Butterfly Movement Research Articles

A Mandated Change in Goalie Pad Width Has No Effect on Ice Hockey Goaltender Hip Kinematics

To determine hip kinematics and ground impact forces of the butterfly movement in ice hockey goaltenders for the pre-2005/06 season pads (30.5 cm) versus the current regulation width pads (27.9 cm). Prospective laboratory controlled study. Research Institute BioMotion Laboratory. Ten male ice hockey goaltenders at the Midget AA level or higher. The participants performed butterfly motions wearing 3 different types of leg pads in a randomized order: own 27.9 cm, standard 27.9 cm, and standard 30.5 cm. In addition, this study investigated hip kinematics and ground impact forces in the pre-2005/06 season pads versus the current regulation width pads. Kinematics and kinetics were calculated using motion analysis software. The knee ground reaction force upon landing was 1.45 ± 0.43 times the body weight. Hip internal rotation was reduced when goaltenders wore their own, previously "broken-in," set of pads as compared with the set of standard, new 27.9-cm pads (17.5 ± 4.8 vs 20.1 ± 4.8 degrees, respectively; P = 0.032). The recent mandated change in goalie pad from 30.5- to 27.9-cm width had no significant effect on hip kinematics. However, previously worn versus new pads did have an effect on hip kinematics. The butterfly movement placed ice hockey goaltenders' hips at their passive limits of hip internal rotation and involved knee forces 1.45 times the body weight. The recent mandated change in goalie pad from 30.5- to 27.9-cm width had no significant effect on hip kinematics. However, previously worn versus new pads did have an effect on hip kinematics.

Evaluating functional connectivity with matrix behavior uncertainty for an endangered butterfly

Understanding animal responses to landscape elements helps forecast population reactions to changing landscape conditions. The challenge is that some behaviors are poorly known and difficult to estimate. We assessed how uncertainty in behavioral responses to dense woods, an avoided landscape structure, impacts functional connectivity among reproductive habitat patches for Fender’s blue butterfly, an endangered prairie species of western Oregon, USA. We designed a factorial simulation experiment using a spatially explicit individual-based model to project functional connectivity for female butterflies across current and alternative landscapes. We varied the probability of dense woods entry and turning angle standard deviation for movements within the dense woods over a range of biologically reasonable and observed values. Butterflies in the current landscape (46 % dense woods) and one with prairie encroached by forest (60 % dense woods) showed reductions in functional connectivity estimates consistent with the expectations of habitat fragmentation. Although dense woods entrance uncertainty impacted functional connectivity projections, uncertainty in the dense woods turning angle standard deviation had comparatively little impact on connectivity estimates. Reduction and reconfiguration of the current dense woods to 27 % cover (restored landscape) appeared to facilitate a corridor behavior in dispersing individuals, likely providing a functional connectivity estimate comparable to the historic landscape (<5 % dense woods). Our simulations suggest that additional study of butterfly movement within the dense woods is unnecessary and that a partial reduction in dense woods would be sufficient to achieve historic levels of functional connectivity for Fender’s blue across the study landscape.

A note on the migration of Dark Cerulean Jamides bochus (Stoll) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in Eravikulam National Park, Idukki District, Kerala, India

The migratory movements of butterflies are poorly documented in Kerala. It’s for the first time the migratory behaviour of the Dark Cerulean Jamides bochus (Stoll) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) was documented from the Kerala part of Western Ghats. The migratory movement was from high ranges of Eravikulam National Park, Idukki district, Kerala at an elevation of 2085m to the lower elevations in a north-east to south-east direction.

