Summary
The interaction of host plant phenology and microclimatic heterogeneity was examined to determine its role in the population dynamics of checkerspot butterflies, Euphydryas editha, inhabiting serpentine grassland in California's outer Coast Range.
Within the 2–3 hectares inhabited by a population of E. editha (Jasper Ridge Area H), microclimatic differences resulting from topographic heterogeneity largely determine the temporal and spatial pattern of senescence of the larval host plants, Plantago erecta and Orthocarpus densiflorus. Survival of larvae from hatching to diapause is extremely low as a result of unpredictable variation in the timing of larval development relative to the timing of host plant senescence, both of which are mediated by microclimatic patterns. During this study, population H declined to near extinction as a result of two consecutive years of record rainfall that apparently disrupted the tenuous temporal relationship between larval development and plant senescence. Retarded development of post-diapause larvae led to a late and extended flight season and delayed egg production; this in turn resulted in massive mortality of pre-diapause larvae due to starvation because host plant senescence occurred before larvae became large enough to enter diapause. Adult population size the following spring was the smallest in 25 years of study. This work emphasizes the importance of microclimatic heterogeneity for understanding population-level processes in small ectothermic animals and underlines the potential importance of such heterogeneity in the establishment of reserves designed to protect such animals
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andrewartha HG, Birch LC (1954) The distribution and abundance of animals. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Andrewartha HG, Birch LC (1984) The ecological web. University of Chicago, Illinois, USA
Bodenheimer FS (1938) Problems of animal ecology. Oxford University Press, Oxford, England
Brussard, PF, Ehrlich PR, Singer MC (1974) Adult movements and population structure in Euphydryas editha. Evolution 28:408–415
Dobkin DS (1985) Heterogeneity of tropical floral microclimates and the response of hummingbird flower mites. Ecology 66:536–543
Ehrlich PR (1961) Intrinsic barriers to dispersal in checkerspot butterfly. Science 134:108–109
Ehrlich PR (1965) The population biology of the butterfly, Euphydryas editha. II. The structure of the Jasper Ridge colony. Evolution 19:327–336
Ehrlich PR, Murphy DD (1986) Monitoring populations on remnants of native habitat. In: Saunders D, Hopkins A (eds), Nature Conservation: The Role of Remnants of Native Vegetation (in Press)
Ehrlich PR, White RR, Singer MC, McKechnie SW, Gilbert LE (1975) Checkerspot butterflies: a historical perspective. Science 188:221–228
Ehrlich PR, Murphy DD, Singer MC, Sherwood CB, White RR, Brown IL (1980) Extinction, reduction, stability and increase: the responses of checkerspot butterfly (Euphydryas) populations to the California drought. Oecologia (Berlin) 46:101–105
Gulmon SL, Chiariello NR, Mooney HA, Chu CC (1983) Phenology and resource use in three co-occurring grassland annuals. Oecologia (Berlin) 58:33–42
Hobbs RJ, Mooney HA (1985) Community and population dynamics of serpentine grassland annuals in relation to gopher disturbance. Oecologia (Berlin) 67:342–351
Iwasa Y, Odendaal FJ, Murphy DD, Ehrlich PR, Launer AE (1983) Emergence patterns in male butterflies: a hypothesis and a test. Theor Popul Biol 23:363–379
Kingsolver JG (1983) Ecological significance of flight activity in Colias butterflies: implications for reproductive strategy and population structure. Ecology 64:546–551
Kingsolver JG, Watt WB (1983) Thermoregulatory strategies in Colias butterflies: thermal stress and the limits to adaptation in temporally varying environments. Am Nat 121:32–55
McNaughton SJ (1968) Structure and function in California grasslands. Ecology 49:962–972
Rawlins JE, Lederhouse RC (1981) Developmental influences of thermal behavior on monarch caterpillars (Danaus plexippus): an adaptation for migration (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Danainae). J Kans Entomol Soc 54:387–408
Riechert SE, Tracy CR (1975) Thermal balance and prey availability: bases for a model relating web-site characteristics to spider reproductive success. Ecology 56:265–284
Singer MC (1971) Ecological studies on the butterfly Euphydryas editha. Dissertation, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
Singer MC (1972) Complex components of habitat suitability within a butterfly colony. Science 176:75–77
Singer MC, Ehrlich PR (1979) Population dynamics of the checkerspot butterfly Euphydryas editha. Fortschr Zool 25:53–60
Uvarov BP (1931) Insects and climate. Trans R Entomol Soc London 79:1–247
Wilcox BA, Murphy DD (1985) Conservation strategy: the effects of fragmentation on extinction. Am Nat 125:879–887
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dobkin, D.S., Olivieri, I. & Ehrlich, P.R. Rainfall and the interaction of microclimate with larval resources in the population dynamics of checkerspot butterflies (Euphydryas editha) inhabiting serpentine grassland. Oecologia 71, 161–166 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00377280
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00377280