Hayes M P, Ashe-Jepson E, Hitchcock G E, Knock R I, Lucas C B H, Bladon A J, Turner E C
Department of Zoology, University Museum of Zoology, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ UK.
Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire, Unit 2, St Johns Barn, Griffin Farm, Conger Lane, Toddington, Bedfordshire, LU5 6BT UK.
J Insect Conserv. 2021;25(4):611-628. doi: 10.1007/s10841-021-00327-6. Epub 2021 Jun 9.
The Duke of Burgundy butterfly () is known to have specific habitat requirements for its larval foodplants. However, no studies have yet investigated whether these preferences vary over time or in relation to climate, and there is a paucity of data on whether management on reserves can replicate preferred conditions. Here, we build upon existing research to confirm which characteristics Duke of Burgundy prefer for their larval foodplants, whether preferences remain consistent across years, and whether conservation management on reserves can replicate these conditions. Fieldwork was carried out at Totternhoe Quarry Reserve, a chalk grassland site in Bedfordshire, UK. Confirming previous research, we found that large plants in dense patches were chosen for oviposition, but that once chosen there was no preference to lay eggs on a plant's largest leaf. Chosen foodplants were also more sheltered and in closer proximity to scrub than their controls. However, at a finer scale, we found little evidence for any preference based on differences in microclimate, or vegetation height immediately surrounding the plants. This suggests features that alter microclimatic conditions at a larger scale are relatively more important for determining the suitability of oviposition sites. Nearly all preferences remained consistent over time and did not vary between years. Management of scrub on the reserve was able to reproduce some preferred habitat features (high plant density), but not others (large plant size).
The consistency of findings across years, despite inter-annual variation in temperature, rainfall and number of adults, indicates that the Duke of Burgundy is conservative in its foodplant choice, highlighting its need for specific habitat management. Targeted management for foodplants could form part of a tractable set of tools to support Duke of Burgundy numbers on reserves, but a careful balance is needed to avoid scrub clearance leaving plants in sub-optimal conditions.
众所周知，勃艮第公爵蝶（）的幼虫食草有特定的栖息地要求。然而，尚无研究调查这些偏好是否随时间变化或与气候相关，而且关于保护区的管理能否复制理想条件的数据也很匮乏。在此，我们以现有研究为基础，确认勃艮第公爵蝶对其幼虫食草更喜欢哪些特征，这些偏好多年来是否保持一致，以及保护区的保护管理能否复制这些条件。实地调查在英国贝德福德郡的一个白垩草原地点托特纳霍采石场保护区进行。正如之前的研究所证实的，我们发现雌蝶会选择在密集斑块中的大型植株上产卵，但一旦选定，在植株最大的叶片上产卵并无偏好。被选中的食草相比对照植株也更隐蔽，且更靠近灌丛。然而，在更精细的尺度上，我们几乎没有发现基于小气候差异或植株周围植被高度差异而产生偏好的证据。这表明在更大尺度上改变小气候条件的特征对于确定产卵地点的适宜性相对更为重要。几乎所有偏好随时间保持一致，且多年间没有变化。保护区对灌丛的管理能够重现一些理想的栖息地特征（高植株密度），但无法重现其他特征（大型植株）。
尽管年际间温度、降雨量和成虫数量存在变化，但多年来研究结果保持一致，这表明勃艮第公爵蝶在食草选择上较为保守，凸显了对其进行特定栖息地管理的必要性。针对食草的定向管理可以成为一套可行工具的一部分，以支持保护区内勃艮第公爵蝶的数量，但需要谨慎平衡，避免清除灌丛后使植株处于次优条件。