Spatial organization of the clouded Apollo population (Parnassius mnemosyne) in Onega Lake Basin

The distribution and interaction of local populations of the clouded Apollo Parnassius mnemosyne were studied on Bolshoi Klimenetskii Island (Lake Onega, Russia). Within an area of 10 km2, the butterflies occurred in 27 discrete patches—small meadows located within and on the periphery of forests. The mark-recapture results confirmed that the patches were connected by a flow of individuals. Based on exponential distribution, the local and migratory movements of the butterflies were separated, and a model describing the movement frequencies in relation to distance was proposed. The generalization of the habitats using the PCA Q-technique and isolation indices as measures of similarity between the objects in initial matrices revealed four subpopulations occupying separate plots of the area with a network of suitable habitats. According to the available data on the local movements of butterflies, an area of settlement was determined for each subpopulation, characterized by two zones: the central one (0.3 km in diameter), within which the movements of butterflies are most intensive, and the peripheral one (0.3 to 0.5 km) which is rarely visited by butterflies. Long-distance migrations between different occupied areas were recorded for 8% of marked butterflies; they included all the subpopulations. The male to female ratio among the migrants was 6: 1; the maximum distance covered by a butterfly was 2.68 km. The common opinion that the clouded Apollo is an extremely sedentary species with low migratory potentials is refuted.

The effect of an agro-pasture landscape on diversity and migration patterns of frugivorous butterflies in Chiapas, Mexico

Few relevant data are available to analyze how landscape structure and composition affect the abundance and movement patterns of tropical insects. Using mark-release recapture experiments we examine the effect of an agro-pasture matrix on changes in diversity and migration of frugivorous butterflies in a tropical fragmented landscape in southern Mexico. In total, 53 frugivorous butterfly species were recorded in the entire landscape. Butterfly species composition was much more similar between sites than plant composition. A total of 3,501 individuals belonging to 41 butterfly species were captured, out of which 23 species (56%) were recaptured at least once. A large fraction of individuals was recaptured at the site of release (91%). We failed to find a significant relationship between the proportion occupied by the matrix and rates of residence, emigration, and immigration. Our results suggest that matrix quality in this and other traditionally managed agro-pasture landscapes plays a key role in both keeping important levels of biodiversity and maintaining constant movements of butterflies between otherwise isolated habitat patches.

Tracking butterfly movements with harmonic radar reveals an effect of population age on movement distance

We used harmonic radar to track freely flying Glanville fritillary butterfly (Melitaea cinxia) females within an area of 30 ha. Butterflies originated from large and continuous populations in China and Estonia, and from newly established or old (> 5 years) small local populations in a highly fragmented landscape in Finland. Caterpillars were raised under common garden conditions and unmated females were tested soon after eclosion. The reconstructed flight paths for 66 individuals comprised a total distance of 51 km with high spatial resolution. Butterflies originating from large continuous populations and from old local populations in Finland exhibited similar movement behaviors, whereas butterflies originating from newly established local populations in the fragmented landscape in Finland moved significantly more than the others. There was no difference in the lengths of individual flight bouts, but the new-population females flew more frequently, resulting in longer daily movement tracks. The flight activity of all individuals was affected by environmental conditions, peaking at 19-23 degrees C (depending on population type), in the early afternoon, and during calm weather. Butterflies from all population types showed a strong tendency to follow habitat edges between the open study area and the neighboring woodlands.

Butterfly Abundance and Movements Among Prairie Patches: The Roles of Habitat Quality, Edge, and Forest Matrix Permeability

The spatial distribution of patchy insect populations is partly caused by behavioral patterns of insect movement that are influenced by habitat quality, isolation, and the permeability of the surrounding matrix. We recorded insect movements, abundance, and edge behaviors in two species of butterflies, the great-spangled fritillary (Speyeria cybele F., Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) and the pearl crescent (Phyciodes tharos Drury, Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), inhabiting remnant prairies surrounded by a forest matrix in south-central Ohio. We also determined the number of forest matrix types present and recorded the permeability of the different types to butterfly movement. The great-spangled fritillary exhibited a relatively high number of interpatch movements, a higher abundance at patch edges, and a propensity to cross the prairie-forest edges, and the forest matrix had a high permeability to butterfly movement. The pearl crescent, in contrast, rarely crossed edge boundaries, moved infrequently among patches, and was more abundant within the patch interior and in patches with high host-plant and flower densities. There were three structurally different forest matrix types separating habitat patches, which in previous studies would have been classified as a single deciduous forest matrix. Butterfly movement and edge behaviors mechanistically interact with patch quality, isolation, and the matrix permeability to determine the spatial structure of these populations in fragmented habitats.

