Floral Resource Availability on Native vs. Reconstructed Prairie for the Federally Endangered Karner Blue Butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis)

File(s)
Date
2014-04Author
Eaton, John M.
Weirich, Joseph
Advisor(s)
Kleintjes Neff, Paula K.
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The Karner blue butterfly is a federally endangered species and is classified as a Species of Special Concern in Wisconsin. The butterfly is found in barrens and dry sand prairies where its larval host plant, wild lupine (Lupinus perennis) grows--along with various wildflower nectar sources. In the past 20 years, Karner blues have lost 90% of their habitat, and Wisconsin has the largest remnant populations. With the goal of increasing populations, the KBB State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) Conservation Reserve Program has established nearly 2,000 acres of habitat (2009-2012) on private land. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the nectar species established on the CRP SAFE sites resembled native dry sand prairie species available to Karner adults during both their first and second brood flights.
Subject
Karner blue butterfly--Wisconsin
Endangered species
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE)
Nectar species
Posters
Permanent Link
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/70540Description
Color poster with text, maps, photographs, diagrams, and charts.