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National Academy of Sciences of RA
Electronic Journal of
NATURAL SCIENCES
ՀՀ Գիտությունների ազգային ակադեմիա
Էլեկտրոնային ամսագիր
ԲՆԱԿԱՆ ԳԻՏՈՒԹՅՈՒՆՆԵՐ
Национальная Академия наук РА
Электронный журнал
ЕСТЕСТВЕННЫЕ НАУКИ
1(30), 2018
Fauna
Ֆաունա
Фауна
THE STATE OF POLYOMMATUS MYRRHA CINYRAEA NEKRUTENKO & EFFENDI,
1979 IN ARMENIA
Karen Aghababyan, Gurgen Khanamirian
TSE – Towards Sustainable Ecosystems NGO, 87b Dimitrov, apt 14 Yerevan 0020 Armenia
ABSTRACT
A study of endemic subspecies Polyommatus myrrha cinyraea Nekrutenko & Effendi, 1979 was implemented in the Southern
Zangezur Mountains of Armenia. The Study shows that P.m. cinyraea species lives in rocky subalpine grasslands at about 2500 m
a.s.l., the distribution range of the species makes 4.56 ha, its host plant is Cicer anatolicum Alef., and the flight period of imago lasts
from mid July to early August. Population of the species is in steep decline as well as the population of the host plant. The existing
conservation measures are insufficient and the proposed conservation measures include strengthening population of its host plant,
detailing its biological peculiarities; evaluation of conservation status of the species and its subspecies for IUCN Red List;
strengthening conservation status of the land and its protection regime; securing obligatory Environmental Impact Assessment of all
the business and land use projects in the gorge.
Key words: Polyommatus myrrha cinyraea, conservation status, Armenia, butterflies.
INTRODUCTION
Among over 64,000 animal species assessed for IUCN Red List, insects make about 7,000 species (11%) [8], while
Insects are the most species-rich group of animals, representing over 50% of terrestrial biodiversity [13]. C. Insects
consist of huge variety of highly specialized species, many of which are endemics of various geographical areas.
Among insects, Butterflies are one of the most vulnerable groups, since they consist of high number of habitat
specialists, which are often have very narrow and restricted distribution and therefore are very sensitive to habitat
degradation [13].
Armenia is a country rich with butterfly species diversity [10]. Among Armenian butterflies there are number of
regional endemics, which have not been assessed neither for International Red List nor for Red Book of Animals of
Armenia [1].
One of such species is Polyommatus myrrha (Herrich-Schäffer, [1852]), which is a least studied species inhabiting
Anatolian province in Turkey [5], and small patches in Armenia, Nakhichevan, and Northwestern Iran. Its subspecies
P.m. cinyraea Nekrutenko & Effendi, 1979 is even rarer and inhabits two patches in the world: Voghchi River Gorge at
southern part of Zangezur Mountains of Armenia and Bichanak Pass in Nakhichevan. The species was found in
Armenia in 1997, however the only knowledge on it were based on the males, which have been visiting a watering-
place. No information existed on the distribution of the species, its abundance at the habitat, its host plant in Armenia,
its habitat requirements and biological cycle, threats, etc.
Therefore the main aim of the current study is to clarify some biological and ecological peculiarities of the species,
which can help in justification of its conservation status.
METHODS
For the purpose we have organized four expeditions to the Voghchi River Gorge and other parallel gorges in the period
of July-August of 2016 and July-August of 2017. For understanding of the species abundance we have been counting
the adult butterflies using Standardized Transect Counts, better known as Pollard Walks [11]. Routes of transects were
laid out to sample representative habitat and ran for 100 m parallel to the slopes. The width of routes was 5 meters. The
walks have been implemented during 11:00-13:00 in sunny weather, with the wind speed less than 3 by Boffort Scale.
Generally we realized counts with moderate speed of walk registering only those individuals which have been found
within the five meter strip of route. Later in a day – from 14:00 to 15:00 we have been counting males at the watering
place. For identification of the host plant we have been searching for the ovipositing females. The threats have been
classified using IUCN Threat Classification Scheme [6,7]. While the current stage of our study doesn’t require
statistical data analysis, the mapping works have been conducted using ArcGIS 10.1.
