Spring 2008 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society

Conservation Matters: Contributions from the Conservation Committee NatureServe and the Natural Heritage Program Network John Shuey, Chair of the Conservation Committee 1505 North Delaware Street, #200, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202-2418 [email protected]

NatureServe and state and provincial “last of the least and best of the rest” animals, and ecosystems, and includes Natural Heritage Programs have a approach. The data were used to guide the development of information huge positive impact on lepidopteran conservation actions, and Heritage products, data management tools, and conservation in the Western Hemis- Program data served as the under- conservation services to help meet phere. Yet lepidopterists are largely pinnings of many state nature preserve local, national, and global conservation unaware how these two intertwined systems and TNC’s global acquisition needs. NatureServe coordinates the entities operate, nor do most of us and stewardship efforts. As this basic framework that guides this appreciate the immense impact they network expanded to include Canada activity, ensuring that there is global have on Lepidoptera conservation in and Latin America, natural heritage data quality and proper interpretation. North America and much of Latin programs became the recognized source This results in objective scientific America. Every state and province in for comprehensive and detailed information about species and northern North America has a Natural information on rare and endangered ecosystems that is used by all sectors Heritage Program embedded in species and threatened ecosystems, of society—conservation groups, government or a university, and relied upon by government agencies, government agencies, corporations, together they inventory, catalogue, and corporations, and the conservation academia, and the public—to make support conservation of the rarest community alike. No environmental informed decisions about managing our species and the most outstanding impact statement is complete without natural resources. elements of the natural diversity in their a Heritage data review. TNC, which had How does this all relate to Lepidoptera state or province. This applies to entire provided scientific and technical support conservation? The underlying Heritage countries in Latin America. These to the network, transferred this role to methodology was designed from the elements of natural diversity include all NatureServe in 1994, along with start to support a “coarse filter / fine the natural communities native to a professional staff, databases, and filter” approach to building a region as well as those plants and responsibility for the scientific complimentary system of conservation animals which are so rare that they standards and procedures under which reserves. Coarse filters are intact need special conservation attention. the network operates. ecological systems that, if effectively Natural Heritage Programs follow NatureServe (www.NatureServe.org), conserved, protect the majority of methodology developed by The Nature a non-profit membership-based organ- species in the system. The coarse filter Conservancy (TNC) which helped to ization, represents an international idea is simple – conserve the best establish the first state Natural network of biological inventories— examples of ALL ecological systems in Heritage Program in 1974. Over the known as Natural Heritage Programs a region, and you are likely to conserve next two decades, The Nature Con- or Conservation Data Centers— the majority of all species on a regional servancy and a collection of public and operating in all 50 U.S. states, Canada, basis as well. Heritage data doesn’t just private partners built a network of Latin America and the Caribbean. tell us the names of the communities Heritage Programs in the United States Although every Heritage Program is and where they are, but also includes to collect and manage data about the unique, operating within a defined detailed assessments of each site’s status and distribution of species and geographic area and variously housed ecological integrity and long-term ecosystems of conservation concern. As within some institutional setting, they viability, ensuring that sites with the originally envisioned, Heritage Pro- are focused on gathering the infor- best chances of maintaining their grams were designed to identify where mation required to protect natural complete communities, moths and the best examples of habitats that resources in their region. That work butterflies included, are priorities for occurred in a region, as well as the best goes beyond collecting and managing conservation. A complementary system sites for conserving rare species – the detailed local information on plants, of reserves (a reserve system that

