M. Gimena Pizzarello
Other projects
23 Aug 2022
If You Plant it, They Will Come: Reconnecting Highland Grassland Habitats for Butterflies of the Argentine Pampas
The Pampas grasslands of Argentina have been severely modified by humans due to intense agricultural use over the past century, and as a consequence have suffered drastic reductions, existing only small portions of native vegetation. The highland grasslands of the Tandilia mountain range act as important refuges of Pampas grassland biodiversity, acting as biodiversity islands within an agricultural and urban matrix. The central and largest remnants of highland grassland habitat exist around the city of Tandil (Buenos Aires, Argentina). We built our first Rufford project around filling in the gaps of knowledge related to the biology and ecology of Neotropical grassland butterflies, particularly of these highland grasslands, as well as sharing this knowledge with our local community and promoting enthusiasm towards grassland butterflies and their habitats. In this project we look to (a) identify Prime Butterfly Areas within highland grassland remnant patches and peri-urban green spaces surrounding Tandil, (b) evaluate the effects of increasing habitat connectivity within the city by planting native host plants and nectar resources typical of highland grassland habitat in green areas within the city, particularly in schoolyards, and (c) promote awareness of the threats faced by butterflies with regards to their habitat, the native Pampean grasslands, while engaging the local community, particularly schools and community vegetable gardens, in conservation efforts.
A Cremita (Panca subpunctuli) butterfly within a “Prime Butterfly Area” of the highland grassland of the Tandilia mountains. ©M. Gimena Pizzarello.
Our project will continue to shed light on the diversity of butterfly assemblages, including the abundance, composition, and distribution of these important components of this grassland ecosystem. Our analysis will allow us to identify habitat areas with a high potential for the conservation of butterfly assemblages, and biodiversity in general. The spatial distribution of these assemblages will help us evaluate the role of remnant highland grassland patches, as well as that of public peri-urban areas in the conservation of butterfly species, and ultimately, that of their habitat. We aim to continue to promote awareness and engage the public on the importance of native species of flora in the region, and implement “butterfly (biodiversity) gardens” which act as stepping stones, connecting not only butterfly assemblages, but animal communities in general, particularly within cities and suburbs. Through the implementation of these butterfly gardens, we hope to promote public awareness of the threats that butterflies and the highland grasslands of the Tandilia mountain range face, and continue to offer conservation tools that serve a purpose both biologically, and socially.
Header: A Cremita (Panca subpunctuli) butterfly within a “Prime Butterfly Area” of the highland grassland of the Tandilia mountains. ©M. Gimena Pizzarello.