Butterflies cannot swim

Transcription

1 Butterflies cannot swim The conflict of inundation and the sensitive ecosystem of wet fen meadows Irma Wynhoff Frank van Langevelde

2 The Netherlands Life+ Blues in the Marshes

3

4

5

6

7

8

9 Maculinea (Phengaris) teleius in NL Red List threat status endangered, 1 single small (meta)population Habitat Junco-Molinion huge decrease in the past: from several s to only about 100 ha Habitat too limited: more habitat needed Vlijmens Ven, Moerputten, Bossche Broek Schaminee et al. 2009, Van Swaay et al. 2011

10 Habitat extension: large scale at larger distance A B C Soil removal in 2005 Soil removal in hay inoculation Soil removal in liming + hay inoculation A C B

11 Relationships Host plants Host ants Nectar sources Vegetation structure Vegetation composition Flowering Seed production Germination Establishment Spatial patterns: plant density, ant colony density, spatial overlap Colony sites Colony sites without parasites Food Habitat complexity Soil structure Soil composition Collembola = springtails Wynhoff et al. 2008, Van Langevelde & Wynhoff 2009

12 Relationships Host plants Host ants Nectar sources Flowering Seed production Germination Establishment Colony sites Colony sites without parasites Food Wynhoff et al. 2008, Van Langevelde & Wynhoff 2009

13 170 ha large scale restoration of fen meadows Honderdmorgen Klimkowska et al. 2007, 2010; Török et al. 2011

14 170 ha large scale restoration of fen meadows Honderdmorgen Klimkowska et al. 2007, 2010; Török et al. 2011

15 Relationships Host plants Host ants Nectar sources Flowering Seed production Germination Establishment Colony sites Colony sites without parasites Food Wynhoff et al. 2008, Van Langevelde & Wynhoff 2009

16 Ants? Myrmica scabrinodis Lasius niger Myrmica scabrinodis High vegetation cover > 50% High vegetation > 20-30cm Bit of organic material Lasius niger Indifferent Indifferent Slightly acidic On soil removed areas: High probability for L. niger Low probability for Myrmica spec. Lasius niger Myrmica scabrinodis

17 Ants? Myrmica scabrinodis Lasius niger

18 Fen meadow on the move Life+ Blues in the Marshes Verplaatste plaggen controles 3 m mierenbuisjes Vegetation relevés: Species composition Vegetation structure Ellenberg values Ant captures

19 Ants Species Myrmica scabrinodis + + M. sabuleti + + M. gallienii + + M. rugulosa + M. rubra + M. ruginodis + Lasius niger + + Lasius umbratus + Treatment Max.nr of species Average/patch/year sods to 0.2 C-controls to 0 O-controls 1 1 to 0

20 Ants GLMM: binomial error distribution with logit link (and Sidak test) Myrmica scabrinodis Year * Treatment *** Year*treatment * Myrmica spec. Treatment *** Year*treatment * a b Treatment *** Lasius niger GLM: no effect of source meadow or source strip on ant occurrences Any ant species Wynhoff et al. 2017

21 Ants GLMM: binomial error distribution with logit link DCA 1 axis score Bare soil (%) Wynhoff et al Cover (%) of herbs

22 Meanwhile in Moerputten nature reserve Life+ Blues in the Marshes

23 Meanwhile in Moerputten nature reserve Life+ Blues in the Marshes

24 Aerial pictures april 2015 Life+ Blues in the Marshes

25 Counting butterflies June 11th, 2015 Life+ Blues in the Marshes

26 More Myrmica scabrinodis after small scale sod cutting Life+ Blues in the Marshes

27 More Myrmica scabrinodis after small scale sod cutting Life+ Blues in the Marshes

28 More Myrmica scabrinodis after small scale sod-cutting n.s. P=0,044 MWU8,2=0,5 16 Occupation: 100% 14 mean number of nests/plot Wynhoff et al. in prep no sudcutting sodcutting

29 More Myrmica scabrinodis after small scale sod-cutting? Total number of plots

30 More Myrmica scabrinodis after small scale sod-cutting? Total number of plots

31 Predicted probability Effect of height on occurrence of ants Life+ Blues in the Marshes MWU=91.5, n=52, p< GLMM: binomial error distribution with logit link, F=10.757, coeff.=0.09, p=0.003, df1=1, df2=31 Predicted Probability ants 0.20 Ants Height (cm + NAP)

32 Result of climate warming? Life+ Blues in the Marshes Amount of precipitation

33 2014 Life+ Blues in the Marshes Activityperiod of ants

34 Myrmica scabrinodis trying to cope with summer inundations 4 juni 2016

35 Myrmica scabrinodis trying to cope with summer inundations Life+ Blues in the Marshes

36 Myrmica gallienii can handle summer inundations Life+ Blues in the Marshes

37 Combining N2000 and retention area Life+ Blues in the Marshes

38 Combining N2000 and retention area Life+ Blues in the Marshes

39 Strengthen the corridors, especially along road verges Life+ Blues in the Marshes

40 Strengthen the corridors, especially along road verges Life+ Blues in the Marshes

41 Combining N2000 and retention area Vlijmens Ven Moerputten Honderdmorgen Recent population of M. teleius Strengthen new corridor Sods for Myrmica ants Strengthen old corridor Potential habitat for M. teleius

42 Combining N2000 and retention area Life+ Blues in the Marshes

43 Have the blues found their new home? From 25 species in Moerputten, 20 have already found the new locations, unfortunately not the Maculinea blues. Density of Sanguisorba officinalis is too low: 33.2 ± 19.2 versus 1.5 ± 1.7 *** Density of Myrmica scabrinodis nests is too low:

44 Discussion and conclusions No longer inundations than 3 weeks with no more than 20 cm water!!! No summer inundations!!! Translocation of clippings facilitates establishment of wet meadows. Offering habitat islands accelerates the colonization of Myrmica scabrinodis, however density is still too low to allow colonization by Maculinea. Continue the creation of small scale structures in the vegetation. Improve quality of connecting corridors.

45 Student Maculinea Research Team Annemieke Pelle Roel, Lian, Laurianne Cristina Noor Laura Chiara

46 Questions? Thank you! Annemieke Kolvoort Laura Farbacher Chiara Flora Bassignana Cristina Sevilleja Chris van Swaay Kars Veling Henk Vennix Theodoor Heijerman Wim Verschraegen Jitte Groothuis EMS Films LIFE + Blues Team