REZULTS AND DISCUSSION
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Distribution and biological peculiarities in Armenia
The known distribution of the subspecies in Armenia is restricted by Voghchi River Gorge, where the micro-habitat of
the species makes 4.56 ha, including core biotope and the watering place. The habitat of the species is rocky subalpine
grasslands at 2500 m a.s.l. The host plant of the species is Cicer anatolicum Alef. Flight period of imago lasts from mid
July to early August.
Population dynamics
As it was mentioned, the species was found in Armenia in 1997 [12], (Danchenko pers. comm.). Although the area was
visited regularly, the information is insufficient for calculation of population trend. Nevertheless it is possible to state
that the abundance of the species is relatively low (less then two specimens recorded per 100 m of transect) and in 2016
and 2017 is much lower than it was observed in the period from 1997 to 2008. The small population of its host plant,
which was found in 2016 significantly decreased in 2017. The conducted observation show that the host plant prefers
only screes made by fairly small stones; number of such screes in the studied area is very limited.
Possible threats
At current it is unclear what kind of threats can affect the habitat and the population of the species; however the recent
construction of Hydro Power Plant in the gorge was documented. The project passed formal Environmental
Assessment, however the EIA did not take its possible influence into consideration neither on P.m. cinyraea, nor on the
other butterfly species inhabiting the gorge, which include IUCN listed Parnassius apollo and Phengaris arion, as well
as species included into Red Book of Animals of Armenia [1].
Conservation measures
Although the species P. myrrha was assessed for the Red Book of Butterflies of Turkey [9], the species has not been
evaluated for IUCN Red List, for Red Book of Animals of Armenia, also it is not listed in CITES, and in Bern
Convention [3]. The distribution range of the species is included in Zangezur Biosphere Complex, however the status of
the land refers to a state sanctuary, which allows implementation of such projects as construction of Hydro Power Plant
in the gorge. The following steps appear to be important for conservation of the species: strengthening population of its
host plant via artificial planting and creating more appropriate micro-habitats for the plant, detailing distribution,
abundance, and better understanding biological peculiarities of P.m. cinyraea; evaluation of conservation status of the
species and its subspecies for IUCN Red List; strengthening conservation status of the land and its protection regime;
securing obligatory Environmental Impact Assessment of all the business and land use projects in the gorge;
popularization of the area for butterfly-watching and creation of alternative income opportunities for local people.
At current, the gorge inhabited by P.m. cinyraea is recognized as Prime Butterfly Area Kajaran [2] and included in the
Emerald Site Zangezur [4].
CONCLUSION
Polyommatus myrrha cinyraea is a species in critical conditions; the existing conservation measures are obviously
insufficient. Therefore the state of the species requires immediate actions and long term initiatives. The immediate
actions include: strengthening population of its host plant via artificial planting and creating more appropriate micro-
habitats for the plant, detailing distribution, abundance, and better understanding biological peculiarities of P.m.
cinyraea; evaluation of conservation status of the species and its subspecies for IUCN Red List; strengthening
conservation status of the land and its protection regime. The longer-term initiatives include: securing obligatory
Environmental Impact Assessment of all the business and land use projects in the gorge; and popularization of the area
for butterfly-watching and creation of alternative income opportunities for local people.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We are thankful to Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund for financial support of this important project and
Ministry of Nature Protection of RA for the administrative support. Also we would like to thank to our colleagues A.
Danchenko and K. Yeranyan for providing necessary data about the species in the period of 1997-2000.
REFERENCES
[1] Aghasyan A., and Kalashyan M., (eds). 2010. Red Data Book of the Republic of Armenia. Ministry of Nature Protection,
Yerevan. Asoghik.
[2] Butterfly Conservation Armenia. 2017. Prime Butterfly Areas of Armenia – Kajaran. Butterfly Conservation Armenia – TSE
NGO. Retrieved from http://www.butterfly-conservation-armenia.org/kajaran.html on 20 Nov 2017.
[3] ETS No.104. Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, Bern, 19.09.1979. Appendix II.
Council of Europe.
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[7] IUCN. 2003. Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional Levels: Version 3.0. IUCN Species Survival
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[8] IUCN Red List version 2017-2: Table 3a Last Updated: 14 September 2017.
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