Tracking butterflies for effective conservation

Dit proefschrift bestaat uit drie delen: het volgen van veranderingen in de verspreiding van vlinders, het volgen van veranderingen in de populatiegrootte van vlinders en hoe deze kennis te gebruiken voor hun bescherming

Habitatrichtlijnrapportage 2019: Annex B Habitatrichtlijnsoorten : Achtergronddocument

This background document explains the process of preparing the Annex B report (Habitats Directive species) for the reporting period 2013–2018, with data from the period 2012-2017. Article 17 of the EU Habitats Directive requires Member States to submit a progress report every six years. The conservation status of all 81 Habitats Directive species (Annex II, IV and V) has been established according to the evaluation matrix prescribed by the European Commission. The report describes the reporting process and explains the decisions made by the species experts when filling in the report formats. The conservation status of each species was assessed for the following parameters: range, population, habitat and future prospects

Standaard Data Formulieren Natura 2000-gebieden : aanvullingen vanwege wijzigingen in Natura 2000-aanwijzingsbesluiten

This report explains the additional information on the Standard Data Forms for species listed in Annex II of the Habitats Directive. These forms make up part of the database of information on Natura 2000 sites. The database can be used as material evidence in legal proceedings and is used by the European Commission when assessing proposals for Natura 2000 sites. In 2017 an analysis was made of present but not designated conservation values for habitats and species under the Habitats Directive. The analysis identified 74 species-site combinations to be added to designation orders for Natura 2000 sites. Information on these combinations has been entered onto the Standard Data Forms, including data on the numbers of a species, the type of population, the relative population compared with other populations in the Netherlands, species habitat quality, the location of the population within the European range and a general evaluation. The assessments of the sites for each species were made by expert

Prioritaire gebieden binnen de Ecologische Hoofdstructuur voor behoud doelsoorten vlinders en vogels

Gegevens van de graadmeters ’actuele kwaliteit ecosysteem landnatuur’ en ‘gerichtheid milieu- en ruimtecondities voor duurzaam voortbestaan’ op soortniveau zijn gekoppeld om per soort een ruimtelijk bestand te genereren van gebieden die belangrijk zijn voor het behoud van de doelsoorten vlinders en vogels. Vervolgens zijn de resultaten van alle soorten geaggregeerd tot één ruimtelijk bestand over het belang van natuurgebieden voor soortbehoud. Daarbij zijn de soorten ingedeeld naar ecologische urgentieklassen. Soorten die actueel weinig voorkomen en die weinig potentieel leefgebied hebben in Nederland hebben de hoogste urgentieklassen gekregen. Soorten die momenteel veel voorkomen en veel potentieel leefgebied hebben, hebben de laagste ecologische urgentieklasse gekregen. Doel van het onderzoek is het verkennen van de meerwaarde van het combineren van de graadmeters voor beleidsevaluaties en verkenningen

Hotspots dagvlinder biodiversiteit

Voor een betrouwbare en verifieerbare voorspelling van de verandering van de natuurwaarde voor flora en fauna zijn ruimtelijk gedetailleerde gegevens en rekenmodellen nodig. In deze studie van Vlinderstichting en WOT Natuur & Milieu wordt een modelopzet gemaakt voor kaarten met de hotspots voor dagvlinder diversiteit op een schaalniveau van 250bij 250 mete

Changes in nectar supply: A possible cause of widespread butterfly decline

Recent studies have documented declining trends of various groups of flower-visiting insects, even common butterfly species. Causes of these declines are still unclear but the loss of habitat quality across the wider countryside is thought to be a major factor. Nectar supply constitutes one of the main resources determining habitat quality. Yet, data on changes in nectar abundance are lacking. In this study, we provide the first analysis of changes in floral nectar abundance on a national scale and link these data to trends in butterfly species richness and abundance. We used transect data from the Dutch Butterfly Monitoring Scheme to compare two time periods: 1994-1995 and 2007-2008. The results show that butterfly decline can indeed be linked to a substantial decline in overall flower abundance and specific nectar plants, such as thistles. The decline is as severe in reported flower generalists as in flower specialists. We suggest that eutrophication is a main cause of the decline of nectar sources [Current Zoology 58 (3): 384-391, 2012]

