Evidence-based National Recovery Plan for Leptidea sinapis (wood white butterfly) in Southern Britain

摘要

We present a key part of the evidence base used to develop a National Recovery Plan for Leptidea sinapis a declining and threatened species in Britain. Knowledge of the current sites has been updated along with the macro- and micro-habitat resource requirements of the species and its autecology to set the basis for a conservation strategy for 2010 and beyond. The three main findings are that: L. sinapis uses a greater diversity of biotopes within and between sites than was previously thought; population dynamics are complex with 2–3 year peaks and troughs of annual abundance indices and two generations per year throughout its range; and dispersal ability is also greater than previously stated. This evidence has been used to develop an Action Plan for 2010 and beyond. The importance of landscape-scale management and effective collaboration between scientists, land managers and volunteers is emphasised.