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Does prescribed burning mean a threat to the rare satyrine butterfly Hipparchia fagi? Larval-habitat preferences give the answer

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Abstract

The ecological effects of fire management, especially regarding arthropods are poorly investigated. Burning in winter was assumed to pose a threat to butterfly species hibernating as larvae. To assess the impact of prescribed burning on population viability, we analysed larval-habitat preferences of the highly endangered, xero-thermophilous butterfly Hipparchia fagi in vineyards of the Kaiserstuhl region (southern Germany). Microhabitat preference analyses for mature larvae and egg-laying females revealed a preference of H. fagi for Bromus erectus-dominated communities with sparse vegetation coverage and a distinct tuft growth of the host plant B. erectus on microclimatically benefited slopes. We explain the preference of B. erectus by a preference of vegetation structure. The grass tufts offer a suitable climatically buffered living space for larvae. Egg deposition took place on dry substrate at positions of high solar radiation, thus adapted to hot and dry microclimate. As the larval habitat was sparsely vegetated as well as generally legally protected, fire management was not applicable and therefore not affecting the populations. We think it is conceivable that H. fagi, occurring here at its northern range limit, might expand its larval habitat into denser, combustible B. erectus stands in the course of global warming. A change in habitat preferences would necessitate a re-evaluation of management options.

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Acknowledgements

The investigations have been carried out in the framework of the research project “Ecological monitoring of the integration of prescribed fire in the management of vineyard slopes in the Kaiserstuhl area” on behalf of the Emmendingen Landscape Conservation Association (Landschaftserhaltungsverband Emmendingen), with financial support by the Ministry for Food and Rural Area Baden-Württemberg and the municipalities of the study area. We are very grateful to Norbert Hölzel for valuable comments that considerably improved the manuscript and to Lillian Harris for help with the English language.

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Authors and Affiliations

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

    Verena Möllenbeck & Thomas Fartmann

  2. Working Group for Animal Ecology and Planning, Johann-Strauß-Str. 22, 70794, Filderstadt, Germany

    Gabriel Hermann

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  1. Verena Möllenbeck
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  2. Gabriel Hermann
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Correspondence to Verena Möllenbeck.

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Möllenbeck, V., Hermann, G. & Fartmann, T. Does prescribed burning mean a threat to the rare satyrine butterfly Hipparchia fagi? Larval-habitat preferences give the answer. J Insect Conserv 13, 77–87 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-007-9128-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-007-9128-z

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