Conservation Assessment of Two Endemic Butterflies (White Mountain Arctic, Oeneis melissa semidea, and White Mountain Fritillary, Boloria chariclea montinus) in the Presidential Range Alpine Zone, White Mountains, New Hampshire

The White Mountain Arctic (Oeneis melissa semidea) and the White Mountain Fritillary (Boloria chariclea montinus) are subspecies endemic to the alpine zone of the Presidential Range in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. They are not known outside of the ~1,130 hectare alpine zone.

These two populations are glacial relicts – organisms that were more widespread at the end of the last glaciation but which have since become isolated because of the loss of appropriate habitat in intervening areas as the climate has warmed. Macrofossil and pollen assemblages from lake sediment cores indicate that the White Mountain region was deglaciated prior to 13,000 years ago (Spear 1981). From 13,000 to 11,750 before present (B.P.) the highest elevations were barren with tundra vegetation covering the lower slopes and valleys and mean annual temperatures 5-10°C colder than today. Salix, Juniperus and Betula invaded the alpine zone and tundra gave way to woodlands around 10,300 B.P. From 10,300 to 9,000 BP temperatures increased to modern levels or slightly above and subalpine forests were established, effectively isolating the alpine vegetation from the retreating tundra vegetation to the north. During this period these two butterfly populations were effectively isolated from other populations that retreated northward, and they remain isolated to this day.

This conservation assessment is an effort to gather all known information regarding these two butterfly subspecies. A literature search yielded only one published study on these subspecies (see Anthony 1970). Information was augmented from studies of congeners and other populations, as well as unpublished observations of lepidopterists queried on the leps e-mail listserve (http://www.peabody.yale.edu/other/lepsl/). Additional information was added to this report following field observations in 2002 and 2003.