Population Biology of Checkerspot Butterflies and the Preservation of Global Biodiversity Author(S): Paul R
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Nordic Society Oikos Population Biology of Checkerspot Butterflies and the Preservation of Global Biodiversity Author(s): Paul R. Ehrlich Source: Oikos, Vol. 63, Fasc. 1 (Feb., 1992), pp. 6-12 Published by: Wiley on behalf of Nordic Society Oikos Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3545510 . Accessed: 19/11/2014 10:03 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. Wiley and Nordic Society Oikos are collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Oikos. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 149.119.156.187 on Wed, 19 Nov 2014 10:03:50 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions OIKOS 63: 6-12. Copenhagen1992 Populationbiology of checkerspot butterflies and thepreservation ofglobal biodiversity Paul R. Ehrlich Ehrlich,P. R. 1992. Populationbiology of checkerspotbutterflies and the preserva- tion of global biodiversity.- Oikos 63: 6-12. Long-termresearch on Euphydryaspopulations has yielded much insightinto the requirementsfor conserving invertebrates. It also, however,has shownthat too much time is requiredto obtain such insightsspecies by species to preserveglobal biodi- versity.Instead, quick samplingmethods must be devised to take inventoriesof the biota in prospectivereserves, planning use patternsin thosereserves, and monitoring the results.Conservation biologists have about a decade to develop and deploy such systemsif they are to play a significantrole in preventingthe loss of morethan half of terrestrialbiodiversity. P. R. Ehrlich, Centerfor ConservationBiology, Dept of Biological Sci., Stanford Univ., Stanford,CA 94305, USA. This paper addresses a series of points that have The species emergedfrom the combined work of our researchgroup approach to biodiversity in two seeminglydisparate areas: long-termfield and In the public mind,the biodiversitycrisis is one of loss laboratoryresearch on the populationbiology of butter- of species. This view is embodied in the lists of en- flies, especially of the checkerspotEuphydryas editha dangeredspecies producedby both governmentalbod- (Nymphalidae: Nymphalinae),and policy researchon ies and nongovernmentalorganizations, in the United the preservationof biodiversityand the maintenanceof States' Endangered Species Act, and in the publicity the ecosystemservices that depend upon it (Ehrlichand given to species on the brinkof extinctionsuch as the Ehrlich1981). Here I discusssome of the conclusionsI black rhinoand Californiacondor. This approachis also have drawn frommore than three decades of work in rootedin the scientificliterature, where the traditionof these two fields. My most importantconclusion is dis- focusingon species diversityas the measure of biodi- tressing.The sortof intensive,species-focused research versityis well entrenched(e.g., MacArthur1972; but that I and my colleagues have carried out on Euphy- see Hendricksonand Ehrlich1971). dryasappears to have a verylimited future in conserva- As usefulas a species-basedapproach to biodiversity tionbiology. Instead, ifa substantialportion of remain- has been, it suffersfrom numerous drawbacks. While it ing biodiversityis to be conserved,detailed studiesof is clear thatby farthe largestnumber of animalspecies singlespecies mustbe replaced with"quick and dirty" live in terrestrialhabitats, especially in tropicalmoist methodsof evaluatingentire ecosystems, designing re- forests(Wilson 1989), it is equally evidentthat propor- serves to protectthem, and determiningwhether those tionatelymuch greaterdiversity of phyla and classes is reservesare working. foundin the relativelyspecies-poor oceans (May 1989). I'll say no more about this aspect of diversityhere, except to point out that fromthe perspectiveof biol- ogists,the worldwould be a muchpoorer place without Accepted13 November1990 (D OIKOS 6 OIKOS 63:1 (1992) This content downloaded from 149.119.156.187 on Wed, 19 Nov 2014 10:03:50 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions cephalopods, loriciferans,pycnogonids, ophiuroids, 1986, Murphyet al. 1990, Thomas et al. 1990). If pop- and the like. Whetheror not theycan provideus with ulationsare conserved,then species are conserved(but economic benefitsor play crucial roles in ecosystems, not necessarilyvice versa). Our group's long-termre- unusual organismsare fascinatingand help us to under- searchon checkerspotbutterflies (Euphydryas) has pro- stand the possible avenues thatcan be taken by evolu- vided considerableinsight into the causes and conse- tion. quences