Our MSc students Ronja, Ambra and Hedda have completed an intensive field season on Gotland with remarkable results. They marked over 5,000 large blue (Phengaris arion) and 2,000 marsh fritillaries (Euphydryas aurinia), while also conducting detailed studies of Apollo (Parnassius apollo) larvae and adults.
Highlights include extensive larval movement observations, unusually long flight periods, and the collection of Myrmica ant samples crucial for understanding large blue ecology. The team also gathered a comprehensive dataset of audio recordings, temperature and light measurements, and Malaise trap samples from multiple sites across Gotland.
The scale of this effort will allow robust population estimates and movement analyses, providing unprecedented insights into the ecology of these conservation-priority butterflies. Data analysis is ongoing, and further updates will follow.
