Abstract

Loss of habitat and fragmentation is the main cause of reductions in butterfly populations and also decreases genetic diversity, dispersal, and increases extinction risk. Conservation efforts so far have not formally included understanding population dynamics such as space and time: continuation of these kinds of activities could increase the population level of conservation content to use in reduced habitat patches. This study uses metapopulation theory explicitly focusing on local extinction, colonization, and processes connectivity; in habitat fragmentation conservation we better understand the dynamics and can manage target populations. Habitat quality, patch size, and the distance between patches were modelled to predict persistence measures and identify priority patches for conservation interventions. The metapopulation approach is compared to traditional single population management actions whereby habitat management only or habitat quality alone, for example, with an increase in connectivity at the landscape scale level without reconciling the spatial distribution of the population to the extent possible. Data was used to compare each approach to use in population viability analysis and to modelling dispersal for three butterflies species with different mobility function traits (e.g. Low, moderate, and high mobility). Our results indicate that using a metapopulation based strategy for the management of butterfly populations can yield significant increases in long-term persistence probabilities (up to 35%!), particularly for species with moderate mobility. Priority management actions include, but are not limited to, conservation actions to enhance the value of stepping-stone areas, increased availability of corridors, and conservation of central larger patches. Integrating spatial and temporal population dynamics into management plans produces better butterfly metapopulations and generates a template for similar applications in other fragmented animal taxa.