著者

小池 伸介 岩井 大輔 佐藤 伸彦 高野 徹

出版者

「野生生物と社会」学会

雑誌

野生生物保護 : Wildlife conservation Japan (ISSN:13418777)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.11, no.1, pp.31-41, 2007-09-10

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We investigated the environmental conditions of Alnus japonica forests as Neozephyrus japonicus habitat along the Arakawa-River, Saitama Prefecture, in 2004 and 2005. N. japonicus was observed in 40 of the 87 forests (46.0%). We measured 11 microhabitat characteristics in each forest and compared them to determine the specific requirements of the butterfly. A. japonica forests inhabited by the butterfly were younger, and the total stem diameter and coverage of flowering plants in June and July were larger than those not inhibited. This suggests that younger trees are suitable for larval growth and that flower abundance in June and July is an important factor. Significant negative correlations were detected between average tree age and total stem diameter and coverage of flowering plants, suggesting that more flowering plants are found in younger forests. This also indicates that younger forests are more suitable for the butterfly. The younger A. japonica forest has more flowering plants than mature forest edges. To conserve and maintain butterfly habitat, we recommend that A. japonica trees be cut down periodically and allowed to regenerate. This approach can be expected to promote young A. japonica forests with many flowering plants, suitable for both the larvae and adults.