Nonetheless, peatlands often present difficulties of access both to them and across them, which reduces efficiency and amount of transect distance surveyed in a day. Roadside survey areas were selected because we noticed bog butterflies using them, they were en route to or from a bog survey route, or they appeared potentially of interest selleck for either bog or other butterfly species. Surveys On 114 informal visits during 1986–2001 in both study regions (widely in the northern one), we recorded

number of individuals by species per site, but did not standardize a route or record weather and effort (time and distance spent surveying). We began formal transect surveys in bogs in 1990, with most selleck compound conducted during 2002–2009 (Table 1). In those last 8 years, we surveyed in a rotation through the western, central, and eastern

sections of the northern study Immunology & Inflammation inhibitor region, trying to cover one section per weekend, or more if a section was missed the previous weekend and/or if time allowed. But we missed an occasional weekend per year due to weather or another commitment. Surveys occurred between 23 April and 12 September, usually early/mid May through early/mid August in most years. We also continued to record bog specialists informally observed in uplands and roadsides as we accessed bogs for formal surveys. Table 1 N unit surveys and survey effort (km, h) in central and northern Wisconsin at 76 bog sites, 20 lowland roadsides, and 5 upland roadsides, from 23 Apr to 12 Sep   N unit surveys Years km h 1987–2001  All sites 50 1987–2001 44.0 25.8  Bog 27 1990–2001 21.5 13.1  Lowland 5 1999–2001 3.1 2.1  Upland 18 1987–1996 1998–2001 19.5 10.7 2002–2009  All sites 1973 2002–2009 921.9 377.2  Bog 1699 2002–2009 806.5 321.3  Lowland 223 2002–2009

80.5 42.5  Upland 51 2002–2009 34.9 13.5 Our peatland transect surveys were like those in prairie and barrens, (similar to Pollard 1977 and as described in Swengel 1996, 1998b, and Swengel C1GALT1 and Swengel 1997). We walked along a similar route per visit to a prairie, barrens, or bog at a slow pace (about 2 km/h) on parallel routes 5–10 m apart. We counted all adult butterflies observed ahead and to the sides, to the limit at which an individual could be identified, possibly with the aid of binoculars after detection, and tracked. A new sampling unit was designated whenever the vegetation along the route varied by management (type and/or years since last treatment), type (wet, mesic, dry), quality based on type of brush and diversity and abundance of native and exotic flora (undegraded, semi-degraded, highly degraded), and/or estimated macrosite canopy (grassland or open bog <10%, open savanna 10–24%, closed savanna 25–49%, forest opening 50–75%).