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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Rare UK butterflies 'bounce back' | Rare UK butterflies 'bounce back' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| By Victoria Gill Science reporter, BBC Nature | By Victoria Gill Science reporter, BBC Nature |
| Record-breaking temperatures and dry weather in spring last year led to an increase in the numbers of many species of rare butterfly, a study suggests. | |
| The UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and charity Butterfly Conservation said the weather had provided perfect conditions for "spring specialists". | |
| Their study was based on assessments of over 1,000 UK butterfly habitat sites. | Their study was based on assessments of over 1,000 UK butterfly habitat sites. |
| Species that did particularly well included the Duke of Burgundy butterfly - listed as threatened in the UK. | Species that did particularly well included the Duke of Burgundy butterfly - listed as threatened in the UK. |
| Long-term, this species has declined by more than 40% in the last 30 years. | Long-term, this species has declined by more than 40% in the last 30 years. |
| It found that the species bucked that declining trend between 2010 and 2011, increasing in numbers by 65%. | It found that the species bucked that declining trend between 2010 and 2011, increasing in numbers by 65%. |
| Spring butterflies fared particularly well: numbers of grizzled skipper rose by 96% and the pearl-bordered fritillary population leapt by 103%. | Spring butterflies fared particularly well: numbers of grizzled skipper rose by 96% and the pearl-bordered fritillary population leapt by 103%. |
| The much colder weather in the summer was, however, very bad news for more familiar garden species, including the peacock, small tortoiseshell and common blue. | The much colder weather in the summer was, however, very bad news for more familiar garden species, including the peacock, small tortoiseshell and common blue. |
| The populations of all three of these species fell significantly. | The populations of all three of these species fell significantly. |
| Marc Botham from the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology stressed that it was "important to look beyond the short term boost that last year's weather provided." | Marc Botham from the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology stressed that it was "important to look beyond the short term boost that last year's weather provided." |
| "In the long term [many rare species] are still declining," he told BBC Nature. | "In the long term [many rare species] are still declining," he told BBC Nature. |
| "What's important is to have good conservation in place, so that when the weather is good the habitat is there to allow these species to benefit." | "What's important is to have good conservation in place, so that when the weather is good the habitat is there to allow these species to benefit." |
| He pointed out that such targeted conservation - actively managing and improving butterfly habitat - had resurrected some species. | He pointed out that such targeted conservation - actively managing and improving butterfly habitat - had resurrected some species. |
| "The heath fritillary was deemed the next species to become extinct [in Britain]," he said. | "The heath fritillary was deemed the next species to become extinct [in Britain]," he said. |
| Work to preserve the coppiced woodland this species needs in the South East of England has meant that in one particular woodland the species is now "thriving". | Work to preserve the coppiced woodland this species needs in the South East of England has meant that in one particular woodland the species is now "thriving". |
| Dr Tom Brereton, head of monitoring at Butterfly Conservation, said that butterflies relied on "old-fashioned landscapes" that were declining in the UK. | Dr Tom Brereton, head of monitoring at Butterfly Conservation, said that butterflies relied on "old-fashioned landscapes" that were declining in the UK. |
| "We have 58 species in Britain and about 30 of them are restricted to semi-natural habitats," he said, "Ancient woodlands, heathland, sand dunes or marshland - they're all habitats where there hasn't been any agriculture or development. | "We have 58 species in Britain and about 30 of them are restricted to semi-natural habitats," he said, "Ancient woodlands, heathland, sand dunes or marshland - they're all habitats where there hasn't been any agriculture or development. |
| "Targeted conservation [of these habitats] will be the only thing that helps them." | "Targeted conservation [of these habitats] will be the only thing that helps them." |