Quino checkerspot butterfly

[Neil Jones]

In article <9903229221.AA922126519 at smtp.power-one.com>
           fred_heath at power-one.com  writes:

>         To answer Neil Jone's earlier question, this article says that all 
>      pending development from San Diego to Ventura County (just north and 
>      east of L.A.) needs to show that there are no Quino Checkerspots on 
>      the land before development can proceed. Although a number of survey's 
>      were done last year in reasonable habitat (many came up negative 
>      except in a few places in Riverside and San Diego counties). 

This is not particularly good. The evidence for metapopulation
systems in E. editha is conclusive. You just need to look at the work
on The Bay Checkerspot E. e. bayensis  near San Francisco.

For those who do not know a metapopulation is a system of colonies within
patches of habitat which periodically go extinct individaully and are 
recolonised from their neighbours. It is a consequence of the mathematics
that with virtual certainty some patches will be empty.
The absence of the buttefly from a site at any one point in time is not
evidence of a site lacking in importance.

>         I almost feel sorry for the developers because any surveys done 
>      this year (a relative drought year with few of any species flying) may 
>      not be acceptable even if no evidence is found of the butterflies 
>      presence. 
>         The article mentions (and I can not vouch for the accuracy of this 
>      article or even, for that matter, my interpretation of the material 
>      presented) that Rudi Mattoni feels that the focus should be on 
>      protecting and enhancing habitat which we know is prime for the 
>      butterfly (either because butterflies have been noted there or there 
>      is much of the foodplant (a plantain)) and not tying up every 
>      development in S.Calif.

It would seem that this is the approach to take,but patches of poorer habitat
in the vicinity of good patches should also be protected.


>      At first this sounds maybe a touch 
>      pro-development, but understand that the backlash from an unreasonable 
>      holding up of all development might be far worse in the long run. 

I have met Rudi Mattoni. I would not say that he is pro-development.

Incidentally the emphasis here in the UK is begining to show signs of going
towards "Sustainable Development". i.e Development which does not deprive
future generations of resources.


>      
>                                                            ----Fred
> 
> ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________> Subject: Quino checkerspot butterfly 
> Author:  <Cicndela at aol.com> at -INTERNET-MAIL
> Date:    3/21/99 9:36 AM
> 
> 
>      
>      
>      
> There is an article in Real Estate section of the Los Angeles Times on the 
> Quino checkerspot butterfly.
>      
>      
> 
> 

-- 
Neil Jones- Neil at nwjones.demon.co.uk http://www.nwjones.demon.co.uk/
"At some point I had to stand up and be counted. Who speaks for the
butterflies?" Andrew Lees - The quotation on his memorial at Crymlyn Bog
National Nature Reserve