Alpine Apollos
Some of the most interesting research on these butterflies has examined their movement across the landscape. As we've seen, alpine meadows are usually separated from each other, often by distances of several kilometers.
While some meadows are independently large enough to sustain a healthy butterfly population, others require occasional or even constant 'reinforcements' from surrounding meadows in order for their butterfly populations to remain healthy in the long run.
And regardless of meadow size, the arrival of individuals from other populations mitigates the potentially negative effects of inbreeding and keeps the overall population viable. It follows that movement is vital to the Rocky Mountain Parnassian.
Read full report on Kurt Illerbrun's website.