Dr Dr Brian NelsonBrian Nelson
Research BranchResearch Branch
National Parks & Wildlife ServiceNational Parks & Wildlife Service
Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local GovernmentDepartment of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government
7 Ely Place, Dublin 2.7 Ely Place, Dublin 2.
E-mail: E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: Tel: 01-88832901-88832944
Web: Web: www.npws.iewww.npws.ie
www.environ.iewww.environ.ie
Marsh Fritillary survey and Marsh Fritillary survey and monitoringmonitoring
Lifecycle and ecology of the
species
Habitat
Irish status and distribution
Why, when and what to monitor
OutlineOutline
Marsh FritillaryMarsh Fritillary
Lifecycle and EcologyLifecycle and Ecology
LifecycleLifecycle
LifecycleLifecycle
Adults - end of May and June Eggs laid within 1-2 days in single large batch. Foodplant Succisa pratensisLarvae hatch 2-3 weeks laterFeed communally until 3rd instar then hibernate. Resume feeding early spring. Larvae disperse and pupate end of April
HabitatsHabitats
Damp neutral or acid grassland with Blue moor grass Molinia caeruleaCalcareous grasslandDune heathsConditions met on edges of bogs and fens, sand dunes, limestone pavement, tracksidesNOT on improved grassland, intact bogs, deeply flooded sites, woodland
Vegetation & managementVegetation & management
In Wales M24 Molinia - Cirsium dissectum. Most sites grazed or burntIn Scotland acidophilous Molinia mires. Most sites lightly grazedIn Northern Ireland unmanaged, or extensive grazing with cattleRest of Ireland ???
Foodplant - Devil’s-bit Scabious Foodplant - Devil’s-bit Scabious Succisa Succisa pratensispratensis
Abandoned/degraded bogAbandoned/degraded bogLullymore Co KildareLullymore Co Kildare
Abandoned/degraded bogAbandoned/degraded bogMannin/Island Lake, Co MayoMannin/Island Lake, Co Mayo
Calcareous grasslandCalcareous grasslandClooncoose, Co ClareClooncoose, Co Clare
Calcareous grasslandCalcareous grasslandClooncoose, Co ClareClooncoose, Co Clare
Calcareous grasslandCalcareous grasslandParknabinnia, Co ClareParknabinnia, Co Clare
Damp grassland/machairDamp grassland/machairSheskinmore, Co DonegalSheskinmore, Co Donegal
Grazing managementGrazing management
How does Marsh Fritillary occupy a site?
MetapopulationMetapopulation
Always occupied
Never occupied
Occupied 75% of time
Fermanagh – green all sites Fermanagh – green all sites with records; red with records; red
Monitoring Marsh FritillaryMonitoring Marsh Fritillary
Adult short lifecycle and are not mobile. Transects not suitableWebs highly visible, static and directly related to the habitatMonitor in SeptemberRecording can be done in spring to confirm site – also adult surveysSearch patches of scabious for 5 minutes to detect presence
Appearance of the webs – two typical webs in Appearance of the webs – two typical webs in short vegetation. Note the colour and short vegetation. Note the colour and
amorphous shapeamorphous shape
A web in taller vegetation, Sheskinmore Co A web in taller vegetation, Sheskinmore Co Donegal, incorporating dead leaves of the Donegal, incorporating dead leaves of the foodplantfoodplant
Marsh Fritillary web Parknabinnia, Co Clare, Sept Marsh Fritillary web Parknabinnia, Co Clare, Sept 2010. Probably a hibernation web. Note the tight form 2010. Probably a hibernation web. Note the tight form of the web and position (not on Devil’s bit Scabious)of the web and position (not on Devil’s bit Scabious)
Marsh Fritillary webs showing brown colour Marsh Fritillary webs showing brown colour and dirty appearance due to presence of and dirty appearance due to presence of frass and dead leavesfrass and dead leaves
Irish distribution Irish distribution
Vulnerable A2cAnnex II Habitats Directive
Monitoring Marsh FritillaryMonitoring Marsh FritillaryWeb countsWeb counts
Habitat assessmentHabitat assessment
Height of vegetationHeight of vegetation
Aughnadarragh Lough
Derryleckagh
Ballykilbeg0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0-1010-20
20-3030-40
40-5050-60Vegetation Height (cm)
Acknowledgments: Eugenie Regan (NBDC), ButterflyIreland, Caroline Bulman (Butterfly Conservation), Irish Peatland Conservation Council and Jesmond Harding.