Research lines

Conservation and endangered species

Our research group works on conservation projects for threatened butterflies in Catalonia. We evaluate their conservation status and the measures necessary to favour their populations. Our team collaborates with different entities in the territory to carry out precise management actions for the benefit of butterflies and their habitats.

Specifically, we collaborate on the project “Microreserves de Papallones ”, and we have also developed guidelines for the design of butterfly gardens. We also contribute to the provision of faunal data to improve knowledge about butterfly communities and the distribution of species in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Andorra.

The Large blue, Phengaris arion, is a vulnerable butterfly in Catalonia, which maintains small populations that are always very local and with a high risk of extinction if the habitat is not properly managed. The MCNG has participated in the development of the management plan for the first micro-reserve of this butterfly in Catalonia.

Recommended references:

• Baudrot, V., Walker, E., Lang, A., Stefanescu, C., Rey, J.-F., Soubeyrand, S., Messéan, A. (2021). When the average hides the risk of Bt-corn pollen on non-target Lepidoptera: Application to Aglais io in Catalonia. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 207. DOI 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111215
• Colom, P., Carreras, D., Stefanescu, C. (2019). Long-term monitoring of Menorcan butterfly populations reveals widespread insular biogeographical patterns and negative trends. Biodiversity and Conservation, 28: 1837-1851. DOI 10.1007/s10531-019-01764-1
• Melero, Y., Stefanescu, C., Pino, J. (2016). General declines in Mediterranean butterflies over the last two decades are modulated by species traits. Biological Conservation, 201: 336-342.
• Pellissier, V., Schmucki, R., Pe’er, G., Aunins, A., Brereton, T.M., Brotons, L., Carnicer, J., Chodkiewicz, T., Chylarecki, P., del Moral, J.C., Escandell, V., Evans, D., Foppen, R., Harpke, A., Heliölä, J., Herrando, S., Kuussaari, M., Kühn, E., Lehikoinen, A., Lindström, A., Moshøj, C.M., Musche, M., Noble, D., Oliver, T.H., Reif, J., Richard, D., Roy, D.B., Schweiger, O., Settele, J., Stefanescu, C., Teufelbauer, N., Touroult, J., Trautmann, S., van Strien, A.J., van Swaay, C.A.M., van Turnhout, C., Vermouzek, Z., Vorisek, P., Jiguet, F., Julliard, R. (2020). Effects of Natura 2000 on nontarget bird and butterfly species based on citizen science data. Conservation Biology. DOI 10.1111/cobi.13434
• Ubach, A., Stefanescu, C. (2022). Prospeccions sistemàtiques de dues espècies amenaçades: revisió de la distribució i estat de conservació de Zegris eupheme i Boloria eunomia a Catalunya. Butlletí de la Societat Catalana de Lepidopterologia, 112: 7-22.

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