Interactions between ecological traits and host plant type explain distribution change in noctuid moths.

The ecological traits of species determine how well a species can withstand threats to which it is exposed. If these predisposing traits can be identified, species that are most at risk of decline can be identified and an understanding of the processes behind the declines can be gained. We sought to determine how body size, specificity of larval host plant, overwintering stage, type of host plant, and the interactions of these traits are related to the distribution change in noctuid moths. We used data derived from the literature and analyzed the effects of traits both separately and simultaneously in the same model. When we analyzed the traits separately, it seemed the most important deter…

Restoration priorities and strategies : Restoration to protect biodiversity and enhance Green Infrastructure : Nordic examples of priorities and needs for strategic solutions

Hot spots, indicator taxa, complementarity and optimal networks of taiga

If hot spots for different taxa coincide, priority-setting surveys in a region could be carried out more cheaply by focusing on indicator taxa. Several previous studies show that hot spots of different taxa rarely coincide. However, in tropical areas indicator taxa may be used in selecting complementary networks to represent biodiversity as a whole. We studied beetles (Coleoptera), Heteroptera, polypores or bracket fungi (Polyporaceae) and vascular plants of old growth boreal taiga forests. Optimal networks for Heteroptera maximized the high overall species richness of beetles and vascular plants, but these networks were least favourable options for polypores. Polypores are an important gro…

Voimajohtoaukeiden raivauksen merkitys soiden päiväperhosille ja kasvillisuudelle

Missing the rarest: is the positive interspecific abundance–distribution relationship a truly general macroecological pattern?

Lepidopterists have long acknowledged that many uncommon butterfly species can be extremely abundant in suitable locations. If this is generally true, it contradicts the general macroecological pattern of the positive interspecific relationship between abundance and distribution, i.e. locally abundant species are often geographically more widespread than locally rare species. Indeed, a negative abundance–distribution relationship has been documented for butterflies in Finland. Here we show, using the Finnish butterflies as an example, that a positive abundance–distribution relationship results if the geographically restricted species are missed, as may be the case in studies based on random…

Ecological correlates of distribution change and range shift in butterflies

1. In order to be effective custodians of biodiversity, one must understand what ecological characteristics predispose species to population decline, range contraction, and, eventually, to extinction. 2. The present paper analyses distribution change (area of occupancy) and range shift (extent and direction) of the threatened and non-threatened butterfly species in Finland, and identifies species-specific ecological characteristics promoting changes in distribution and range. 3. Overall, the range of butterflies has shifted along the climatic isotherms, suggesting that climate change has influenced species’ ranges. Interestingly, though, threatened species have moved very little and not to …

The role of power line rights-of-way as an alternative habitat for declined mire butterflies

Habitat loss is one of the greatest threats for biodiversity. In Finland, two thirds of natural mires have been drained for silviculture, which transforms open wetlands into dense forests. However, vegetation management of power line rights-of-way (ROW) maintain the drained mires as open areas. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the power line ROW vegetation management on butterfly abundance, species richness and community structure by comparing the managed power line ROWs to unmanaged drained control sites and to natural mires. The species richness or abundance of mire butterflies did not differ between the power line ROWs and natural mires. In contrast, both species rich…

Specialist butterflies benefit most from the ecological restoration of mires

Abstract Anthropogenic disturbances cause biotic homogenization through the replacement of specialist species with generalists. Restoration has the potential to counteract these negative effects. Recently, restoration in the peatlands of Northern Europe has started to show positive effects on biodiversity. However, seldom have studies evaluated the response of insects to restoration by comparing populations prior to restoration to those thereafter with a Before-After Control-Impact (BACI) design. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the restoration actions taken were appropriate to facilitate the successful recolonization of mire butterflies and plants. We found that, generally, dr…

Ennallistettujen soiden päiväperhosseurantaverkosto

Ecological Determinants of Distribution Decline and Risk of Extinction in Moths

For successful conservation of species it is important to identify traits that predispose species to the risk of extinction. By identifying such traits conservation efforts can be directed toward species that are most at risk of becoming threatened. We used data derived from the literature to determine ecological traits that affect distribution, distribution change, and the risk of extinction in Finnish noctuid moths (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae). The ecological traits we examined included body size, larval specificity, length of the flight period, and overwintering stage. In addition, in monophagous species we examined the effects of resource distribution. Larval specificity, length of the flig…

Species richness and abundance of butterflies in natural and drained mires in Finland