Volume 50, Number 1 17 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Volume 50, Number 1 protects multiple examples of all Lepidopterists’ Society members Dale American Midland Naturist 153:117- ecological systems in a region) plays an Schweitzer and Paul Opler. Go to 127). obvious and intuitive role in conserving NatureServe.org and take a look at a Planning in the Central Tallgrass Lepidoptera species, both common and federally listed species abstract and you Prairie Ecoregion is similar to rare. will almost certainly be surprised at the ecoregional planning efforts across the There are, however, species that slip depth of the conservation text provided. entire US, relied on Heritage data from though the coarse conservation net. In It’s also worth noting something that six Midwestern states to identify the the US and Canada, Heritage Programs the NatureServe data are not – a best opportunities for conserving the track these species as well. These rare complete record of occurrence data for finest examples of ecological species form the “fine filter” of all species of plants and animals. The communities in this agriculturally conservation. In North America, these magnitude of such a database would be dominated region. Just as importantly, species can be found in almost every overwhelming. NatureServe data are Heritage data were used to identify taxonomically well known group, but limited to species of conservation clusters of sites where restoration in Latin America and the Caribbean it concern, those ranked G1-G3 and in the would have the greatest impact for is primarily focused on vertebrates – a states where they are imperiled, species conserving imperiled prairie systems reflection of the immense species ranked S1-S3 as well (see side bar for and species. At one of those sites, diversity present in tropical systems, an explanation of G- and S- ranks). Kankakee Sands in Illinois and resources, capacity of staff, and status Where Heritage Programs exist, they Indiana, almost 12 square miles of sand of knowledge. Although most rare often play a quintessential role in prairie restoration is designed to heal Lepidoptera use rare ecological conservation. For example, the Indiana a landscape that spans over 30,000 communities and are likely to be picked Department of Natural Resources acres. The site supports an intact up in sites identified as coarse filters, manages a system of 210 State Nature prairie and savanna lepidopteran there are exceptions. In the Midwest, Preserves that is explicitly designed to community, including the eastern most Mitchell’s satyr is a good example – it protect representative examples of all prairie-inhabiting Speyeria idalia uses a fairly uncommon habitat type, terrestrial community types across the population. wetland system known technically as state. A few years ago, I assessed how In Latin America, national strategies North-Central Interior Shrub- well this system performs relative to for conservation have often been Graminoid Alkaline Fen, but presence conserving state-rare butterflies – and underpinned by Heritage data. For of the butterfly is not necessarily it does exceptionally well (Shuey, 2005, example, heritage data was used in correlated with botanical composition or obvious measures of botanical Interpreting NatureServe Conservation Status Ranks habitat quality. Conservation efforts that focused exclusively on the best (extracted directly from the NatureServe Web Page - http://www.natureserve.org/ examples of this wetland type would explorer/ranking.htm#interpret) conserve some amazing habitat, but just The conservation status of a species or community is designated by a number a few populations of Mitchell’s satyr. from 1 to 5, preceded by a letter reflecting the appropriate geographic scale of More importantly, we would miss some the assessment (G = Global), N = National, and S = Subnational). The numbers of the best opportunities to protect have the following meaning: populations of the satyr, which often occur in mundane wetlands. 1 = critically imperiled To accommodate this potential over- 2 = imperiled sight, heritage programs track 3 = vulnerable to extirpation or extinction individual species which are thought to 4 = apparently secure be globally rare, and state programs usually track state rare species as well. 5 = demonstrably widespread, abundant, and secure. Again, these data go beyond simple dots For example, G1 would indicate that a species is critically imperiled across its on maps and usually include some entire range (i.e., globally). In this sense the species as a whole is regarded as assessment of population health if being at very high risk of extinction. A rank of S3 would indicate the species is known. NatureServe has developed vulnerable and at moderate risk within a particular state or province, even extensive guidance for assessing though it may be more secure elsewhere. populations of species or guilds of Extinct or missing species and ecological communities are designated with either species, as well as an overview of the an “X” (presumed extinct or extirpated) if there is no expectation that they still conservation issues surrounding the survive, or an “H” (possibly extinct or extirpated) if they are known only from species – most of this text for the historical records but there is a chance they may still exist. Lepidoptera was written by

