Abstract
The genetic structure of a species is influenced by its history and by current gene flow. Using a population genomics approach, we infer the demographic history of the false ringlet ...(Coenonympha oedippus) in Europe based on 1594 genome-wide double digest restriction site associated DNA sequencing loci from 96 individuals (32 localities) sampled throughout the fragmented species range. In contrast to the weak geographical structure in mitochondrial DNA, a clear nuclear differentiation was observed between the westernmost Atlantic localities, those from the western Alps and all other sampled localities. Mountain ridges were the main factor explaining population divergence at the European scale, while isolation by distance was found at a regional scale. We applied Approximate Bayesian Computation in a coalescent framework to infer past and contemporary demographic parameters. The best scenario suggested a first divergence between French and all other European populations around 66000 years ago, such that the species survived the Last Glacial Maximum in at least two distinct areas separated by the Alps. This scenario fits species distribution modelling identifying variation of suitable areas with past climatic modifications. The Atlantic and western Alps lineages separated about 6000 years ago. Strong population decline was inferred in these lineages during historical time, in agreement with multiple records of recent decline of this species in Europe.
In Slovenia the False ringlet Coenonympha oedippus uniquely occurs both on wet (Ljubljana Marsh and surroundings) and dry grasslands (Slovenian Istria, Karst, Gorica Hills). Natural hazards that ...threaten its habitats include fires and floods; the frequency of their occurrence in the former and existing habitats of C. oedippus was determined using the χ2-test. We showed that habitats on wet grasslands are less threatened by fire than those on dry grasslands. Among the latter, habitats in the Karst and Slovenian Istria are the most threatened. Habitats of C. oedippus are threatened by flooding only in Slovenian Istria and Ljubljana Marsh. Considering the extent of fire and flood risk and fragmentation of C. oedippus habitats in Slovenia, we assume that such natural hazards may lead to local extinction of the species.
The Slovenian False Ringlet
Coenonympha oedippus
populations are under serious threat, as in the last two decades have witnessed a sharp decline in population distribution and size due to ...destruction, fragmentation and/or habitat quality degradation through intensive agriculture, abandonment of use and urbanization. We investigated the genetic diversity and structure of
C. oedippus
from the entire range of the species in Slovenia. Our results showed that the genetic variation in the Slovenian
C. oedippus
populations agrees with the geographical structure and the ecotypes previously determined by morphological and ecological data. We confirmed the existence of four genetically divergent and spatially non-overlapping geographical groups (Istria, Karst, Gorica, Ljubljansko barje) and two ecotypes ("wet" and "dry"). Despite small sample sizes due to critically threatened species, the results indicated significant nuclear and mitochondrial genetic diversity within the spatial groups. By gaining new insights into the evolutionary history of the
C. oedippus
population, we have recommended to consider the Slovenian population as one Evolutionary Significant Unit, and four spatial populations as Management Units for conservation purposes.
At the southern limit of its range the endangered butterfly Coenonympha oedippus inhabits grasslands (wet, dry) that differ significantly in the abundance of its larval hostplants (wet > dry) and ...mean annual air temperature (wet < dry). We determined the difference in the wing morphology of individuals in the two contrasting habitats to test whether and how traits associated with wing size, shape and eye like spots vary in the sexes and two ecotypes. We show that sexual dimorphism follows the same (wing size and shape, number of eyespots on forewing) or different (relative area of eyespots on hindwings) patterns in the two contrasting habitats. Irrespective of ecotype, females had larger, longer and narrower wings, and more forewing eyespots than males. Sexual dimorphism in the relative area of eyespots on hindwing was female-biased in the wet, but male-biased in the dry ecotype. Ecotype dimorphism in wing size and the relative area of eyespots on the hindwing is best explained by mean annual air temperature and abundance of host-plants. While ecotype dimorphism in wing size did not differ between sexes, neither in direction (wet > dry) or in degree, in the two sexes the relative area of eyespots on hindwing had opposite patterns (males: dry > wet; females: wet > dry) and was more pronounced in males than in females. The differences in wing shape between ecotypes were detected only in the hindwings of males, with more rounded apex in the dry than in the wet ecotype. We discuss the life-history traits, behavioural strategies and selection mechanisms, which largely account for the sex- and ecotype-specific variation in wing morphology.
Maintenance of traditional cultural landscapes largely depends on traditional agricultural practices, which are nowadays in decline as a result of increasingly intensive and mechanised land use. ...Losing traditional practices may result in impoverishing of picturesque mosaic landscape and biodiversity. This research focuses on land-use changes in two time periods (2002–2008; 2013–2016) and effects of changes reflecting on populations of critically endangered butterfly. False Ringlet,
(Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), is a habitat specialist, which in Slovenia inhabits two geographically distinct contrasting habitats – dry meadows in south-western and wetlands in central Slovenia. We compared nine environmental parameters to assess environmental differences, which shape species habitat; seven parameters significantly differ among the four geographical regions and five among the two habitat types. Four parameters significantly differ (i.e. at least in two regions) when tested for homogeneity, while in dry habitat type all (except slope) were significant and none in wet habitat. Changes in land use in two studied periods lit up two processes: transformation of meadows into agricultural land and overgrowing of the meadows, both processes affecting species severely. We believe that maintaining of traditional landscapes in future could serve as a good conservation practice for this endangered species.
