Lycaena dispar on its northern distribution limit: an expansive generalist

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate host plant and habitat preferences of Lycaena dispar, an oligophagous butterfly species endangered in some parts of its European range. In laboratory trials, the females of Estonian populations accepted various species of Rumex as oviposition substrates. Growth performance of the larvae did not differ between the hosts offered (only R. acetosa proved to be unsuitable). In the field, extensive use of the two most common host species – R. crispus and R. obtusifolius – by the Estonian populations of L. dispar was confirmed. Unlike in the laboratory, larval performance in the field was better on R. obtusifolius than R. crispus. A likely explanation is the more ephemeral character of the aboveground parts of R. crispus plants: these tend to wilt before the larvae of L. dispar have reached the stage adapted to hibernation. A countrywide analysis of landscape occupancy revealed a positive association of the occurrence of L. dispar with ditches and human settlement. We conclude that moderate anthropogenic pressure maintains suitable habitats for L. dispar through creating favourable conditions for R. obtusifolius, the primary host of the butterfly in the region. Due to its generalism in both host and habitat use, L. dispar is not in the need of active conservation measures on the current northern limit of its distribution. The favourable status of the species in Estonia is corroborated by its recent range expansion which parallels similar trends elsewhere in Eastern Europe.

Variation in adult stress resistance does not explain vulnerability to climate change in copper butterflies

“…L. dispar typically has 1–2 generations per year and inhabits wetland habitats, including lakeside and riverside areas (Settele et al ., ; Lindman et al ., ). Eggs are laid on nonacidic sorrels (e.g., Rumex hydrolapathum Huds., R. crispus L., R. obtusifolius L.; Lindman et al ., and references therein). This species is listed in the EU Habitat Directive and is considered vulnerable in the Red List of Germany (Settele et al ., ; Binot‐Hafke et al ., ; Martin et al ., ).…”

Effects of temperature and drought on early life stages in three species of butterflies: Mortality of early life stages as a key determinant of vulnerability to climate change?

“…The second species, the Large Copper L. dispar (Haworth, 1802), is a transpalaearctic butterfly, ranging from western Europe across temperate Asia to the Amur region and Korea (Ebert & Rennwald, ; Settele et al., ). The species has 1–2 generations per year (Lindman et al., ; Settele et al., ) and typically occurs in wetland habitats including lakeside and riverside areas (Lindman et al., ; Settele et al., ). Eggs are laid on nonacidic sorrels (e.g., Rumex hydrolapathum Huds., R. crispus L., R. obtusifolius L.; Lindman et al., and references therein).…”

“…Currently, L. tityrus shows positive, L. dispar largely stable, and L. helle negative population trends (Brunzel, Bussmann, & Obergruber, ; Settele et al., ; Habel et al. ; Lindman et al., ). These differences seem to be associated with different distribution areas and habitat requirements, with L. tityrus inhabiting different types of habitat including hot and dry stands, L. dispar mainly wetlands, and L. helle cool and moist habitats (Ebert & Rennwald, ; Settele et al., ; Habel et al.…”

Host plant and habitat preference of the endangeredEuphydryas maturna(Lepidoptera:Nymphalidae): evidence from northernEurope

“…). The low number of records of E. maturna in this area cannot be an artefact caused by the geographically uneven recording intensity: along with the island of Saaremaa, south‐east Estonia is the best studied part of the country in terms of Lepidoptera (Kesküla, ; Lindman et al ., ).…”

“…Furthermore, the list of predictor variables included percentage of forest cover within each 10 × 10‐km square, as based on the Estonian National Topographic Database (Basic Map, scale 1:10 000; produced by Estonian Land Board, 2013). Research effort was controlled for by including the number of records of ‘monitored’ (Tammaru, ; see Lindman et al ., , for more discussion) butterfly species for each square as a covariate. The geographic information systems (GIS) data management was performed using mapinfo professional 10.5 and arcgis 10.3 software.…”