18 Spring 2008 Spring 2008 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society

Columbia to identify sites that, if toward more charismatic species or www.natureserve.org/visitLocal/ conserved, would protect ecological Federally Endangered species (a index.jsp). Most state programs have systems and species that were poorly designation which inevitably results in (on-line) data forms that can be printed represented on conservation lands. In federal funding for inventory work). and submitted. While the data fields are response, Columbia created two new State-level rankings for Lepidoptera are a bit overwhelming, I always keep the protected areas in 2007, Complejo Doña often based on best guesses with information I provide lean but accurate. Juana y Cascabel National Park variable accuracy that is refined only Once incorporated into the (240,000 acres) and Serranía de as new data emerge. Population trends, geographically referenced heritage Churumbelos National Park (287,000 especially slow and steady changes, database, your contributions are then acres). These two parks protect 825 usually go unobserved by Heritage staff available for use in conservation square miles of moist and tropical cloud until the situation is obvious. For planning, environmental impact forests in the Columbian Andes— example Cyllopsis gemma in Indiana is assessments and formulating habitat habitat that is home to rare and on the increase and spreading management decisions. endangered species such as the northward – its S2 rank probably needs The alternative – not sharing our spectacled bear, the mountain tapir, the to be amended to reflect this collective knowledge – is tantamount to Andean condor, and the puma, as well improvement in fortune for the species. helping those who would destroy or as 461 species of birds. No doubt both Similarly, no one has seen Chlosyne develop high-quality habitats. I’ve parks are home to amazing harrisii in Indiana in decades, it may always argued that our membership has assemblages of Neotropical butterflies, well be extirpated despite its S2 a major role to play in conservation – moths, and other wildlife. ranking. that our collective experience and We, the members of the Lepidopterists’ Our members are in the field constantly, knowledge has more value than Society, can help the network to be looking for unusual species and reductionist dot-maps in field guides. If more effective in conserving insects and sampling interesting habitats. Every we ever expect to leverage our insights other invertebrates that we find dear. heritage program in Canada and the US to exert some measure of influence with Most Heritage biologists are plant would love to know what we collectively conservation organizations, then we ecologists, botanists or vertebrate know about global and state ranked need to engage. The primary threat to biologists. It’s a rare program that has species. And it is pretty easy to move Lepidoptera diversity is habitat loss, a staff member dedicated to insects, or that knowledge to them - a simple and we, the members of the even staff with appreciable knowledge phone call or email to your local Lepidopterists’ Society, can actually do of invertebrate biology. Hence the data heritage program is likely all it takes something about it. for global and state imperiled to get the ball moving (find contact Lepidoptera is thin, usually biased information at http:// An Undescribed Species of Carystus Pelham Catalogue Continued from pp. 9 The long-awaited Catalogue of the Burns, J. M. and D. H. Janzen. 2005. Pan- Lewis, H. L. 1973. Butterflies of the World. Follett, Butterflies of the United States and neotropical genus Venada (Hesperiidae: Chicago. 312pp. Canada, by Jonathan P. Pelham was Pyrginae) is not monotypic: four new species Mielke, O. H. H. 2005. Catalogue of the American published in March, 2008. Published occur on one volcano in the Area de Hesperioidea: Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera). Vol. Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica. 4. Hesperiinae: 1: Adlerodea - Lychnuchus. as Volume 40 of the Journal of Journal of the Lepidopterists’ Society 59:19- Sociedade Brasileiro de Zoologia, Curitiba. Research on the Lepidoptera, this 34. pp. 775-1058. incredible resource can be ordered from Evans, W. H. 1955. A catalogue of the American Mielke, O. H. H. and M. N. Casagrande. 2002. BioQuip for $25.00. Hesperiidae in the British Museum. Part IV. Notas taxonômicas em Hesperiidae Hesperiinae and Megathyminae. London: neotropicais, com descrições de novos taxa The catalogue is 648 pages long and lists British Museum (Natural History). 499pp. (Lepidoptera). Revista brasileira de Zoologia all the taxa and their synonyms of all Hayward, K. J. 1950. Insecta, Lepidoptera 19(suppl. 1):27-76. (Rhopalocera), Familia Hesperiidarum, Mielke, O. H. H. and M. N. Casagrande. 2004. butterfly species found in North Subfamilia Hesperiinarum. Pp. 1-388 (plates Duas novas espécies de Alera (Lepidoptera, America north of Mexico. 1-26) in H. R. Descole (ed.), Genera et Species Hesperiidae, Hesperiinae). Revista brasileira Animalium Argentinorum, Vol. 2. Guillermo de Zoologia 21:913-918. Kraft, Buenos Aires. Warren, A. D. 2000. Hesperioidea (Lepidoptera). Hebert, P. D. N., E. H. Penton, J. M. Burns, D. Pp. 535-580 in J. E. Llorente Bousquets, E. H. Janzen and W. Hallwachs. 2004. Ten González Soriano and N. Papavero (eds.), species in one: DNA barcoding reveals cryptic Biodiversidad, Taxonomía y Biogeografía de species in the neotropical skipper butterfly Artrópodos de México: Hacia una Síntesis de Astraptes fulgerator. Proceedings of the su Conocimiento. Vol. II. UNAM and National Academy of Sciences USA CONABIO, Mexico City. 676pp 101:14812-14817.

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