Thesis
Ant attendance increases survival of an endangered facultative myrmecophilous lycaenid
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2017
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/100904
Abstract
Much of our understanding of mutualism is derived from pairwise obligate interactions between specialized participants. This understanding may not be applicable to facultative mutualistic interactions, which are variable in space and time, and can present a challenge for the conservation of facultative mutualist species that are at risk of extinction. At-risk myrmecophilous larvae of the Lycaenidae (Lepidoptera) respond to ant attendance with high degrees of variability among systems. We evaluated the effects of ant attendance on survivorship in an endangered facultative myrmecophile, Fender's blue butterfly (Plebejus icarioides fenderi) and examined the effects of biotic and abiotic factors on this mutualistic interaction near Eugene, Oregon, USA using a combination of experimental and observational studies. We found that ant attendance increased larval survival by as much as three times between heavily and infrequently tended larvae, and ant recruitment was reduced by dense, invasive vegetation. Management activities for this species may show greater success from inclusion of criteria that strengthens this interaction. We demonstrate an example of variability in a facultative mutualism over time, and our study warrants further investigation into the variability of facultative interactions and their importance in other at-risk lycaenid species.
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Details
- Title
- Ant attendance increases survival of an endangered facultative myrmecophilous lycaenid
- Creators
- Cameron Clay Thomas
- Contributors
- Cheryl Barbara Schultz (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Biological Sciences, School of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525036301842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis