Habitat distributional change of the large copper, Lycaena dispar (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae), on the Korean Peninsula: Studies along the Geum River

Abstract

Habitat changes of butterflies are caused by various factors, including food plants, natural enemies, and climate change. Recently, new habitats of the large copper have been reported on the Korean Peninsula, mostly along a riverside. This implies that this butterfly may move along a drainage system. In this study, new habitats of the large copper along the Geum River were investigated and the population dynamics of the butterfly were monitored in selected areas through the mark–release–recapture method. The results showed that the large copper had dispersed inland along the Geum River, which runs along the central western seashore of South Korea. In addition, the habitat distribution of the butterfly showed good coincidence with the distribution of a sorrel, Rumex japonicas, the main food plant of the large copper. A study on the moving distance of the butterfly showed that females moved further than males, while males showed more frequent movement within a short distance. The movement of the large copper along the Geum River, which lies over 100km south of the Han River (a habitat previously reported in 1973), suggests that the movement of the butterfly might be more affected by human activities, such as the development of bike paths along the Geum River and maintenance of the riverbed, than climate change.