Habitat use by the Large Copper butterfly Lycaena dispar in
Transcript of Habitat use by the Large Copper butterfly Lycaena dispar in
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Habitat restoration
for butterfly conservation in the Walloon region (Belgium)
Philippe Goffart DEMNA / SPW – Gembloux, Belgium
&
Dominique Lafontaine NATAGORA - Namur, Belgium
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Plan
Introduction:
From science to... action !
The « butterfly » Life+ Project in the Walloon Region (Southern Belgium)
Target species : Euphydryas aurinia, Lycaena helle & L. dispar
Regional status?
Species’ habitats?
Population networks?
Restoration methods
Management practices
First results and perspectives
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Introduction From science to... action !
Do we know enough to take action?
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Introduction From science to... action !
Yes we know enough !
But there are obvious gaps about
...how to restore butterfly habitats !!
=> Action and science can work in parallel and in this way, can feed each other
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The « Butterfly » Life+ Project in the Walloon Region (Southern Belgium)
Euphydryas aurinia, Lycaena helle & L. dispar
2 partners : Natagora & Walloon Region (DGARNE, SPW)
5 years – from January 2009 till end 2013
9 persons (including 4 persons as technical staff)
Budget : 7.120.000 € » Europe : 50% - 3.560.000 €
» Walloon Region : 45% - 3.204.000 €
» Natagora : 5% - 356.000 €
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The « Butterflies » Life+ Project in the Walloon Region (Southern Belgium)
5 Working Areas
25 Natura 2000 sites (24,680 ha)
22 Communities
15 DNF districts
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The « Butterflies » Life+ Project in the Walloon Region (Southern Belgium)
GENERAL OBJECTIVE :
• To restore the three Lepidoptera species to a favourable conservation status within the 25 Natura 2000 sites.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
1 - Reducing isolation of surviving populations by recreating interconnected habitat networks, taking into account the needs of each of the species and ensuring their long-term viability;
2 - Contributing to the restoration of favourable habitats for these species;
3 - Implementing long-term and appropriate regular management within the project sites;
4 - Raising awareness among nature managers and the general public about the particularly critical situation of the butterflies and informing them about the territorial management principles needed to conserve them.
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Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia) cycle
Univoltine cycle Flight period : 5 to 6 Winter stage : caterpillar
Hostplants: Succisa pratensis, Knautia, Scabiosa,...
Caterpillar nest
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Poor grasslands along edges or in clearings
Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia) habitat
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Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia) habitats
From chalk grasslands to fens !
Nardus grasslands
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E. aurinia habitat network
Minimum Viable Metapopulation (Bulman et al., 2007)
>4 % favorable habitats >100 hectares interconnected <1 km between habitat patches
Initial situation
Projected situation
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How threatened butterflies?
E. aurinia: Critically Endangered (CR), in decline
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Strong range depletion during the XXth Century !
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How threatened butterflies?
L. helle : Vulnerable (VU), in decline
Abandoned humid grasslands along edges or in clearings
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Univoltine cycle Flight period : 4 to 7 Winter stage : pupa
Hostplant: Polygonum bistorta
Violet Copper (Lycaena helle) cycle
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Roosting behaviour: on top of highest trees !!
Violet Copper (Lycaena helle) habitat
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L. helle habitat network
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L. helle habitat network
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L. dispar rutilus : Least Concern (LC), in expansion
Hostplants: •Rumex hydrolapathum •R. crispus •R. obtusifolius
How threatened butterflies?
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Large Copper (L. dispar) habitats
L. dispar (eggs & caterpillars) density
Egg-laying mostly in newly restored areas!
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L. dispar (eggs & caterpillars) density
More individuals on extensive grasslands than intensive ones!
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aLarge Copper (L. dispar) habitats
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Restoration methods Euphydryas aurinia
Tree cutting for glides enlargment
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Restoration methods Euphydryas aurinia
Stumps ’ grinding
Wood grinding
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Restoration methods Euphydryas aurinia
Topsoil removal
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Restoration methods Euphydryas aurinia
Succisa’s seed harvesting
Seed sowing
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Restoration methods Euphydryas aurinia
Results of Succisa seed sowing, the second season after sowing
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Restoration methods Lycaena helle & L. dispar
Cutting of spruce plantations
Milling of rank grassland vegetation
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Management practices
Very light grazing (< 0.2 LU/ha/an)
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Management practices
Mowing in rotation (with annual refuges > 1/2 area)
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Management practices
Cutting of stump sprouts
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First results and perspectives Euphydryas aurinia in Fagne-Famenne
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First results and perspectives Euphydryas aurinia in Fagne-Famenne
0 500 1.000 1.500 2.000250Meters
Red : initial habitat
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First results and perspectives Euphydryas aurinia in Fagne-Famenne
0 500 1.000 1.500 2.000250Meters
Green : already done Red : planned in 2012 Orange: under negotiation
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First results and perspectives Euphydryas aurinia in Fagne-Famenne
Red dots : E. aurinia counts during spring 2011 Green : restored areas
Orange: area being restored
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First results and perspectives Euphydryas aurinia in Fagne-Famenne
Blue dots : E. aurinia nests at the end of summer 2011
Green : restored areas
Orange: area being restored
Nests counts in 2011: 257 nests on 16 locations !
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First results and perspectives
Very promising results !
Occupied habitats have been managed carefully => several populations have been ‘ saved ’…
… and some have grown and expanded (thanks
partly to favourable climatic conditions)
New habitat networks are undergoing restoration
Reintroductions ? Maybe… if natural colonization is not happening !
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Conclusions
• Go ahead : there is much work to do !
• Life+ program is an ideal opportunity !!
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Acknowledgements
Joëlle Huysecom
Olivier Kints
Patrick Ligghezzolo
Alexander Rauw
Eric Cavelier
Members of the
« Lycaena Working Group »