of populationextinction, and thereforeinto a wide arrayof global conservationissues. The importanceof populationdiversity The need to conserveplants and Toward the other end of the scale, the importanceof populationdiversity is oftenoverlooked. First of all, the invertebrates genetic and ecological diversityamong populations Beforediscussing Euphydryas in more detail,I'd like to helps bufferspecies againstextinction. Geographically emphasize the great need to shiftthe emphasisin the circumscribedspecies withlittle population diversity- conservationcommunity from the protectionof "charis- especially island species - have proven highlyextinc- maticmegavertebrates" to the protectionof smalleror tion-prone.Population diversityis also extremelyim- less spectacular organisms.Everyone concerned with portantto the abilityof species to provide goods and conservationwants to see the panda survive,but from services needed by humanity.Substantial genetic di- the viewpointof both pandas and people the preserva- versityis required,for instance, in potentialcrop plants tion of more obscure organismsis crucial. Maintaining and theirrelatives in order to permitthem firstto be the diversityof plantsis, of course,the keyto the entire developed intosatisfactory crops and thento keep up in enterpriseof securingthe futureof the rest of organic the coevolutionaryraces theyrun withtheir predators diversityand of humansociety. Without bamboos there and parasites. And if the population of Engelmann would be no pandas; withoutthree kinds of grasses,Zea spruce trees (Picea engelmannii)in a watershedis de- mays,Oryza sativa,and Triticumspp. (whichhave been stroyed,with it will go the flood-controlservice of the developed into maize, rice, and wheat), therewould be subalpineecosystem. It will thenbe of littlecomfort to no civilizationas we know it. those drowned downstreamthat the species is in no Insects and otherterrestrial arthropods are also cru- dangerof extinction. cial componentsof the entireweb of life(Gilbert 1980, Our work with Euphydryasbutterflies has shown Wilson 1987). Withoutinsects and theirrelatives, the clearlythe significanceof populationdiversity to prob- livingworld would be unrecognizable.Loss of the polli- lems of conservation(Singer 1971, Gilbertand Singer nation and seed dispersalservices performed by insects 1973, Ehrlichet al. 1975, McKechnie et al. 1975, Ehr- and the absence of insectherbivory would dramatically lich and Murphy1987, Murphyand Weiss 1991a). Pop- alter (and pauperize) plant communitiesin ways that ulationsof Euphydryaseditha, for example, differfrom are difficultto imagine. The absence of insects and in one another genotypes,phenotypes, phenologies, use mites,which along withthe nematodescould comprise of resources, and flightbehavior (Singer 1971, 1972, more than 95% of species diversity(May 1989), would White and Singer 1974, Ehrlich et al. 1975). If this reverberatethrough food webs, changingsoil faunas of species herbivorousinsect is to be conserved,knowl- and fertility,exterminating most species of birds and edge of the biology of individualpopulations will be muchof the remainderof Earth's terrestrialvertebrate essential - since phenomena that threatenone pop- faunaas well as manyfreshwater fishes. The loss of ants ulation will not necessarilythreaten another. This was alone would completelyunravel tropical-rainforest eco- clearlydemonstrated the by varied responsesof groups systems(in which ants are key herbivoresand preda- of E. editha to populations the Californiadrought of tors) and cause untoldhavoc in most otherecosystems 1975-77 al. (Ehrlich et 1980). It should also be noted (Gilbert 1980, Holldobbler and Wilson 1990). that sort the of population diversitypresented by E. Insects and other terrestrialarthropods, after all, editha can be of considerablesignificance in questions comprisethe vast majorityof organicdiversity, with the related to of delivery ecosystemservices, control of possible addition of the stillpoorly-known nematodes and of pests, harvesting economicallyimportant spe- (May 1989). Indeed, in termsof species diversity,all the cies. It is clear fromour for work, instance,that within a restcould almostbe considereda side issue. Also, most singlespecies some populationsmay have the capacity insectsare herbivorous(Erwin 1982); one could there- to be more effective crop pollinators(Murphy 1984) or foreview Euphydryasas representingthe verycore of more dangerouscrop pests, and thatsustainable yields biodiversity. may varygreatly between populations. Second, withtrivial exceptions, the processof species extinctionis actuallya complex process