Plant quality and local adaptation undermine relocation in a bog specialist butterfly. Issue 2 (26th December 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Turlure, Camille; Radchuk, Viktoriia; Baguette, Michel; Meijrink, Mark; van, Arnold; De, Michiel Wallis; van, Gert‐Jan
• Is Part Of: Ecology and evolution. Volume 3:Issue 2(2013:Feb.)
• Page Start: 244
• Page End: 254
• Publication Date: 2012-12-26
• Subjects: Ecology -- Periodicals; Evolution -- Periodicals; 577.05
• DOI: 10.1002/ece3.427
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2045-7758

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="ece3427-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>The butterfly <italic>Boloria aquilonaris</italic> is a specialist of oligotrophic ecosystems. Population viability analysis predicted the species to be stable in Belgium and to collapse in the Netherlands with reduced host plant quality expected to drive species decline in the latter. We tested this hypothesis by rearing <italic>B. aquilonaris</italic> caterpillars from Belgian and Dutch sites on host plants (the cranberry, <italic>Vaccinium oxycoccos</italic>). Dutch plant quality was lower than Belgian one conferring lower caterpillar growth rate and survival. Reintroduction and/or supplementation may be necessary to ensure the viability of the species in the Netherlands, but some traits may have been selected solely in Dutch caterpillars to cope with gradual changes in host plant quality. To test this hypothesis, the performance of Belgian and Dutch caterpillars fed with plants from both countries were compared. Dutch caterpillars performed well on both plant qualities, whereas Belgian caterpillars could not switch to lower quality plants. This can be considered as an environmentally induced plastic response of caterpillars and/or a local adaptation to plant quality, which precludes the use of Belgian individuals as a unique solution for strengthening Dutch populations. More generally, these results stress that the relevance of local adaptation in selecting source populations for relocation may be as important as restoring habitat quality.</p> </abstract>