Pale yellow dune moth (Copablepharon grandis) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 11
Technical Summary
Copablepharon grandis
Pale Yellow Dune Moth – Noctuelle jaune pâle des dunes
Range of Occurrence in Canada:
southern Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba
Extent and Area Information
Extent of occurrence (EO) (km²)
maximum of 184,590 km² in Canada
(based on distribution records)
Specify trend in EO
apparently declined over past 100 years
Are there extreme fluctuations in EO?
No
Area of occupancy (AO) (km²)
maximum possible 203 km² <50 km² based on 2X2 grid
Specify trend in AO
Likely declining
Are there extreme fluctuations in AO?
No
Number of known or inferred current locations
10 known in Canada; 84 globally
Specify trend in #
decline, not seen in southern Alberta since 1913
Are there extreme fluctuations in number of locations?
No
Specify trend in area, extent or quality of habitat
declining
Population Information
Generation time (average age of parents in the population)
1 year
Number of mature individuals
Not estimated
Total population trend:
Not known; possible decline
% decline over the last/next 10 years or 3 generations.
Not known
Are there extreme fluctuations in number of mature individuals?
Unknown; likely
Is the total population severely fragmented?
Patchily distributed because of habitat
Specify trend in number of populations
Not known; possible decline
Are there extreme fluctuations in number of populations?
No
Threats (actual or imminent threats to populations or habitats)
- Sand dune stabilization is an ongoing threat.
- Heavy cattle grazing is likely detrimental to the species.
- Land development will in most cases make the habitat unsuitable.
- Recreational use will have a negative effect unless it is of minimal intensity.
- Demographic collapse remains a possibility in isolated populations.
Rescue Effect (immigration from an outside source)
Status of outside population(s)?
USA: >60 locations known; likely with similar trends to those in Canada
Is immigration known or possible?
Unlikely without intervention but some US areas poorly inventoried
Would immigrants be adapted to survive in Canada?
Yes, likely
Is there sufficient habitat for immigrants in Canada?
Yes, but declining
Is rescue from outside populations likely?
Unlikely
Quantitative Analysis
Not undertaken (limited data)
Current Status
COSEWIC: Special Concern (November 2007)
Status and Reasons for Designation
Status: Special Concern
Alpha-numeric code: Not applicable
Reasons for Designation: Although the area of occupancy is small and there is some evidence of decline in its extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, the species persists in widely separated dune systems, the declines are not well documented, and the status of threats is unclear. It requires semi-stable sand dunes which are declining.
Applicability of Criteria
Criterion A: (Declining Total Population): No data
Criterion B: (Small Distribution, and Decline or Fluctuation): 2- Area of occupancy is small; a) severely fragmented but is likely to be found at some additional locations; b) continued decline is insufficiently documented.
Criterion C: (Small Total Population Size and Decline): Total population unknown but not likely to be below 10,000.
Criterion D: (Very small Population or Restricted Distribution): Total population more than 1000 and area of occupancy not as restricted as required under the definition.
Criterion E: (Quantitative Analysis): No quantitative analysis undertaken.
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