially inhabiting transitional vegetation types, management requires a balance between abandonment and disturbance. Disturbances provide open soil that facilitates germination of the host plant Plantago media. On the other hand, immature and adult stages of M. aurelia perform best on calcareous grasslands with a high amount of host plants and low disturbance intensity. Traditional rough grazing regimes seem to be the most favourable tool for developing the necessary spatial and temporal heterogeneity in patches. The best results may be achieved by rotational grazing where only a subset of inhabited patches is grazed intensively each year. Our analysis of patch occupancy indicates that it would be desirable to restore patches in close proximity to occupied sites.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anthes N, Fartmann T, Hermann G (2003a) Wie lässt sich der Rückgang des Goldenen Scheckenfalters (Euphydryas aurinia) in Mitteleuropa stoppen? Erkenntnisse aus populationsökologischen Studien in voralpinen Niedermoorgebieten und der Arealentwicklung in Deutschland. Naturschutz und Landschaftsplanung 35:279–287

    Google Scholar 

  • Anthes N, Fartmann T, Hermann G, Kaule G (2003b) Combining larval habitat quality and metapopulation structure – the key for successful management of prealpine Euphydryas aurinia colonies. J Insect Conserv 7:175–185

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balmer O, Erhardt A (2000) Consequences of succession on extensively grazed grasslands for Central European butterfly communities: rethinking conservation practices. Conserv Biol 14:746–757

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bink FA (1992) Ecologische Atlas van de Dagvlinders van Nordwest-Europa. Schuyt & Co, Haarlem, The Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  • BLfU (Bayerisches Landesamt für Umweltschutz) (2001) Artenschutzkartierung Bayern: Arbeitsatlas Tagfalter. Bayerisches Landesamt für Umweltschutz, Augsburg, Germany

    Google Scholar 

  • Bourn NAD, Thomas JA (2002) The challenge of conserving grassland insects at the margins of their range in Europe. Biol Conserv 104:285–292

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bourn NAD, Warren MS (1997) Species action pan—Glanville Fritillary Melitaea cinxia. Butterfly Conservation, Dorset

    Google Scholar 

  • Brökel G (1984) Erlinghausen, eine Dorfgeschichte. Selbstverlag, Gemeinde Erlinghausen, Germany

    Google Scholar 

  • BUTT (Butterflies Under Threat Team) (1986) The management of chalk grassland for butterflies. Focus on Nature Conserv 17:1–80

    Google Scholar 

  • Chardon JP, Adriaensen F, Matthysen E (2003) Incorporating landscape elements into a connectivity measure: a case study for the speckled wood butterfly (Pararge aegeria L.). Landscape Ecol 18:561–573

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke RT, Thomas JA, Elmes GW, Hochberg ME (1997) The effects of spatial patterns in habitat quality on community dynamics within a site. Proc R Soc Lond, Ser B: Biol Sci 264:347–354

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crone EE, Schultz CB (2003) Movement behavior and minimum patch size for butterfly population persistence. In: Boggs CL, Watt WB, Ehrlich PR (eds) Butterflies. Ecology and evolution taking flight. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, pp 561–576

    Google Scholar 

  • Dennis RLH (1995) Euchloe ausonia (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) oviposition on Brassica nigra (L.) Koch (Cruciferae): big immature plants are preferred. Entomol Gaz 46:253–255

    Google Scholar 

  • Dennis RLH, Eales HT (1997) Patch occupancy in Coenonympha tullia (Müller, 1764) (Lepidoptera: Satyrinae): habitat quality matters as much as patch size and isolation. J Insect Conserv 1:167–176

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dennis RLH, Hodgson JG, Grenyer R, Shreeve TG, Roy DB (2004) Host plants and butterfly biology. Do host-plant strategies drive butterfly status? Ecol Entomol 29:1–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dennis RLH, Shreeve TG, Dyck H van (2003) Towards a functional resource-based concept for habitat: a butterfly biology viewpoint. Oikos 102:417–426

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dennis RLH, Shreeve TG, Dyck H van (2006) Habitats and resources: the need for a resource-based definition to conserve butterflies. Biodivers Conserv 15:1943–1966

