Thyme and isolation for the Sinai baton blue butterfly (Pseudophilotes sinaicus).
Oecologia
; 134(3): 445-53, 2003 Feb.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-12647154
ABSTRACT
The distribution of the narrowly endemic butterfly Pseudophilotes sinaicus (Lycaenidae) was studied. Potential habitat within its range was first located and then the quality of that habitat assessed. Degree of shelter, diversity of plant species, and resource area of an individual food plant (Thymus decussatus) all affected habitat quality and together were used to develop an index of habitat suitability applicable to each site. The butterfly's distribution was then studied within the identified network of suitable habitat patches isolated patches with a small resource area were least likely to contain butterflies. Population size in a patch (as opposed merely to patch occupancy) was affected by resource area and the quality of habitat within that patch. Metapopulation processes and variation in habitat quality therefore appear to combine to describe the distribution of patches occupied by P. sinaicus and their population sizes. This finding provides insights into some of the processes operating on an endemic species throughout its geographical range and has important implications for the conservation of this rare butterfly.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Borboletas
/
Ecossistema
/
Conservação dos Recursos Naturais
/
Thymus (Planta)
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Animals
País/Região como assunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Oecologia
Ano de publicação:
2003
Tipo de documento:
Article