Restricted within-habitat movement and time-constrained egg laying of female Maculinea rebeli butterflies

The movement of butterflies within habitat patches is usually assumed to be random, although few studies have shown this unambiguously. In the case of the highly specialized genus Maculinea, two contradictory hypotheses exist to explain the movement and distribution of imagos within patches: (1) due to the high spatial variance of survival rates among caterpillars, the "risk-spreading" hypothesis predicts that females will tend to make linear flight paths in order to maximize their net displacement and scatter the eggs as widely as possible; and (2) recent mark-release-recapture (MRR) data suggest that within-habitat displacement of some Maculinea species is constrained and that adults may establish home ranges. We tested both hypothesis by analysing the movement pattern of individuals. We also investigated whether egg laying is time constrained, which would enhance the trade-off between flying and egg laying. Thirty females of Maculinea rebeli (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) were tracked within a single population in Central Hungary. Their egg-laying behaviour and individual patterns of movement were recorded, and the latter were compared with random walk model predictions. The population was also sampled by MRR to estimate survival rates, and four non-mated, freshly eclosed females were dissected to assess their potential egg load. Net squared displacement of females was significantly lower than predicted by the random walk model and declined continuously after the 15th move. The ratio of net displacement and cumulative move length decreased with the number of moves, supporting the hypothesis that Maculinea butterflies establish home ranges. We found that low survival and a low rate of egg laying prevented females from laying their potential number of eggs within their lifespan. Time limitation increased the cost of movement, providing another possible explanation for the restricted movement of females.

Agricultural landscape connectivity for the meadow brown butterfly ( Maniola jurtina)

The relationships between movements of the meadow brown butterfly ( Maniola jurtina) and landscape features were examined at different scales in three hedgerow network landscapes of western France. Of the 4174 and 1474 individuals marked in the three landscapes in 1998 and 1999 respectively, a total of 1057 and 285 were recaptured at least once. Partial least squares (PLS) regression was used to model the number of butterflies moving between herbaceous patches within the landscape. The model predictors were related to (i) the distance separating the patches, (ii) the characteristics of the landscape between the patches and (iii) the characteristics of the departure and arrival patches, including the number of individuals marked in each patch. Site effects were tested by fitting separate models on each site and scale effects were tested by varying the extent of the windows in which landscape variables were extracted. The fits yielded models with R 2 values ranging from 0.22 to 0.64. Whatever the site, the distance between both patches and the number of individuals marked in the departure patch, exhibited significant and consistent effects on butterfly movements. Mean field size and direction of green network elements (hedges, field margins) were also relevant in some cases.

Conservation of butterfly populations in dynamic landscapes: The role of farming practices and landscape mosaic

In a dynamic landscape the rate of change in landscape structure can be even more important than the degree of patch isolation in determining population survival and abundance. If the changes in landscape structure occur at an “extremely” high rate (as in some anthropogenic changes), dispersal may not be able to keep up with the high rates of local extinction. Understanding impacts of such changes is thus crucial for determination of the driving factors for species survival in agricultural landscapes and for elaboration of conservation plans. Here we studied the effects of landscape dynamics under local farming practices on movements and population dynamics of a diurnal butterfly Maniola jurtina L. (Satyridae), specifically the impacts of regular yearly mowing on butterfly movements, distribution and abundance over many years. We used an existing simulation model, extended it by the effect of the intensity of disturbance (amount of mown habitat) and timing of disturbance within the reproductive season on the butterfly population dynamics, and validated on our data from a field experiment using a mark-release method. Increase in the amount of disturbed habitats in the landscape led to an increasing isolation of the remnant habitat patches for butterflies. This resulted in decreasing movements between habitat patches and ultimately to population decline, especially in less accessible patches. In the past, influence of landscape dynamics on species survival was usually considered at the long-term scale. Our results demonstrate that the short time scale landscape dynamics induced by farming practices should not be neglected. The novelty of this paper stems in the combination of inclusion of landscape dynamics, of realistic dispersal strategies of individuals, and of considering real landscapes. The effect of man-induced landscape changes on population persistence of a real species in a real landscape has not been possible to be studied by any of the previously developed models.

