Estimation of current population status of the Alcon large blue Phengaris alcon (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in Bela krajina (SE Slovenia) based on egg counts
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14720/ns.18.1.5-15Keywords:
Phengaris alcon, Gentiana pneumonanthe, Papilionoidea, Bela krajina, Slovenia, oviposition, population size, species conservationAbstract
An estimate of population size of the endangered Alcon large blue (Phengaris alcon) in Bela krajina (SE Slovenia) was performed based on egg counts. The presence of eggs has been confirmed in all seven currently known populations of the larval host plant Gentiana pneumonanthe in the area. Owing to the short distances between the populations it is probable that the species forms a single metapopulation with an estimated population size of about 190 individuals. One local extinction is documented on a site where P. alcon was present in 2008. We propose conservation measures to preserve the existence of P. alcon in Bela krajina.
Downloads
References
Als T.D., Nash D.R., Boomsma J.J. (2002): Geographical variation in host-ant specificity of the parasitic butterfly Maculinea alcon in Denmark. Ecol. Entomol. 27: 403-414. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2311.2002.00427.x
Czekes Z., Markó B., Nash D.R., Ferencz M., Lázár B., Rákosy L. (2014): Differences in oviposition strategies between two ecotypes of the endangered myrmecophilous butterfly Maculinea alcon (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) under unique syntopic conditions. Insect Conser. Divers. 7(2): 122-131. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/icad.12041
Dražumerič M., Hudoklin A., Ivanovič M. (1992): Krajinski park Lahinja. Zbirka vodnikov kulturni in naravni spomeniki Slovenije 181. Obzorja, Maribor, 34 pp.
Hanski I. (1999): Metapopulation ecology. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 324 pp. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198540663.001.0001
Ivanovič M., Breščak D., Peterlin S., Skoberne P., Puc M. (1983): Dolina Podturnščice: regulacija vodotoka in melioracija zemljišč. Zavod za varstvo naravne in kulturne dediščine Novo mesto, Novo mesto, 17 pp.
Maes D., Vanreusel W., Talloen W., Van Dyck H. (2004): Functional conservation units for the endangered Alcon Blue butterfly Maculinea alcon in Belgium (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). Biol. Cons. 120(2): 229-241. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2004.02.018
Mihoci I., Delić A., Gjurašin B., Bučar M., Kučinić M. (2007): First finding of the critically endangered butterfly Maculinea alcon (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in the Pannonian part of Croatia. Nat. Croat. 16(1): 19-28.
Mouquet N., Belrose V., Thomas J.A., Elmes G.W., Clarke R.T., Hochberg M.E. (2005): Conserving community modules: a case study of the endangered lycaenid butterfly Maculinea alcon. Ecology 86(12): 3160-3173. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1890/04-1664
Nowicki P., Witek M., Skorka P., Woyciechowski M. (2005): Oviposition patterns in the myrmecophilous butterfly Maculinea alcon Denis & Schiffermüller (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in relation to characteristics of foodplants and presence of ant hosts. Pol. J. Ecol. 53: 409-417.
Nowicki P., Pępkowska A., Kudłek J., Skórka P., Witek M., Settele J., Woyciechowski M. (2007): From metapopulation theory to conservation recommendations: Lessons for special occurrence and abundance patterns of Maculinea butterflies. Biol. Cons.140: 119-129. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2007.08.001
Oostermeijer J.G.B., Van't Veer R., Den Nijs J.C.M. (1994): Population structure of the rare, long-lived perennial Gentiana pneumonanthe in relation to vegetation and management in the Netherlands. J. Appl. Ecol. 31(3): 428-438. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/2404440
Paušič A., Čarni A. (2012): Landscape transformation in the low karst plain of Bela krajina (SE Slovenia) over the last 220 years. Acta Geogr. Slov. 52(1): 36-51. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3986/AGS52102
Rebeušek F. (2006): Mravljiščarji Slovenije: razširjenost, ekologija, varstvo. Center za kartografijo favne in flore, Miklavž na Dravskem polju, 9 pp.
Sibatani A., Saigusa T., Hirowatari T. (1994): The genus Maculinea van Eecke, 1915 (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) from the East Palaearctic Region. Trans. Lepid. Soc. Japan 44(4): 157-220.
Štangelj M., Ivanovič M. (Eds.) (2013): Narava Bele krajine. Belokranjski muzej, Metlika, 232 pp.
Thomas J.A., Schönrogge K., Bonelli S., Barbero F., Balletto E. (2010): Corruption of ant acoustical signals by mimetic social parasites: Maculinea butterflies achieve elevated status in host societies by mimicking the acoustics of queen ants. Commun. Integr. Biol. 3(2): 169-171. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4161/cib.3.2.10603
Ur. l. RS 1998. Odlok o razglasitvi Krajinskega parka Lahinja. Uradni list RS 73: 6930.
Ur. l. RS 2002. Pravilnik o uvrstitvi ogroženih rastlinskih in živalskih vrst v rdeči seznam. Uradni list RS 12(82): 8893-8975.
Ur. l. RS 2004a. Uredba o zavarovanih prosto živečih živalskih vrstah. Uradni list RS 14(46): 5963-6016.
Ur. l. RS 2004b. Pravilnik o določitvi in varstvu naravnih vrednot. Uradni list RS 111: 13173.
Van Swaay C.A.M., Brereton T., Kirklan P., Warren M.S. (2012): Manual for butterfly monitoring. Report VS2012.010, De Vlinderstichting/Dutch Butterfly Conservation, Butterfly Conservation UK & Butterfly Conservation Europe, Wageningen, 12 pp.
Verovnik R. (2000): Razširjenost dnevnih metuljev (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) na Goričkem (severovzhodna Slovenija). Nat. Slo. 2(1): 41-59.
Verovnik R., Škvarč A., (2002): Prispevek k poznavanju favne dnevnih metuljev (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) Bele Krajine in vzhodnega dela Kočevske (jugovzhodna Slovenija). Nat. Slo. 4(1): 21-32.
Verovnik R., Rebeušek F., Jež M. (2012): Atlas of butterflies (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) of Slovenia. Center za kartografijo favne in flore, Miklavž na Dravskem polju, 456 pp.