Understanding ecological requirements of endangered species is a primary precondition of successful conservation practice. Regrettably, we know surprisingly little about the life history of numerous ...threatened insects, and about their use of larval host plants in particular. The brown butterflies (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) have traditionally been considered polyphagous on grasses and indiscriminatory in their oviposition behavior. However, detailed studies on several species have revealed local specialization in host plant use as well as the decisive role of microlimatic conditions as determinants of habitat quality. The present study addresses host plant relationships in the endangered brown butterfly Coenonympha hero (L.) at the northern limit of its European distribution. We combine laboratory-based host preference and performance tests with an analysis of microhabitat use by adult butterflies in the field. Both lines of evidence suggest that C. hero is polyphagous enough not to be associated with one particular host species. Oviposition choices of C. hero are not driven by host plant species but rather by structural characteristics of the substrate. The preferred rigid needle-like structures may serve as cues of ‘transparent’ vegetation which allows the larvae to benefit from sunlight reaching the lower strata of the tuft. Our results suggest that conservation efforts should prioritize microclimatic parameters, rather than the presence of any particular host plant species, as decisive determinants of habitat quality in C. hero.
The False Ringlet (
Coenonympha oedippus
) is a European butterfly species, endangered due to the severe loss and fragmentation of its habitat. In Hungary, two remaining populations of the butterfly ...occur in lowland Purple Moorgrass meadows. We studied a metapopulation occupying twelve habitat patches in Central Hungary. Our aim was to reveal what measures of habitat quality affect population size and density of this metapopulation, estimate dispersal parameters and describe phenology of subpopulations. Local population sizes and dispersal parameters were estimated from an extensive mark–release–recapture dataset, while habitat quality was characterized by groundwater level, cover of grass tussocks, bush cover, height of vegetation and grass litter at each habitat patch. The estimated size of the metapopulation was more than 3,000 individuals. We estimated a low dispersal capacity, especially for females, indicating a very low probability of (re)colonization. Butterfly abundance and density in local populations increased with higher grass litter, lower groundwater level and larger area covered by tussocks. We suppose that these environmental factors affect butterfly abundance by determining the microclimatic conditions for both larvae and adult butterflies. Our results suggest that the long-term preservation of the studied metapopulation needs the maintenance of high quality habitat patches by appropriate mowing regime and water regulation. Management also should facilitate dispersal to strengthen metapopulation structure with creating stepping-stones or gradually increase habitat quality in present matrix.
The within-patch microdistribution and movements of adults of the critically endangered butterfly, Coenonympha oedippus, were studied using mark-recapture data from an isolated patch network, which ...consisted of 8 patches in central Slovenia. The impact of patch characteristics on both parameters was analyzed. Males fly longer distances and spend more time flying than females. The distances and seasonal pattern of male movements were dependent on the patch size, and on the microdistribution and density of freshly emerged (receptive) females. The spatial and temporal pattern of female microdistribution was influenced by vegetation height, the homogeneity of host plant stands and the shading of the ground and/or the lowest parts of herb layer. In the case of near continuous distribution of host plants within a patch, the structure of herb vegetation appears to be the major determinant of adult microdistribution. It affects the dynamics of butterfly emergence and the selection of oviposition sites. The per cent cover of the nectar plant, Potentilla erecta, does not play an important role in butterfly microdistribution.
V izoliranem omrežju osmih habitatnih krp v osrednji Sloveniji smo z metodo markiranja, izpusta in ponovnega ulova raziskovali prostorsko razporeditev in gibanja imagov kritično ogrožene vrste Coenonympha oedippus v habitatni krpi in vpliv značilnosti krpe na oba proučevana parametra. Samci preletavajo daljše razdalje in v dnevni aktivnosti več časa porabijo za let kot samice. Preletne razdalje in vzorci preletavanja samcev v sezoni so odvisni od velikosti krpe ter prostorske razporeditve in populacijske gostote sveže izleglih (receptivnih) samic. Na prostorske in časovne vzorce disperzije samic vplivajo višina vegetacije, homogenost sestoja hranilnih rastlin gosenic in osončenost spodnje plasti zeliščne vegetacije. Če je razporeditev larvalnih hranilnih rastlin v krpi enakomerna in kontinuirana, je struktura zeliščne vegetacije najpomembnejši dejavnik, ki določa disperzijo imagov, saj vpliva na dinamiko izleganja iz bub in izbiro mest za ovipozicijo. Pokrovnost vrste Potentilla erecta, ki je hranilna rastlina odraslih osebkov, ne vpliva na razporeditev odraslih osebkov v krpi.
The discovery of the butterfly False Ringelt (Coenonympha oedippus F.) in two localities in Istria, between Marusici, Vranjak and Sterna (VL02, VL03) and in the valley of the Mirna Valley near Buzet ...(VL12) has reconfirmed this species as a member of the fauna of Croatia. At the same time, a review of the collection of the Croatian Natural History Museum has shown that specimens catalogued as C. oedippus from Mt Velebit are either not from Croatia or belong to the species Aphantopus hyperantus. There is an urgent necessity to establish the precise range and size of the population and the degree of threat to it, and to undertake legislative and active measures for the conservation of the remaining habitats of this butterfly in Croatia, since it is one of the most endangered animal species in Europe.
Otkrićem danjeg leptira močvarnog okaša (Coenonympha oedippus F.) u Istri na dva lokaliteta između sela Marušići, Vranjak i Šterna (VL02, VL03), te u dolini rijeke Mirne uz Buzet (VL12), ova vrsta je ...potvrđena kao član faune Hrvatske. Istovremeno je pregledom zbirke Hrvatskog prirodoslovnog muzeja za primjerke publicirane kao C. oedippus s planine Velebita utvrđeno da ili nisu iz Hrvatske ili da pripadaju vrsti Aphantopus hyperantus, tako da su naši nalazi prvi dokumentirani nalazi za Hrvatsku. Hitno treba utvrditi točni areal, veličinu i ugroženost populacija, te poduzeti zakonske i aktivne mjere zaštite svih preostalih staništa tog leptira u Hrvatskoj, jer se radi o jednoj od najugroženijih životinjskih vrsta u Europi.
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