The population biology of an insect with restricted distribution : Cupido minimus Fuessly (Lepidoptera; Lycaenidae)
The population biology of an insect with restricted distribution : Cupido minimus Fuessly (Lepidoptera; Lycaenidae)
Most species of Lepidoptera are relatively common but display restricted distributions. However, current population theories have been based on information derived almost exclusively from studies of economically significant pests or species threatened with extinction. The extent to which these theories may apply to species which are more 'typical' has rarely been examined. Therefore, the main aims of this investigation were to examine the factors determining the distribution and abundance of Cupido minimus; a butterfly which is quite widespread in southern Britain but which occurs in small, isolated populations. In the preliminary sections previous population studies on butterflies are reviewed, and the life history and distribution of C^, minimus are described. This species displays a remarkable distribution in Britain, extending as far north as Thurso and yet being extremely scarce north of a line from the Wash to the Severn. Many quite different types of habitat may be colonized, but numerous colonies have become extinct during the past thirty years, even in its southern strongholds. Three main approaches were adopted in order to investigate the An intensive study of six population biology of minimus. populations, based on the analysis of life tables, provided information about population dynamics and the extent to which ecological parameters varied between populations. Fluctuations in population size were associated with several 'key factors', the most important of which was the failure of the females to lay their full complement of ova. Studies of adult behaviour and an extensive survey of sixty recorded sites, randomly selected from the distribution records, demonstrated that the habitat requirements of minimus comprise the presence of dense populations of the only larval foodplant, Anthyllis vulneraria L. Finally, hypotheses derived from these findings were tested by laboratory and field experiments, and a long-term investigation of genetic variation within and between populations was initiated. are modest and mainly The results of these studies were combined in a discussion of the and it is suggested that similar populations. Recommendations are made about the factors influencing short-term fluctuations and long-term trends in the size of minimus conservation of minimus management might prove effective for other local species with poor powers of dispersal. Finally, the conclusions from this synthesis are examined in the light of present population theories, and it is suggested that the available evidence favours the view that most butterfly populations may be limited by the carrying capacity of their habitats, rather than maintained in equilibrium below this level by density-dependent regulation.
University of Southampton
Morton, Ashley Charles George
1985
Morton, Ashley Charles George
Morton, Ashley Charles George
(1985)
The population biology of an insect with restricted distribution : Cupido minimus Fuessly (Lepidoptera; Lycaenidae).
University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.
Record type:
Thesis
(Doctoral)
Abstract
Most species of Lepidoptera are relatively common but display restricted distributions. However, current population theories have been based on information derived almost exclusively from studies of economically significant pests or species threatened with extinction. The extent to which these theories may apply to species which are more 'typical' has rarely been examined. Therefore, the main aims of this investigation were to examine the factors determining the distribution and abundance of Cupido minimus; a butterfly which is quite widespread in southern Britain but which occurs in small, isolated populations. In the preliminary sections previous population studies on butterflies are reviewed, and the life history and distribution of C^, minimus are described. This species displays a remarkable distribution in Britain, extending as far north as Thurso and yet being extremely scarce north of a line from the Wash to the Severn. Many quite different types of habitat may be colonized, but numerous colonies have become extinct during the past thirty years, even in its southern strongholds. Three main approaches were adopted in order to investigate the An intensive study of six population biology of minimus. populations, based on the analysis of life tables, provided information about population dynamics and the extent to which ecological parameters varied between populations. Fluctuations in population size were associated with several 'key factors', the most important of which was the failure of the females to lay their full complement of ova. Studies of adult behaviour and an extensive survey of sixty recorded sites, randomly selected from the distribution records, demonstrated that the habitat requirements of minimus comprise the presence of dense populations of the only larval foodplant, Anthyllis vulneraria L. Finally, hypotheses derived from these findings were tested by laboratory and field experiments, and a long-term investigation of genetic variation within and between populations was initiated. are modest and mainly The results of these studies were combined in a discussion of the and it is suggested that similar populations. Recommendations are made about the factors influencing short-term fluctuations and long-term trends in the size of minimus conservation of minimus management might prove effective for other local species with poor powers of dispersal. Finally, the conclusions from this synthesis are examined in the light of present population theories, and it is suggested that the available evidence favours the view that most butterfly populations may be limited by the carrying capacity of their habitats, rather than maintained in equilibrium below this level by density-dependent regulation.
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Published date: 1985
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Local EPrints ID: 461238
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/461238
PURE UUID: 32c3c476-6357-44ec-a69f-0e14d66eedf0
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Date deposited: 04 Jul 2022 18:40
Last modified: 04 Jul 2022 18:40
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Author:
Ashley Charles George Morton
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