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dolek M (1994) Der Einfluss der Schafbeweidung von Kalkmagerrasen in der Südlichen Frankenalb auf die Insektenfauna (Tagfalter, Heuschrecken). Agrarökologie 10:1–126

    Google Scholar 

  • Ebert G, Rennwald E (1991) Die Schmetterlinge Baden-Württembergs. Band 1, Tagfalter I. Verlag Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart, Germany

    Google Scholar 

  • Ehrlich PR, Hanski I (eds) (2004) On the wings of checkerspots: a model system for population biology. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Fartmann T (2004) Die Schmetterlingsgemeinschaften der Halbtrockenrasen-Komplexe des Diemeltales. Biozönologie von Tagfaltern und Widderchen in einer alten Hudelandschaft. Abh Westf Mus Naturkde 66:1–256

    Google Scholar 

  • Fartmann T (2006) Oviposition preferences, adjacency of old woodland and isolation explain the distribution of the Duke of Burgundy butterfly (Hamearis lucina) in calcareous grasslands in central Germany. Ann Zool Fenn 43:335–347

    Google Scholar 

  • Fartmann T, Mattes H (2003) Störungen als ökologischer Schlüsselfaktor beim Komma-Dickkopffalter (Hesperia comma). Abh Westf Mus Naturkde 65:131–148

    Google Scholar 

  • Fleishman E, Ray C, Sjörgen-Gulve P, Boggs CL, Murphy DD (2002) Assessing the roles of patch quality, area and isolation in predicting metapopulation dynamics. Conserv Biol 16:706–716

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fred MS, Brommer JE (2003) Influence of habitat quality and patch size on occupancy and persistence in two populations of the Apollo butterfly (Parnassius apollo). J Insect Conserv 7:85–98

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • García-Barros E, Fartmann T (accepted) Oviposition sites. In: Settele J, Konvička M, Shreeve TG, Dyck H van (eds) Ecology of butterflies in Europe. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

  • Gerken B, Meyer C (1994) Kalkmagerrasen in Ostwestfalen. Über Pflege und Entwicklung der Kalkmagerrasen in Ostwestfalen – Kreise Höxter, Paderborn und Lippe. LÖBF-Mitteilungen 3:32–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Haeck J (1992) Phytosociology of Plantago habitats in the Netherlands and the relation with habitat characteristics. In: Kuiper PJC, Bos M (eds) Plantago: A multidisciplinary study. Ecol. Stud. 89:20–29

  • Hanski I (1999) Metapopulation ecology. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanski I, Kuussaari M, Nieminen M (1994) Metapopulation structure and migration in the butterfly Melitaea cinxia. Ecology 75:747–762

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hermann G, Steiner R (1997) Eiablage- und Larvalhabitat des Komma-Dickkopffalters (Hesperia comma Linné, 1758) in Baden-Württemberg (Lepidoptera, Hesperiidae). Carolinea 55:35–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Hozak R, Meyer C (1998) Konzepte zur Wiederbelebung der Hüteschäferei auf Kalkmagerrasen und Heiden. LÖBF-Mitteilungen 4:22–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Kleyer M, Biedermann R, Henle K, Obermaier E, Poethke H-J, Poschlod P, Schröder B, Settele J, Vetterlein D (2007) Mosaic cycles in agricultural landscapes of Northwest Europe. Basic Appl. Ecol. 8:295–309

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Konvička M, Hula V, Fric Z (2003) Habitat of pre-hibernating larvae of the endangered butterfly Euphydryas aurinia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae): What can be learned from vegetation composition and architecture? Eur J Entomol 100:313–322

    Google Scholar 

  • Kudrna O (2002) The distribution atlas of European butterflies. Oedippus 20:1–342

    Google Scholar 

  • Küer A, Fartmann T (2005) Prominent shoots are preferred: microhabitat preferences of the Alcon Blue (Maculinea alcon) in Northern Germany (Lycaenidae). Nota Lepidopterol 27:309–319