[Introduction] Approximately half of Finnish peatlands have been drained for forestry. However, there is considerable variation regionally, and in particular in southern southern half of Finland ca 80-90 % of the original mire area has been ditched. Drainage was most intensive in 1960s and 1970s, but ditching has gradually decreased since that. Drainage has extensive effects on flora and fauna of mire habitats (Laine & al. 1995b, Aapala & Lappalainen 1998a, Aapala & Lappalainen 1998b, Vasander 1998, Heikkilä & al. 2002). Restoration of drained mires has began relatively recently and the research based knowledge of the ecological effects of the restoration are still forthcoming. Nevertheless…

Elinympäristöjen tilan edistäminen Suomessa : ELITE-työryhmän mietintö elinympäristöjen tilan edistämisen priorisointisuunnitelmaksi ja arvio suunnitelman kokonaiskustannuksista

Kestävä luonnonvarojen käyttö on perusta sekä ihmisen että luonnon hyvinvoinnille. Tähän mietintöön on koottu Elinympäristöjen tilan edistämisen (ELITE) työryhmän työn tulokset. Työ edistää osaltaan luonnonvarojen käytön kestävyyttä antamalla suuntaviivoja luonnon monimuotoisuuden turvaamiseen Suomen metsissä, soilla, perinnebiotoopeilla, maatalousalueilla, kallioilla, tuntureilla sekä rannikolla. Osin tarkastelussa mukana olivat myös kaupunkiympäristöt ja sisävedet. Varsinaisen tarkastelun ulkopuolelle jätettiin rannikkovesien ulkopuoliset meret. Elinympäristöjen tilan edistämisen toimenpiteet voivat käsittää suojelua, luonnonhoitoa tai perinteisellä tavalla ymmärrettyä ennallistamista. To…

Predicting the risk of extinction from shared ecological characteristics

Understanding the ultimate causes of population declines and extinction is vital in our quest to stop the currently rampant biodiversity loss. Comparison of ecological characteristics between threatened and nonthreatened species may reveal these ultimate causes. Here, we report an analysis of ecological characteristics of 23 threatened and 72 nonthreatened butterfly species. Our analysis reveals that threatened butterflies are characterized by narrow niche breadth, restricted resource distribution, poor dispersal ability, and short flight period. Based on the characteristics, we constructed an ecological extinction risk rank and predicted which of the currently nonthreatened species are at …

Distribution, abundance and species richness of butterflies and myrmecophilous beetles

Suppealla alueella esiintyvät päiväperhoslajit ovat usein paikallisesti suhteellisen runsaslukuisia. Tämän yllättävän seikan havaitsi filosofian maisteri Jussi Päivinen tutkiessaan väitöskirjaansa varten päiväperhosia. Havainto on maailmanlaajuisesti erittäin harvinainen. Yhtenä syynä voi olla Suomen pohjoinen sijainti, jonka seurauksena monien päiväperhoslajien levinneisyysalue rajoittuu Etelä-Suomeen. - Levinneisyysalueensa reunalla elävät perhoslajit pystyvät asuttamaan ainoastaan suurimmat ja laadultaan parhaimmat elinympäristölaikut, mutta koska laikut ovat korkealaatuisia, niihin voi muodostua erittäin runsaslukuiset päiväperhoskannat. Reuna-alueella elävien päiväperhosten ns. elinymp…

Varying Definitions of Abundance and Incomplete Assemblages Challenge the Generality of the Interspecific Abundance—Distribution Relationships

Empirical evidence does not fully support the universal nature of the positive interspecific abundance—distribution relationship. We have earlier documented a negative relationship for butterfly species in Finland, but recently our view was again challenged using a small subset of Finnish butterflies as apparent evidence. Here we scrutinize the critique and identify some general conceptual challenges in analyses of interspecific abundance—distribution relationships. We identify the common problem that the abundance—distribution studies include only a small subset of species, and thus reveal only sample characteristics, not overall patterns in complete assemblages. Small subsets of species a…

On the obvious positive interspecific relationship between abundance and distribution: a reply to Blackburn and Gaston

Thomas Kuhn described normal science as ‘ … research firmly based upon one or more past scientific achievements … ’, that ‘ … does not aim at novelties of fact or theory and, when successful, finds none’ ([Kuhn 1996][1]). Kuhn divides scientific enterprise into three faces: normal

Kasvien ja päiväperhosten esiintyminen luonnontilaisilla ja ojitetuilla soilla

Ranking Natura 2000 habitats and Natura 2000 areas for nature

We ranked 1 541 Finnish Natura 2000 areas and their 69 different habitat types for ecological restoration and nature management based on their potential for cost-effective ecosystem improvement. We did it by Zonation software and its principles: complementarity, connectivity, condition and cost-effectiveness. We had biodiversity data (GIS: location and current state of 67 N2000 habitats and threatened species) and expert knowledge of improvement methods, effects and costs. As results we got maps, curves of trade-offs and also a ranking list of Natura 2000 areas. peerReviewed