The effects of marking and capture on recapture frequencies of butterflies

Abstract

As a preliminary to a population study using markrelease-recapture techniques, specimens of the Satyrid buttfly Melanargia galathea (L.) were subjected to a number of marking and capture techniques. Although the adults are thought to display both aposematic and cryptic coloration, the use of marks of different sizes and colours had no significant effect on recapture frequencies. However, repeated disturbance due to capture was found to significantly reduce recapture frequency. The influence of the different techniques on recapture frequencies could not be detected reliably by excessively low recapture rates, or by comparisons to Poisson distributions. It is suggested that these comparisons are of limited value as measures of the suitability of a marking or handling scheme. Subsequent work showed that capture affected recapture rates of several other species. Moreover, these effects could not be readily predicted from knowledge of the biology of these species. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Key traits in a threatened butterfly and its common sibling: implications for conservation

“…In addition, it can also be used to estimate population structure, including composition by age and sex. As O. ariadne is a threatened species, the individuals were handled as softly as possible to reduce stress on them (Morton 1982;Murphy et al 1986;Murphy 1988).…”

Mobility of ringlet butterflies in high-elevation alpine grassland: effects of habitat barriers, resources and age

“…Butterflies were released immediately after marking; handling time was \1 min. According to Morton (1982) the impact of handling and marking can influence the outcome of mark-release-recapture studies. However, we did not have the impression that this was the case for the Erebia species under study, since they are rather robust butterflies.…”

Comportamento de agregação noturna dos machos de Actinote surima surima (Schaus) (Lepidoptera, Heliconiinae, Acraeini)

“…("mark-releaserecapture"), metodologia utilizada por MORTON (1984) em seus artigos com Melanargia galathea (Linnaeus, 1758) (Nymphalidae, Satyrinae), onde mostra os efeitos da marcação e manipulação sobre a freqüência de recaptura de borboletas. Nesse estudo utilizou-se uma adaptação do método M.R.R.…”

“…1), já as fêmeas receberam a marcação no ápice da asa posterior direita na área ventral próximo à margem. Para tanto, utilizou-se pincéis e presilhas de plástico montadas para prender apenas as asas fechadas em posição de repouso de maneira que permitisse a manipulação sem danos ao restante do corpo, pois conforme o observado por MORTON (1984), os indivíduos pouco manipulados tiveram uma freqüência de recaptura superior. A secagem da tinta ocorre nos instantes em que o inseto permanece em comportamento de tanatose, notável para as espécies de Actinote.…”