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M.C.C. Rodrigues et al. 2010. Contribution to the characterization of Gentiana pneumonanthe L. and Maculinea alcon L.
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In studies developed in central Europe by Schlick-Steiner et al., 2004, the author concluded that
Maculinea rebellion, produces or secretes a complex substance whose composition is based on
carbohydrates, which attracts the ants of the genus Myrmica. These ants, when found the larvae,
in their third instar, in soil, take and lead them to the ants’ nest and feed them over the winter
until the pupal stage and chrysalis. Over this instar, there is no segregation of that substance and
Maculinea rebellion butterfly must leave ants’ nest and fly out.
This secretion, has similar characteristics to the ants odoriferous, which allows the larvae to be
treated as pairs, inside the ants’ nest and is thus safeguarded from serving food to the colony. In
that case, the substance studied, shows a capacity citron multiple of mimicry to the odorous of
the Myrmica species of the region (M. sabuleti and M. schenck), presenting himself as a
chemical strategy to guarantee that at least one of those species, take responsibility for their
introduction.
The aim of this work is to create a GIS to Parque Natural do Alvão, for mapping the current
geographical distribution of Gentiana pneumonanthe L.and for mapping the location of
Maculinea alcon meta-populations, as well traces of their presence (e.g. eggs on flowers)
2. Methodology
In October 2008 and March 2009, research team performed an intensive field work for data
collection and survey, in order to updating GIS with the distribution of Gentiana pneumonanthe
L., the location of nests of Myrmica alobar, the location of Maculinea alcon eggs on flowers
and the capture of butterflies.
This field work was supported by a GIS (Geographical Information System) installed on a PDA
(Personal Digital Assistant) with DGPS (Differential Global Positioning System).
3. Result
Gentiana pneumonanthe grows well in shrub land, with good exposure to sunlight, gentle slopes
and proximity of running water. In the fringe of agricultural land, close to irrigation channels,
which minimises the effects of frost in the winter, it was also noticed its presence.
In almost all the observation, it was notice the presence of Quercus robur and Quercus
pyrenaica trees in the surrounding area.
Many mapped Gentiana pneumonanthe plants evidenced Maculinea alcon eggs presence or
eaten flowers.
It was also noticed that Gentiana pneumonanthe grows well in abandoned agricultural land, but
the development of high shrubs (Genista sp., Erica sp.) make difficult the flowers’ access by
Maculinea alcon, which was evidenced by the eggs’ absence.
4. Discussion
Results from field work and GIS data management and processing enable to state that
Maculinea alcon ecology is characterised by shrub land, with good exposure to sunlight, gentle
slopes and proximity of running water, with Quercus robur and Quercus pyrenaica trees in the
surrounding area.
Due to Maculinea alcon butterfly dimension and flying characteristics, high shrubs make
difficult to access flowers and, this way, eggs’ deposition on flowers.
References
Árnyas, E., Bereczki, J., Tóth, A., Varga, Z., 2005. Results of the mark-release-recapture
studies of a Maculinea rebeli population in the Aggtelek karst (N Hungary) between 2002-
Forest Landscapes and Global Change-New Frontiers in Management, Conservation and Restoration. Proceedings of the IUFRO Landscape Ecology
Working Group International Conference, September 21-27, 2010, Bragança, Portugal. J.C. Azevedo, M. Feliciano, J. Castro & M.A. Pinto (eds.)
2010, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Bragança, Portugal.