Moderate mobility and high density in a small area: the population ecology of the marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia in Transylvania (Romania)

The Natura 2000 network is one of the most important tools for nature conservation in the EU. Therefore, knowledge of the ecology of the species listed on the Habitats Directive annexes is of particular relevance. One of these species is the butterfly Euphydryas aurinia. Much is already known about the ecology of this species at the European level, but information on Romania is scarce. Therefore, in a study area northwest of Cluj, the species was intensively studied in a mark-release-recapture study over its entire flight period. The investigated population harboured many individuals and had a high density. The dispersal behaviour of the individuals was somewhat more pronounced than in Mediterranean and partly also high alpine populations, but roughly comparable to other populations of the nominotypic subspecies. Overall, the ecological differences to Central and Western European populations were not very pronounced, and many of the conservation-relevant statements on this species in Central Europe should also be largely valid in Romania.

Automated summary

The Natura 2000 network is an important tool for conservation in the EU, and understanding the ecology of species listed on the Habitats Directive annexes is crucial. This study focused on the butterfly Euphydryas aurinia, investigating its ecology in a specific area in Romania. The population studied had a high density and showed some differences in dispersal behavior compared to other populations, but overall, the ecological differences to Central and Western European populations were not significant. The study suggests that many conservation statements for this species in Central Europe are also valid in Romania.