    Google Scholar 

  • Leopold P (2001) Schmetterlingszönosen ausgewählter Kalk-Magerrasen im Saale-Unstrut-Gebiet (Sachsen-Anhalt) unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Habitate des Segelfalters und der Berghexe. Unpublished Diploma Thesis, Institute of Landscape Ecology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany

  • Lewis OT, Hurford C (1997) Assessing the status of the marsh fritillary butterfly (Eurodryas aurinia): an example from Glamorgan, UK. J Insect Conserv 1:159–166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lucan V, Eger W (1996) Der Einfluss des Menschen auf die Pflanzendecke. In: Becker W, Frede A, Lehmann W (eds) Pflanzenwelt zwischen Eder und Diemel. Flora des Landkreises Waldeck-Frankenberg mit Verbreitungsatlas. Naturschutz in Waldeck-Frankenberg 5:46–53

  • Maes D, Vanreusel W, Talloen W, Dyck H van (2004) Functional conservation units for the endangered alcon blue butterfly Maculinea alcon in Belgium (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). Biol Conserv 120:229–241

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Michels C, Woike M (1994) Schafbeweidung und Naturschutz. Pflege von Heiden, Mooren, Kalkmagerrasen und Grünlandflächen. LÖBF-Mitteilungen 3:16–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Moilanen A, Hanski I (1998) Metapopulation dynamics: effects of habitat quality and landscape structure. Ecology 79:2503–2515

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Müller-Westermeier G (1999) Klimaatlas der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Teil 1. Lufttemperatur, Niederschlag, Sonnenscheindauer. Deutscher Wetterdienst, Offenbach, Germany

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphy DD, Wahlberg N, Hanski I, Ehrlich PR (2004) Introducing checkerspots: taxonomy and ecology. In: Ehrlich PR, Hanski I (eds) On the wings of checkerspots: a model system for population biology. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 17–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Nieminen M, Siljander M, Hanski I (2004) Structure and dynamics of Melitaea cinxia metapopulations. In: Ehrlich PR, Hanski I (eds) On the wings of checkerspots: a Model system for population biology. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 63–91

    Google Scholar 

  • Osborne KH, Redak RA (2000) Microhabitat conditions associated with the distribution of postdiapause larvae of Euphydryas editha quino (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Ann Entomol Soc Am 93:110–114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peintinger H, Philippi G (1996) Plantaginaceae, Wegerichartige. In: Sebald O, Seybold S, Philippi G, Wörz A (eds) Die Farn- und Blütenpflanzen Baden-Württembergs. Band 5: Spezieller Teil (Spermatophyta, Unterklasse Asteridae). Buddlejaceae bis Caprifoliaceae. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart, pp 247–255

    Google Scholar 

  • Porter K (1992) Eggs and egg-laying. In: Dennis R (eds) The ecology of butterflies in Britain. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 46–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Pretscher P (1998) Rote Liste der Großschmetterlinge (Macrolepidoptera). Schriftenr Landschaftspfl Naturschutz 55:87–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Rennwald E (ed) (2002) Verzeichnis und Rote Liste der Pflanzengesellschaften Deutschlands – mit Datenservice auf CD-Rom. – Schriftenr. Vegetationskde 35:1–800

  • Ricketts TH (2001) The matrix matters: effective isolation in fragmented landscapes. Am Nat 158:87–99

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schultz CB (2001) Restoring resources for an endangered butterfly. J Appl Ecol 38:1007–1019

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schwarzwälder B, Lörtscher M, Erhardt A, Zettel J (1997) Habitat utilization by the Heath Fritillary butterfly, Mellicta athalia ssp. celadussa (Rott.) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in montane grasslands of different management. Biol Conserv 82:157–165

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seifert C (1994) Biozönologische Untersuchungen an tagaktiven Schmetterlingen in Nordosthessen. Tuexenia 14:455–478

    Google Scholar 

  • Shreeve TG, Dennis RLH, Dyck H van (2004) Resources, habitats and metapopulations – whither reality? Oikos 106:404–408

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swaay C van, Warren M (1999) Red data book of European butterflies (Rhopalocera). Nat Environ 99:1–260

