Characterization of Maritime Ringlet (Coenonympha nipisiquit) and Maritime Copper (Lycaena dospassosi) Habitat in the Southern Part of the Gaspé Peninsula (2010)

Butterflies, which are both sensitive and vulnerable to changes in environmental quality, play an important role as a tool for assessing ecosystem health. In Canada, there are only five endemic butterfly species. Among these, the Maritime Ringlet (Coenonympha nipisiquit), recognized as endangered by COSEWIC and threatened under Quebec's Endangered or Vulnerable Species Act, as well as the Maritime copper (Lycaena dospassosi), a species likely to be designated threatened or vulnerable at the provincial level, are among the national heritage with a precarious status.

During the 2010 summer season, inventories were carried out within 16 potential habitat sites for the Maritime Ringlet and the Maritime copper, located in the southern sector of the Gaspesian Peninsula. No new population of Maritime Ringlet was discovered, while the presence of the species was confirmed in the barachois of Saint-Omer and in the barachois of Rivière-Nouvelle. With regard to Maritime copper, eight new populations were discovered. The presence of the species was also confirmed at three sites.