Status of the regal fritillary (Speyeria idalia) and effects of fire management on its abundance in northeastern Kansas, USA
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Published source details
Powell A., Busby W.H. & Kindscher K. (2007) Status of the regal fritillary (Speyeria idalia) and effects of fire management on its abundance in northeastern Kansas, USA. Journal of Insect Conservation, 11, 299-308.
Published source details Powell A., Busby W.H. & Kindscher K. (2007) Status of the regal fritillary (Speyeria idalia) and effects of fire management on its abundance in northeastern Kansas, USA. Journal of Insect Conservation, 11, 299-308.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Use prescribed fire to maintain or restore disturbance in grasslands or other open habitats Action Link |
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Use prescribed fire to maintain or restore disturbance in grasslands or other open habitats
A replicated, site comparison study in 2005 in 87 remnant prairies in Kansas, USA (Powell et al. 2007) found that recently burned prairies had fewer regal fritillaries Speyeria idalia than prairies which had not been burned for at least a year. There were fewer regal fritillaries on prairies which had been burned since the last growing season (0.9 individuals/100 m) than on prairies which were unburned in that time (3.2 individuals/100 m). However, the presence of fritillaries at a site was similar between burned (16/21 sites) and unburned (54/66 sites) prairies. Eighty-seven tallgrass prairie remnants (0.9–53.9 ha) were managed by either burning (usually in April), cutting once/year in July, or grazing. In June 2005, signs of recent fire were used to classify sites at recently burned (since autumn 2004) or unburned in that time. In June 2005, regal fritillaries were surveyed along transects (130–1,300 m long), >30 m from the edge of the prairie.
(Summarised by: Andrew Bladon)
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