Butterflies in and for conservation: Trends and Prospects

Abstract

Butterflies serve as a focal group in conservation worldwide, not only in terms of the efforts toward their protection, but also in terms of their wide use as bioindicators for identifying ecological trends and for advancing conservation theory. Further, significant involvement of scientists in applied-conservation is aided by the public's interest in butterflies. In this introductory paper to the compendium we delineate several areas where the vast knowledge on butterflies, or their charisma, can be used to advance conservation. These include: (a) integrating small-scale and large-scale approaches; (b) expanding the extent of scientific networks and standardizing conservation approaches; (c) integrating butterflies into global change scenarios; (d) extending the use of models; and (e) strengthening the link between science and applied conservation. A main aim of this compendium it to advance the latter.

Keywords:

• butterflies
• species protection
• focal taxa
• bioindicators
• linking science and conservation
• public involvement
• advancing conservation theory