Burnet moths: what do they want? Camilla Sarin

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Burnet moths: what do they want? Camilla Sarin Final thesis, International Master’s Programme in Ecology and the Environment 2009 Supervisor: Karl-Olof Bergman Burnet moths (Zygaenidae) are declining in Europe. Main reason: loss of appropriate habitat types, e.g. semi-natural grassland. Effective conservation plans require knowledge of a species’ habitat preferences; for several life stages and at different spatial scales. Aim Find the habitat requirements of Zygaena filipendulae, Zygaena lonicerae and Zygaena viciae during different life stages and… at two spatial scales Background Small scale Larval host plants. Larvae: surrounded by a higher density of larval host plants than average, and than pupae or adults. Pupae: found in higher vege-tation than larvae or adults. Adults: found in more sun than average, mainly on red and violet composite flowers such as Cirsium and Centaurea. Nectar plants. Large scale Positive relationship between burnet moths and the area of meadows and pastures in southern Sweden. Small scale Measurements of habitat variables: • Larval host plants • Nectar sources • Vegetation height • Cover of bare ground & dry grass • Sun exposure Large scale GIS analyses: area of meadows and pastures in southern Sweden vs. burnet presence/absence. Methods Results Preserve sites with a high cover of host plants and nectar sources. Manage areas to keep them open and sunny, and to prevent grass domination. Execute management with care (or late in the season) to not harm Z. filipendulae pupae or reduce substrates suitable for pupation. Preserve and restore semi-natural grasslands to promote burnet presence on a larger scale. Implications for conservation Z. filipendulae Z. lonicerae Z. viciae L. corniculatus T. medium/ pratense Vicia spp. Cirsium arvense Centaurea jacea Scatterplot of multiple variables against Log area + 1 Filip finns finns ej 10v*2327c 0,0 0,5 1,0 1,5 2,0 2,5 3,0 3,5 4,0 Log area + 1 0,0 0,2 0,4 0,6 0,8 1,0 1.0 0.6 0.2 0.5 1.5 2.5 3.5 Log 10 (area+1) Probability ³ 10 30 50 Probability of finding Zygaena filipendulae Burnet presence Probability of finding burnets (%) ³ Probability of finding Zygaena viciae 1.0 0.6 0.2 Log 10 (area+1) 0.5 1.5 2.5 3.5 Scatterplot of multiple variables against Log area + 1 Vic finns finns ej utan GOTLAND 10v*2113c 0,0 0,5 1,0 1,5 2,0 2,5 3,0 3,5 4,0 Log area + 1 0,0 0,2 0,4 0,6 0,8 1,0 Z . viciae Probability ³ Probability of finding Zygaena lonicerae 1.0 0.6 0.2 Log 10 (area+1) 0,0 0,5 1,0 1,5 2,0 2,5 3,0 3,5 4,0 Log area +1 0,0 0,2 0,4 0,6 0,8 1,0 Z . lonicerae 0.5 1.5 2.5 3.5 Probability

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Burnet presence. 10. 30. 50. Burnet moths: what do they want? Camilla Sarin Final thesis, International Master’s Programme in Ecology and the Environment 2009 Supervisor: Karl-Olof Bergman. Background. Burnet moths (Zygaenidae) are declining in Europe . - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of Burnet moths: what do they want? Camilla Sarin

Page 1: Burnet moths: what do they want? Camilla Sarin

Burnet moths: what do they want? Camilla Sarin

Final thesis, International Master’s Programme in Ecology and the Environment 2009Supervisor: Karl-Olof Bergman

Burnet moths (Zygaenidae) are declining in Europe.

Main reason: loss of appropriate habitat types, e.g. semi-natural grassland.

Effective conservation plans require knowledge of a species’ habitat preferences; for several life stages and at different spatial scales.

AimFind the habitat requirements of Zygaena filipendulae, Zygaena lonicerae and Zygaena viciae 

• during different life stages and…

• at two spatial scales 

Background

Small scaleLarval host plants.

 

Larvae: surrounded by a higher density of larval host plants than average, and than pupae or adults.

Pupae: found in higher vege-tation than larvae or adults.

Adults: found in more sun than average, mainly on red and violet composite flowers such as Cirsium and Centaurea.

Nectar plants.

Large scale Positive relationship between burnet moths and the area of meadows and pastures in southern Sweden.

Small scaleMeasurements of habitat variables:• Larval host plants• Nectar sources • Vegetation height• Cover of bare ground & dry grass• Sun exposure 

Large scaleGIS analyses: area of meadows and pastures in southern Sweden vs. burnet presence/absence.

Methods Results

•Preserve sites with a high cover of host plants and nectar sources.

•Manage areas to keep them open and sunny, and to prevent grass domination.

•Execute management with care (or late in the season) to not harm Z. filipendulae pupae or reduce substrates suitable for pupation.

•Preserve and restore semi-natural grasslands to promote burnet presence on a larger scale.

Implications for conservation

Z. filipendulae Z. lonicerae Z. viciae

L. corniculatusT. medium/pratense Vicia spp.

Cirsium arvense Centaurea jacea

Scatterplot of multiple variables against Log area + 1

Filip finns finns ej 10v*2327c

0,0 0,5 1,0 1,5 2,0 2,5 3,0 3,5 4,0

Log area + 1

0,0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1,0

1.0

0.6

0.2

0.5 1.5 2.5 3.5

Log10 (area+1)

Pro

babi

lity

³Legend

sverige

Filipendulae 10 ny

Filipendulae 30 ny

Filipendulae 50 ny

10

Legend

sverige

Filipendulae 10 ny

Filipendulae 30 ny

Filipendulae 50 ny

30

Legend

sverige

Filipendulae 10 ny

Filipendulae 30 ny

Filipendulae 50 ny50

Probability of finding Zygaena filipendulae

Burnet presence

Probability of finding burnets (%)

³

Probability of finding Zygaena viciae

1.0

0.6

0.2

Log10 (area+1)0.5 1.5 2.5 3.5

Scatterplot of multiple variables against Log area + 1

Vic finns finns ej utan GOTLAND 10v*2113c

0,0 0,5 1,0 1,5 2,0 2,5 3,0 3,5 4,0

Log area + 1

0,0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1,0 Z. viciae

Pro

bab

ility

³

Probability of finding Zygaena lonicerae

1.0

0.6

0.2

Log10 (area+1)

Scatterplot of multiple variables against Log area +1

Lonic finns finns ej 11v*2152c

0,0 0,5 1,0 1,5 2,0 2,5 3,0 3,5 4,0

Log area +1

0,0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1,0 Z. lonicerae

0.5 1.5 2.5 3.5

Pro

babi

lity