Dispersal kernels of butterflies: Power-law functions are invariant to marking frequency

Summary Despite recent developments of sophisticated dispersal modelling, simple regression-based models remain useful for estimating frequencies of long-distance movements of animals. Since the inverse power function, IPF (ln I=ln C−m ln D), but not the negative exponential function, NEF (ln I=ln a−k D), exhibits the property of self-similarity, it should be robust against variation in effort invested into mark-recapture studies. We illustrate this using three data sets on movements of butterflies (Lepidoptera): Euphydryas aurinia, year 2002 (better fitted by IPF), E. aurinia, year 2003 (better fitted by NEF) and Parnassius mnemosyne (better fitted by NEF). By simulated reductions of numbers of animals, numbers of marking days, and marking effort, we show that IPF withstands severe decline in marking frequency without a change of parameters of regressions based on reduced data. In contrast, parameters of NEFs fitted to the reduced data widely varied and differed from functions based on unreduced data. Owing to the robust performance of IPF, reliable dispersal estimates may be obtained at relatively small field effort, which may facilitate quick and efficient comparisons of movement patterns among species, locations and populations.

Local versus landscape determinants of butterfly movement behaviors

Large‐scale patterns of animal distributions and abundances may be determined by mechanisms that act at local or landscape scales. We studied the movement behaviors of four species of bottomland butterflies in a natural setting to examine the determinants of movement behavior across different scales. We tested the relative importance of three landscape attributes: drainage slope, boundary type, and stream proximity, and local habitat attributes related to food plants and plants that influence habitat structure. Across species, we tested the relative importance of organism size and habitat specificity to explain response variation. In general, butterfly responses to landscape features were more universal than responses to local features. Specifically, results from this study showed that drainage slope did not influence movement behaviors but boundary type, stream proximity, and host plant abundance all influenced movement patterns. Responses to local features varied by species and often complemented landscape effects on movement. Responses to all features were not related to butterfly size, but did vary in accordance with butterfly host plant specificity. These behaviors help to explain landscape‐level variation in population distribution among species.

Virtual Corridors for Conservation Management

Abstract: Corridors are usually perceived as clearly visible, linear landscape elements embedded in a hostile environment that connect two or more larger blocks of habitat. Animal response to certain aspects of landscape heterogeneity, however, can channel their movements into specific routes that may appear similar to their surroundings. These routes can be described as “virtual corridors” (VCs). Here we contribute to the foundation of the concept of VCs and highlight their implications for conservation management. We used an individual‐based model to analyze the formation of VCs in the case of hilltopping in butterflies—where males and virgin females ascend to hilltops and mate. We simulated butterfly movements in two different topographically heterogeneous landscapes. We analyzed the movement patterns with respect to one parameter, the intensity of response to topography. Virtual corridor structure depended on the behavioral parameter, landscape, and location of the source patch. Within a realistic range of the behavioral parameter and in a realistic landscape, VC structures may be complex and require individual‐based models for their elucidation.

The influence of spatial scale on quantifying insect dispersal: an analysis of butterfly data

Abstract.1. A linear relationship between mean movement distances recorded and the size of the study area was found in a comparison of five mark–release–recapture studies of the meadow brown butterfly.2. The scale impact on mean butterfly movement distances was also apparent when comparing the results for different butterfly species reported in 21 mark–release–recapture studies.

Movement and vertical stratification of fruit-feeding butterflies in a managed West African rainforest

We analysed movement parameters and vertical stratification in fruit-feeding butterflies between a control, a thinned and a plantation site within a West African rainforest. Overall, distances moved between traps were largest in the plantation. Movement parameters were generally largest in species feeding on early successional hostplants of gap and margin habitats. In these species, distances between recaptures were significantly shorter in the thinned compared to the control forest. Conversely, forest floor species feeding on climbers and understorey shrubs showed significantly larger movement in the thinned forest. Higher strata species also flew larger distances in the thinned understorey. Including higher strata samples, they were significantly less abundant in the thinned plot, although understorey sampling alone indicated the contrary. Comparing vertical distribution patterns between thinned and control sites indicated a disruption of vertical stratification after thinning. Canopy species seem to fly in the upper strata of the more closed-canopy control forest, whereas they descend more frequently in the forest opened by the thinning management. Understorey sampling might therefore lead to biased conclusions due to differences in vertical distribution between forest plots. This study showed that thinning can affect the restricted-range forest floor butterflies as well as the more widespread canopy butterfly fauna.

