EXTINCTION AND REINTRODUCTION OF PARNASSIUS-APOLLO IN THE PIENINY-NATIONAL-PARK (POLISH CARPATHIANS)

During the last century, the decline of the apollo butterfly in the Pi eniny mountains has been observed. This decline is attributed to envir onmental pollution, shrinkage of the area of open habitats inhabited b y the species (as a result of introducing new, more expansive varietie s of spruce in the area of Pieniny mountains), genetic erosion affecti ng small populations, and decimating this butterfly by collectors. The programme of the reintroduction of the apollo butterfly in the Pienin y National Park includes three main areas of activity: captive breedin g of specimens to reinforce wild populations, preparation of habitats once inhabited by the apollo butterfly, including the removal of trees and shrubs and implanting the host plant, and research work. This was concerned with the ecology and dynamics of wild and reintroduced popu lations of the apollo butterfly, description of the decline process an d explanation of its causal factors, and evaluation of the state of th eir habitat with special regard to the abundance and ecology of their host plant - Sedum maximum The five-years' reintroduction work has res ulted in the triple growth of the native population inhabiting the mas sive of Trzy Korony (from c. 20 in 1991 to c. 60 in 1995); moreover, b utterflies raised in captivity were released in four new, reconstructe d localities. In 1995 migrations of specimens between all but one loca lities were observed.