Question 1. (a) Researchers measured movement rates of butterflies from a habita

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Question 1. (a) Researchers measured movement rates of butterflies from a habitat patch created at the center of an experimental landscape to four surrounding peripheral patches (see diagram below). All patches were the same size, but not the same shape; one peripheral patch was connected to the central patch by a corridor (P < 0.05; different letters denote groups that are statistically different from one another based on multiple comparisons tests following ANOVA). (b) A different experiment measured movement rates among simple square patches separated by varying distances and either connected (solid line) or not (dashed line) by corridors (P < 0.05 for both distance and connectivity).

A. Consider the movement rates of butterflies between connected and isolated patches in panel (a). What was the effect (if any) of corridors and patch shape (winged versus rectangular) on the proportion of butterflies moving among patches? How did you arrive at your answer?

B. Consider the movement rates of butterflies between connected and isolated patches in panel (b). What was the effect (if any) of interpatch distance and corridors on the proportion of butterflies moving among patches? How did you arrive at your answer?

C. Generally speaking, do the results in panel (b) provide evidence of an interaction between interpatch distance and connectivity (corridors or not)? Explain.

D. Taken together, what do these results suggest about how ecologists should approach spatial planning for conservation? Explain.

Explanation / Answer

A. It can be observed from panel a that proportion of butterflies moved for connected patches was twice the amount for the isolated(winged and rectangular) ones. This illustrates that the connectivity of patches through corridors inhanes movement. However, not much difference is observef in the bar graph of the winged patch and the rectangular. Thus, it can be inferred that the patch shape does not affect movement of the butterflies.

B. As observed from panel b it can be said that the number of butterflies moved corresponding to the increasing distance is considerably higher in the corridores as compared to the isolated patches. Eventhough at increasing distances the movement of butterflies decrease but the decrease is considerably higher for the isolated patches.Thus, it can be concluded that the corridores play a significant role in movement across patches. And the absence of corridores hampers movement in the isolated patches.

C.From panel b observation it can be inferred that the interpatch distance hampers movement if more, however the presence of corridors nullufies this problem and enhance imtetpatch movement.

D.On observing both panel a and b it can be said that corridors in the interpatch area facilitate movement of butterflies. Thus activaties like mating are favoured. Thus hybrids can be easily produced, which can help to maintain genetic diversity and the sustainability of the species. Thus, the ecologists must plan the patches in the model of connected patches for conservation.

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