    Google Scholar 

  • Swaay C van, Warren M (eds) (2003) Prime butterfly areas in Europe: priority sites for conservation. National Reference Centre for Agriculture, Nature and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas CD (1995) Ecology and conservation of butterfly metapopulations in the fragmented British landscape. In: Pullin AS (ed) Ecology and conservation of butterflies. Chapman & Hall, London, pp 46–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas CD, Thomas JA, Warren MS (1992) Distribution of occupied and vacant butterfly habitats in fragmented landscapes. Oecologia 92:563–567

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas JA (1991) Rare species conservation: case studies of European butterflies. In: Spellerberg IF, Goldsmith FB, Morris MG (eds) The scientific management of temperate communities for conservation. Blackwell Scientific, Oxford, pp 149–197

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas JA (2005) Monitoring change in the abundance and distribution of insects using butterflies and other indicator groups. Philos Trans R Soc Lond, Ser B: Biol Sci 360:339–357

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas JA, Bourn NAD, Clarke RT, Stewart KE, Simcox DJ, Pearman GS, Curtis R, Goodger B (2001) The quality and isolation of habitat patches both determine where butterflies persist in fragmented landscapes. Proc R Soc Lond, Ser B: Biol Sci 268:1791–1796

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas JA, Clarke RT (2004) Extinction rates and butterflies. Science 305:1563–1564

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas JA, Simcox DJ, Wardlaw JC, Elmes GW, Hochberg ME, Clarke RT (1998) Effects of latitude, altitude and climate on the habitat and conservation of the endangered butterfly Maculinea arion and its Myrmica ant hosts. J Insect Conserv 2:39–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas JA, Telfer MG, Roy DB, Preston CD, Greenwood JJD, Asher J, Fox R, Clarke RT, Lawton JH (2004) Comparative losses of British butterflies, birds, and plants and the global extinction crisis. Science 303:1879–1881

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tonne F (1954) Besser Bauen mit Besonnungs- und Tageslicht-Planung. Hofmann, Schorndorf, Germany

    Google Scholar 

  • van der Aart PJM, Vulto JC (1992) General ecology. In: Kuiper PJC, Bos M (eds) Plantago: A multidisciplinary Study. Ecol. Stud. 89:6

  • Wahlberg N, Klemetti T, Hanski I (2002) Dynamic populations in a dynamic landscape: the metapopulation structure of the marsh fritillary butterfly. Ecography 25:224–232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • WallisDeVries MF (2004) A quantitative conservation approach for the endangered butterfly Maculinea alcon. Conserv Biol 18:489–499

    Google Scholar 

  • WallisDeVries MF, Poschlod P, Willems JW (2002) Challenges for the conservation of calcareous grasslands in Northwestern Europe: integrating the requirements of flora and fauna. Biol Conserv 104:265–273

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Warren MS (1994) The UK status and suspected metapopulation structure of a threatened European butterfly, the marsh fritillary (Eurodryas aurinia). Biol Conserv 67:239–249

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Warren MS, Stephens DEA (1989) Habitat design and management for butterflies. The Entomologist 108:123–134

    Google Scholar 

  • Weiss SB, Murphy DD, White RR (1988) Sun, slope and butterflies: topographic determination of habitat quality for Euphydryas editha. Ecology 69:1486–1496

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiklund C (1984) Egg-laying patterns in butterflies in relation to their phenology and the visual apparency and abundance of their host plants. Oecologia 63:23–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Our grateful thanks to Nils Anthes, Gabriel Hermann, Norbert Hölzel, and Martin Konvička for helpful comments on an earlier version of this paper. The study was partly funded by the Akademie für ökologische Landeserforschung in Westfalen (AÖL).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Community Ecology, Institute of Landscape Ecology, University of Münster, Robert-Koch-Straße 26, Münster, 48149, Germany

    Stefan Eichel & Thomas Fartmann

Authors
  1. Stefan Eichel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Thomas Fartmann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thomas Fartmann.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Eichel, S., Fartmann, T. Management of calcareous grasslands for Nickerl’s fritillary (Melitaea aurelia) has to consider habitat requirements of the immature stages, isolation, and patch area. J Insect Conserv 12, 677–688 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-007-9110-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-007-9110-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation