Conditions for Overcollecting

[Chris J. Durden]

  Regarding the report on Cloudcroft Checkerspot Habitat, I think the
campground mentioned is one I have camped in in the last 3 years. If it is,
it is one of the choicest floral glades in the area, at least in the lower
end below the campground. A busy highway caps the western rim of this
gulch. The best option for preservation of the butterfly habitat would be
to remove the campground AND reinstall it elswhere on less desirable
habitat, and let the floral glade revegetate up valley where the campground
had displaced it. The highway should be expanded on the side away from the
gulch, with careful diversion of pollutant runoff, and a barrier should be
installed on the gulch side of the highway to inhibit vehicle fall into the
valley.
  Regarding this population of *Euphydryas (Occidryas)* whether it is
endemic subspecies or species, its range elswhere in these mountains should
be assayed before restrictions on sampling are imposed. A large portion of
the mountains are included in the Mescalero Apache Reservation, beyond the
jurisdiction of the USFW, if I understand the situation correctly. Not too
long ago a large fire swept through coniferous forest on the reservation,
destroying cover and opening up the area to sheetflood erosion and burial
of the rare gulch wetlands under sediment washed off slopes. This I see as
a far greater hazard to the habitat of this population of *Euphydryas* than
any of the development at Cloudcroft.

At 09:18  1/01/00 -0700, you wrote:
>Some of the comments from the US Fish and Wildlife services contained in
>the recent posting (by Neil) on the potential listing of the Sacramento
>Mountains Checkerspot inspired me to think about the parameters underwhich
>overcollecting can be a serious issue.
>
>I'm interested in the thoughts of others on the Leps-l about which
>factors can make a population vulnerable  to overcollecting.  I'm especially
>interested in examples, either valid or cited by others, where overcollecting
>has caused significant harm to a population.
>
>I'm NOT trying to restart the collecting debate, so please let's start
>the last year of the old millennium with a truce on this issue.  Rather, I
>think that all sides will agree that there are certainly populations where
>modest collecting has at best a trivial effects.  Likewise, I think all
>sides will agree that there can be conditions underwhich very significant
>collecting can have a serious impact.  What are these conditions?  All
>thoughts are welcome.  You can send them to me or post them for the amusement
>of all of the list.
>
>Peace
>
>Bruce
>
>