Chequered Skipper - returning to England?

[David M]

I noticed a twitter link on the UKB home page and opened it to find this:

http://butterfly-conservation.org/48-10 ... H1,DYX9Z,1

I've previously heard rumours that reintroducing palaemon to the English midlands was being considered, but this is the first time I've seen documentary evidence of it...and from BC too (so it surely must be true!)

Wouldn't it be great if this lovely insect were to once again grace the environs of the ancient Rockingham Forest? Let's hope they're successful.

[Tony Moore]

Fascinating stuff! All strength to their collective elbow, says I . Anyone with any other news about the project?

Tony M.

[Lee Hurrell]

This was a pleasant surprise today! It's great news.

Lee

[bugboy]

Excellant news

[David M]

I wonder where they'll take the 'stock' from? Would the Scottish race be able to adapt to the very different conditions in the east Midlands? Perhaps they may repopulate the area with continental stock. It'd be interesting to find out.

[millerd]

Wow. That would be something if it succeeded.

I'd guess they be continental stock because the climate and environment is so different in Scotland, but it would be great to have a more detailed overview of what's being attempted. With the precise detail of where being kept thoroughly secret!

Dave

[bugboy]

I would've thought the only factor whether to use Scottish stock or not would be if they are strong enough to supply enough animals for a release program. I can't see the differance in ecology in the sites being a realistic factor since, one presumes, they will be released in sites that are already deemed suitable for the species based on what we already know about its ecology.

[David M]

Does Pete Eeles' recent venture into pursuing early stages of Chequered Skipper at Glasdrum Wood have anything to do with this?

[Pete Eeles]

I wonder where they'll take the 'stock' from? Would the Scottish race be able to adapt to the very different conditions in the east Midlands? Perhaps they may repopulate the area with continental stock. It'd be interesting to find out.

The stock will come from France, I believe. Their ecological requirements are closer to the extinct English race than the Scottish race.

I also think a reintroduction has been tried before, but was unsuccessful.

Cheers,

- Pete

[Pete Eeles]

Does Pete Eeles' recent venture into pursuing early stages of Chequered Skipper at Glasdrum Wood have anything to do with this?

No!

Cheers,

- Pete

[jasonbirder]

I'm sure its not as simple as either/or but I'd rather limited funds and resources were put into conserving existing species and habitat than a re-introduction scheme...

[bugboy]

I would've thought the only factor whether to use Scottish stock or not would be if they are strong enough to supply enough animals for a release program. I can't see the differance in ecology in the sites being a realistic factor since, one presumes, they will be released in sites that are already deemed suitable for the species based on what we already know about its ecology.

That awkward moment when you re-read something you wrote the day before and realise you didn't make much sense...

[Pete Eeles]

I'm sure its not as simple as either/or but I'd rather limited funds and resources were put into conserving existing species and habitat than a re-introduction scheme...

I'm sure there's much more to it than a simple reintroduction. Specifically, the reintroduction of the Large Blue has resulted in "breakthroughs" in conservation that have been applied the world over. I suspect the same will be true of the Chequered Skipper.

I also suspect that the funds are being provided on the condition that it focuses on a reintroduction, otherwise there wouldn't be any funds at all! I believe that's how the grant system works.

Cheers,

- Pete

[selbypaul]

This is going to be a really interesting story to follow. As far as I've ever read, nobody has yet been able to determine the reason for the English extinction. Given what I've read, it didn't appear to be loss of habitat. My suspicion has therefore always been either parasite or disease. So it'll be interesting to see if the proposed reintroduction is successful.

Does anyone on this site have any details or knowledge/expertise on either:
a) Why the English species went extinct
b) Whether there was a previous attempt at reintroduction, and why that failed? (I have a vague memory that an attempt was made in Chambers Farm Wood in Lincolnshire)?

Thanks
Paul

[Pete Eeles]

Given what I've read, it didn't appear to be loss of habitat.

See http://www.fishecology.ch/publikationen ... vation.pdf: "Extinction of C. palaemon in England is thought to have been caused by habitat loss and fragmentation".

Cheers,

- Pete

[Pete Eeles]

Also - in Butterfly Conservation News issue 60 (1995), there is an article entitled "The Chequered Skipper Returns to England" that discusses the collection of eggs from France and their translocation to England. However, I can't find any subsequent article to discuss progress and suspect the reintroduction failed. The entire affair was covered by Radio 4, Countryfile, and also regional TV, apparently.

Cheers,

- Pete

[William]

I too remember reading something about a Chequered Skipper reintroduction being done a while ago, and subsequently failing - let's hope this one fares better. I think there's a fairly solid argument for re-introducing extinct species like the Chequered Skipper, since they function as flagship species that attract funding and interest for the preservation of habitats that are often good for other species as well, there's lots of work using this phenomenon in more 'iconic' species (the Giant Panda is a classic example), and hopefully it will have similar benefits for British wildlife.

Jeremy Thomas mentions this effect, with Large Blue sites providing good habitat for High Brown Fritillaries, and Narrow-Bordered Bee Hawks in Devon, and I've seen the same thing in Somerset, with Brown Hairstreaks and Chalkhill Blues both making gains across the Poldens thanks to the work of the Large Blue project.

BWs,

William

[David M]

The stock will come from France, I believe. Their ecological requirements are closer to the extinct English race than the Scottish race.

That makes sense. The Scottish race has evolved to survive in very different conditions than the extinct race in the English midlands was accustomed to.

[selbypaul]

Thanks Pete
The article didn't give much evidence of the specifics of what sort of habitat damage and fragmentation had caused the extinction. It felt like more of a supposition than evidence based fact. Does anybody else have any info about what caused the original decline and extinction?
Paul

[cecropia117]

An attempt was made about 10-15 years ago to re introduce the Chequered skipper to Chambers Farm wood in Lincolnshire, using French stock.

This was an 'official' release that failed after only a year or so, and according to local sources was doomed to failure from the start as the habitat was not right.

Maybe advise should be taken from the individuals conducting 'unofficial' releases of Marsh Fritillary, Purple Emperor, Dingy Skipper, Brown Hairstreak, Black Hairstreak, and Marbled White in the same wood that have had various levels of success ranging from OK to outstanding.

Only a thought!