Browsing by Subject "lanttuperhonen"

Dispersal is a vital life-history trait in terms of species survival, reproduction, and persistence, among others. We know that temporal and spatial differences in the environment alter the risks and rewards involved in dispersal, thus influencing dispersal behaviour and ability. Less known, however, is how exactly seasonal shifts and land use together affect dispersal ability. Butterflies are a well-known and ecologically important study group whose traits are majorly influenced by environmental conditions. Here, I study how the dispersal ability of the green veined white butterfly (Pieris napi) is influenced by when they fly, as well as land use in their local habitat. I collected butterflies of two subsequent generations during the late spring and summer of 2023 in the Åland archipelago (Finland). I then measured the flight metabolic rates and forewing lengths of these butterflies to estimate their dispersal ability. The results described here indicate that P. napi females flying in late spring and early summer are more capable of dispersing than those flying later in the summer. Land use had seemingly no effect on P. napi dispersal ability. Identifying the factors that influence dispersal is key in understanding and securing the future for species in a changing world.