Natuurkwaliteit van het agrarisch gebied

Dit werkdocument geeft een beschrijving van de methode en de eerste resultaten van de natuurkwaliteit van het agrarisch gebied. Hiermee is een eerste kaart en graadmeter van de natuurkwaliteit van het agrarisch gebied op nationaal schaalniveau gereedgekomen. Het beeld vormt een aanvulling op de kaart van de actuele natuurkwaliteit van natuurreservaten, die al eerder beschikbaar is gekomen. De nu beschikbare indicator en kaart van de natuurkwaliteit van het agrarisch gebied voorziet in een belangrijke kennisleemte. Het belang van het agrarisch gebied in het behoud van biodiversiteit kan nu worden geduid. De ruimtelijke variatie in de natuurkwaliteit is ook inzichtelijk gemaakt. Het beleid kan bij het leggen van prioriteiten voor het behoud en bescherming van agrarische biodiversiteit nu rekening houden met het voorkomen van huidige natuurwaarden. Een van de belangrijkste conclusies is dat de natuurkwaliteit van het agrarisch gebied veel lager is dan in de natuurgebieden. Laagveengebieden hebben binnen het agrarische gebied de hoogste natuurkwaliteit, terwijl de centrale en noordelijke zeekleigebieden de laagste natuurkwaliteit bevatten. De aanwezige natuurkwaliteit in het agrarisch gebied, wordt voornamelijk bepaald door de aanwezigheid van broedvogels en veel minder door vaatplanten en dagvlinders. Het ruimtelijke patroon van aanwezige kwaliteit komt overeen binnen de verschillende soortgroepen broedvogels, vaatplanten en dagvlinders. De resterende natuurkwaliteit in het agrarisch gebied bevindt zich vooral in natuurlijke elementen zoals heggen, bosjes, sloten, dijken en perceelranden. Voor weidevogels is juist de mate van openheid van belang. Beschikbare landelijk dekkende verspreidingskaarten van doelsoorten dagvlinders, broedvogels en vaatplanten zijn gebruikt om de natuurkwaliteit te bepalen. Om dekkende landelijke verspreidingskaarten te maken zijn interpolatiemodellen gebruikt. De natuurkwaliteit is afgemeten aan een natuurlijke referentie, conform de systematiek van het Handboek Natuudoeltypen en daarmee ook coform de methode gebruikt voor de bepaling van de natuurkwaliteit van natuurreservaten. Elke 10-15 jaar zijn de verspreidingskaarten van dagvlinders, broedvogels en vaatplanten voldoende gedekt om een update van het landelijke beeld en de graadmeter mogelijk te maken. Tussentijdse veranderingen in de natuurkwaliteit kunnen worden gevolgd met het Netwerk Eologische Monitoring. De methode en resultaten hebben een voorlopig karakter. Er zijn nog een aantal methodische verbeteringen noodzakelijk om tot een definitief resultaat te komen. Tevens is het wenselijk om de natuurkwaliteit ook af te meten aan de hand van een meer cultuurlijke referentie

Evidence of a fixed polymorphism of one-year and two-year larval growth in the myrmecophilous butterfly Maculinea rebeli

1. Maculinea (= Phengaris) species of butterfly have complex life-styles in which the larvae feed briefly on specific foodplants before entering the final instar, after which they live as social parasites within Myrmica ant colonies and acquire 98–99% of their ultimate biomass by either preying on ant brood (predatory species) or being fed by worker ants (cuckoo species). Cuckoo species demonstrate two growth forms, whereby some individuals develop to pupate in 11 months and others remain 23 months in the nest, a strategy that in theory represents the most efficient exploitation of resources within Myrmica societies. Early studies suggested that development rates in Maculinea rebeli (referred to by other authors as the xerophilous form of Maculinea alcon) were not plastic but represented an unusual fixed polymorphism, in which eggs were genetically predetermined as 1- or 2-year larvae. 2. We tested this idea in lab experiments using M. rebeli from the French HautesAlpes, with these results: (i) the growth strategy of every individual larva is predetermined by the mother either genetically or, less probably, during oogenesis. (ii) Intra-nest competition and host fitness affects survival and growth but does not influence the inherent growth strategy. (iii) The ratio of 1- and 2-year developing larvae is initially about 50:50, although differential survival in crowded nests may alter the ratio of surviving individuals. (iv) All females tested laid eggs that hatched into both 1- or 2-year developers. (v) Growth patterns vary between different regions. Larvae from the Spanish Pyrenees initially grow less than those from the Alps, with a smaller initial differentiation between the size classes

