Metapopulation dynamics of the bog fritillary butterfly: movements between habitat patches

Abstract

Recent studies on metapopulation dynamics have emphasized the need for improved methods for quantifying individual movements between local populations and habitat patches. In this paper, we report on a 6‐yr study in which a network of 12 habitat patches occupied by the bog fritillary, Proclossiana eunomia, was surveyed, with special focus on quantifying movements between the habitat patches. We applied the Virtual Migration model which has been designed to estimate survival and migration parameters in a metapopulation of several connected local populations. The model was parameterized using mark‐release‐recapture data collected during 6 yr. Generally, the estimated parameter values indicated a high level of movements, with roughly half of butterfly‐days spent outside the natal patch. Mortality within patches was higher in males than in females. Females tended to be more mobile and spent more time outside their natal patch than males. Further analysis of the MRR data shows that in this protandrous species males tend to move very little between habitat patches before substantial numbers of females have emerged.