Delayed population explosion of an introduced butterfly

The Journal of Animal Ecology
Carol L BoggsPaul R Ehrlich

Abstract

1. The causes of lagged population and geographical range expansions after species introductions are poorly understood, and there are relatively few detailed case studies. 2. We document the 29-year history of population dynamics and structure for a population of Euphydryas gillettii Barnes that was introduced to the Colorado Rocky Mountains, USA in 1977. 3. The population size remained low (< 200 individuals) and confined to a single habitat patch (approximately 2.25 ha) to 1998. These values are similar to those of many other populations within the natural geographical range of the species. 4. However, by 2002 the population increased dramatically to > 3000 individuals and covered approximately 70 ha, nearly all to the south of the original site. The direction of population expansion was the same as that of predominant winds. 5. By 2004, the butterfly's local distribution had retracted mainly to three habitat patches. It thus exhibited a 'surge/contraction' form of population growth. Searches within 15 km of the original site yielded no other new populations. 6. In 2005, butterfly numbers crashed, but all three habitat patches remained occupied. The populations within each patch did not decrease in the same proportions, sugge...Continue Reading

References

Jun 22, 2000·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·N C Ellstrand, K A Schierenbeck
Jul 27, 2001·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·M G NeubertM A Lewis
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Sep 11, 2004·Risk Analysis : an Official Publication of the Society for Risk Analysis·Michael G Neubert, Ingrid M Parker

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Citations

Jul 16, 2015·Conservation Biology : the Journal of the Society for Conservation Biology·Leone M Brown, Elizabeth E Crone

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