Modelling the benefits of farmland restoration: methodology and application to butterfly movement

The overall quality of the landscape is important for conserving biodiversity. In a fragmented landscape, movement and dispersal capacity are important factors in determining which species are able to persist. To examine the role of landscape structure and pattern on movement, we developed a simple model to predict the “least-cost” pathway a species would take through an agricultural landscape matrix between habitat fragments by assigning friction values to different habitat types. Our model was validated by using empirical data on inter-patch movement for two butterfly species. As a measure of the ecological distance between habitat patches, the least-cost path model was a better predictor of butterfly movement than Euclidean distance. Ranking several hypothetical management scenarios, illustrated the potential of the model as a decision-support tool. Removal of all infrastructure from within arable fields would significantly reduce rates of inter-patch movement. However, if all boundaries between arable fields were restored to grassy banks this would significantly increase the connectivity between sub-populations. Planners widely recommend using corridors to connect fragments of remnant habitat despite relatively little empirical evidence to show that dispersal of individuals is enhanced by this practice. Our model showed that important aspects of species movement and, hence, survival can be expressed in models suitable for area planning and management.

Landscape structure, habitat fragmentation, and the ecology of insects

Landscape structure, habitat fragmentation, and the ecology of insects

Width of grassland linkages for the conservation of butterflies in South African afforested areas

Flight behaviours of 23 butterfly species were mapped to establish the effect of both pine afforestation and different-sized grassland linkages on localised butterfly movements. Blocks of pine trees caused most butterflies to change direction and move away from the pine edge. Only four species crossed the grassland/pine edge, and of these, only two flew farther than 20 m into the pine forest. The adjacent grassland/indigenous forest edge had a higher number of species, but very few of these entered the forest. Movement rates were significantly faster in the narrow and highly-disturbed linkages, than in the wide and open grasslands, with the linkages acting as conduits between the preferred grassland patches. However, only highly vagile and eurytopic species actually entered the narrower grassland linkages. In contrast, the wider linkages hosted a significantly higher species diversity and functioned as habitats per se and not just as movement corridors, with butterflies frequently stopping to nectar, oviposit, drink and sunbask. Knowledge of butterfly responses to different landscape structures has important conservation and management implications. From the results here, it is recommended that, for these butterflies, the natural grassland linkages should be wider than 250 m.

ALPINEPARNASSIUSBUTTERFLY DISPERSAL: EFFECTS OF LANDSCAPE AND POPULATION SIZE

We used mark–recapture methods to estimate the number of Parnassius smintheus (Papilionidae) butterflies moving among 20 alpine meadows separated by varying amounts of forest along the east slope of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta, Canada. We combined generalized additive models and generalized linear models to estimate the effects of intervening habitat type and of population size on butterfly movement. By incorporating habitat-specific distances between patches, we were better able to estimate movement compared to a strictly isolation-by-distance model. Our analysis estimated that butterflies move readily through open meadow but that forests are twice as resistant to butterfly movement. Butterflies also tended to stay at sites with high numbers of butterflies, but readily emigrate from sites with small populations. We showed that P. smintheus are highly restricted in their movement at even a fine spatial scale, a pattern reflected in concurrent studies of population genetic structure. As an example of th...

The Ecology of Butterflies in Britain

1. Islands, regions, ranges, and gradients 2. Adult behaviour 3. Eggs and egg-laying 4. Butterfly populations 5. Avoidance, concealment, and defence 6. Monitoring butterfly movements 7. Butterflies and communities 8. Diversity within populations 9. Case studies in evolution 10. An evolutionary history of British butterflies 11. The conservation of British butterflies Glossary Bibliography Appendices Author and subject indexes