Oeneis polixenes brucei (Rocky Mountain Polixenes Arctic)

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Lepidoptera

Family: Nymphalidae

Genus: Oeneis

Species: polixenes brucei

Rocky Mountain Polixenes Arctic - Oeneis polixenes brucei

1381560

Species Extent (New Mexico)

Global Rank: G5

State Rank: S1

Rank Metadata
State Rank: S1	Rank Changed: 02/07/2025
Rank Reviewed: N/A
Reason: The Rocky Mountain Polixenes Arctic (<em>Oeneis polixenes brucei</em>) is the southernmost subspecies of the polar tundra specialist Polixenes Arctic (<em>Oeneis polixenes</em>). As a result, this butterfly can only be found at extreme high elevations in the southern rocky mountains of New Mexico and is extremely threatened by climate change. However, on top of climate change and drought this butterfly is also threatened by ecological succession, environmental stochasticity, and inbreeding depression. Existing in a metapopulation dynamic many of the remaining colonies are likely quite small and highly vulnerable to environmental stochasticity. As a narrow high elevation endemic this butterfly also has a very small area of occupancy (AOO). Additionally, due to climate change, and ecological succession there is an inferred continuing decline in the extent and quality of habitat for this butterfly. The populations in the south of its range in New Mexico are already teetering at their altitudinal limit. This butterfly seems separated into three small populations all of which are isolated and highly threatened by climate warming. As a result, this taxa is currently assessed as S1 in New Mexico however, a reassessment should be done if more information becomes available.

Ecological Factors
Specificity: Narrow. Specialist or community with key requirements common.	Range Extent: 1000-5000 square km (about 400-2000 square miles)
Occurences: 1 - 5	Population Size: Unknown
Area of Occupancy: Using points from Toliver et al. 2001 and Butterflies of New Mexico an Area of Occupancy of 4km2 was calculated on GeoCat. However, as this butterflies entire range in New Mexico is in wilderness areas this is likely an underestimate.	Threat Summary: N/A

State Status:

Federal Status:

USFS Status:

BLM Status:

SWAP Status: SGCN

NMRP Strategy Status:

Number of Subpopulations: 4

Number of Mapped Locations: 7

Number of Observations: 2

Observation date range: 01-01-2024 to 01-01-2024

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