The Population Biology of Alpine Insects, Plants, and Their Interactions 

Our group is very collaborative. If our data would be helpful in your research please contact one of the principal investigators.

 

Summary of Data

Since 1995 we have been collecting data for 21 subpopulations of Parnassius smintheus along Jumpingpound and Lusk Ridges. Individual mark-recapture data is available for 1995-97 and for all populations since 2001. Between 1997-2000 population size was estimated using transect surveys. For meadows I-J-K transect surveys were conducted from 1997-2002.

 

Since 2003 we have collected individual mark recapture data for several other butterflies inhabiting the meadows. We have data for Western White (Pontia occidentails), Milbert's Tortioseshell (Nymphalis milbertii), Cabbage White (Pieris rapae), Mustard White (Pieris oleracea), Clouded Sulfur (Colias philodice), Nastes Sulphur (Colias nastes), Mead's Sulphur (Colias meadii), Christina sulphur (Colias christina), Northern Marble (Euchloe marble), and Large Marble (Euchloe ausonides). Note that for some species data are limited.

 

We have density, flowering, and herbivory data for Lance-leaved stonecrop (Sedum lanceolatum) and Ledge stonecrop (Rhodiola integrifolia). For early years we have mapped density for S. lanceolatum in each meadow. In later years we have similar non-spatially explicit data as well as several permanent quadrats in 3 meadows.

 

Each year since 2003, we have also conducted nectar flower surveys in meadows. Generally these are conducted twice per year. We record the density of flowers used by butterflies in these meadows (see Matter et al. 2009). Similar additional, but limited, data are available for meadows along Powderface Ridge.

 

Meteorological data (temperature and light intensity) are also collected in all meadows each year. These data can provide an estimate of snow cover during the winter. Since late summer 2010 we have been collecting temp., RH, PAR, precipitation, wind speed and direction at one site on Jumpingpound Ridge, Kananaskis, Alberta (50.95830°N, 114.88095°W, 2109m).

 

 

Basic population data for P. smintheus are archived at:

 

Matter, S.F., N. Keyghobadi & J. Roland. 2014. Ten years of abundance data within a spatial population network of the alpine butterfly, Parnassius smintheus. Ecology 95: 2985.

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University of Cincinnati Hydra Database (Link)

 

Other data including GIS layers are available from the PIs. Please contact them if interested.