Assessing Butterflies in Europe. Executive summary

1. The Assessing Butterflies in Europe (ABLE) project was an EU Parliamentary Pilot project with a duration of two years (beginning of December 2019 to the end of November 2020) and received €800,000 of funding via a service contract with Directorate General Environment. 2. The mandate and rationale from the EU Parliament was: “The project aims at developing a suite of EU Lepidoptera indicators which can help improve conservation measure and assess progress in implementing EU policies and legislation such as the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 and the EU Habitats Directive. Besides providing a highly relevant indicator for measuring progress in terms of managing and restoring Natura 2000 sites, it would also contribute to monitoring progress on Target 3 of the EU Biodiversity Strategy, which aims to increase the contribution of agriculture and forestry to maintaining and enhancing biodiversity. In particular, the pilot should deliver a representative indicator to help monitor the impact of the Common Agricultural Policy on grassland biodiversity. It will also provide data to produce a climate change indicator, thereby contributing to the ongoing revision of climate change adaptation strategies. Indicators will also be possible for woodland, wetland and urban habitats.” 3. The ABLE project was delivered by a consortium of the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Butterfly Conservation Europe, Butterfly Conservation UK, De Vlinderstichting and HelmholtzZentrum für Umweltforschung GmbH – UFZ. Considerable in-kind contributions were provided by Butterfly Conservation partners across Europe. 4. There is mounting evidence of widespread declines in the diversity and abundance of insects across the globe. The ABLE project is particularly timely in helping to develop capacity for monitoring of insects and assessing the status of butterflies in the EU. 5. There are 482 butterfly species in Europe (451 occurring within the EU27), breeding in a wide range of habitats. Butterflies react quickly to change and are considered to be good biological indicators, especially of other insects and pollinators. Monitoring butterflies can help shed light on changes in these important groups. 6. The main aims of the ABLE project were to collate butterfly monitoring data across Europe, to facilitate the start of new schemes in the EU, and to develop indicators to help policy design and evaluation. 7. Following the mandate from the EU Parliament for this Pilot project, we make the following key recommendations: i. Use Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (eBMS) data and indicators for EU policy design; to inform resource planning, especially for Member State’s Prioritised Action Frameworks (PAFs); and to track, evaluate and adjust EU and MSs policy implementation, including the EU Green Deal, EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 and the EU Farm to Fork Strategy, to help reverse pollinator declines. ii. Use Member State and Article 17 data on butterflies to inform the design, implementation and evaluation of the EU CAP and MS’s CAP Strategic Plans; to ensure Forestry plans include more grassland refuges and herb rich rides and edges; and that urban planning and regional developments invest in pollinator habitats. Butterfly Conservation Europe 2020 \textbar ASSESSING BUTTERFLIES IN EUROPE – EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 6 iii. Use available Butterfly Monitoring Scheme data to strengthen the quality of assessments of conservation Status of Habitats Directive listed habitats and species in meeting mandatory reporting requirements under Art 17 of the Directive iv. Invest in linking butterfly data with land use and management data, including implementation of Natura 2000 Management Plans, Land Parcel Information system and Satellite data to help evaluate conservation effectiveness v. Support additional monitoring of rare and vulnerable butterflies (including endemics and those not listed on the Habitats Directive) and designate some additional Protected Areas to sustain and enhance the quality of remaining areas that are important for these Red Listed butterflies and so prevent further extinctions vi. Invest in further capacity building and cooperation among citizen scientists, professionals, farmers and authorities to monitor and record abundance of butterflies, moths and other pollinators, including supporting coordination, training and growth of citizen science eBMS schemes (as recommended by EU Pollinator Expert Group); filling data gaps and developing tools and expertise to gather and integrate data from various sources. vii. ABLE shows that Citizen Science eBMS are cost effective, delivering very good value for money. New citizen science Butterfly Monitoring Schemes are needed in Denmark, Greece, Latvia, Romania and Slovakia. Together with further support to sustain and increase transects across most EU MSs, especially in the ten schemes newly created during the ABLE project. The ten EU27 countries where new Citizen Science butterfly monitoring schemes were begun in 2019/2020, with the support of ABLE, BCE partners and active volunteers, are Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Poland and Portugal. Together with Belgium, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxemburg, Lithuania (currently dormant), Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, there are now 22 EU(27) Member States with butterfly monitoring schemes. With several more outside the EU, including Norway, Switzerland and the UK (which has the longest running scheme). 8. This Executive Summary accompanies detailed technical reports on the three project tasks: development of butterfly indicators, development of butterfly monitoring networks, and tools to support butterfly monitoring and analysis

Effects of Natura 2000 on nontarget bird and butterfly species based on citizen science data

ABSTRACT The European Union's Natura 2000 (N2000), is one of the largest international networks of protected areas. One of its aims is to secure the status of a pre-determined set of (targeted) bird and butterfly species. However, also non-target species may benefit from N2000. We evaluated how the terrestrial component of this network relates to the abundance of non-targeted, more common bird and butterfly species using data from long-term volunteer-based monitoring programs in 9,602 sites for birds and 2,001 sites for butterflies. In almost half of the 155 bird species assessed, and particularly among woodland specialists, abundance increased with the proportion of N2000 sites in the landscape. The corresponding positive relationship was found for 27 of the 104 butterfly species, although most of these species were generalists. These positive relationships disappeared for most of the species when land-cover covariates were taken into account, hinting that land-cover is a primary factor defining the positive effects of the N2000 network. The increase in abundance with N2000 was correlated with the specialization index for bird species, but not for butterfly species. Although the N2000 network supports higher abundance of a large spectrum of species, the low number of specialist butterfly species showing a positive association stresses the need to implement management plan improving the quality of habitats of N2000 areas potentially harboring openland butterfly specialists. For a better understanding of the processes involved, we advocate for a standardized collection of data on N2000 sites. Article impact statement: Across Europe the abundance of a majority of nontarget birds and a quarter of nontarget butterflies increased with Natura 2000 coverage. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reservedpeerReviewe