Thesis
Sex-specific nectar plant use and selection by an endangered butterfly: implications for conservation and recovery
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2013
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/102155
Abstract
Conservation and recovery of endangered species in degraded habitat requires a focus on species specific resource requirements. Lack of information on adult nectar resource needs limits the effectiveness of planning for butterfly conservation. I investigated sex-specific nectar plant use and selection by the Fender’s blue butterfly (Plebejus icarioides fenderi = Icaricia icarioides fenderi), a species endangered by loss of over 99% of prairie habitat in Oregon’s Willamette Valley (USA). Of the 24 plant species used by 156 males and 75 females, 8 accounted for 86% of uses. Overall, 53% of nectar uses by males and 20% by females were of non-native species. Overall tests of resource selection using compositional analysis for these commonly used species were significant (P<0.01), indicating that nectar resources were used selectively. Non-native nectar species never ranked as significantly selected over native species by females, while males selected a non-native over a native species in a few cases. Because Fender’s blue butterflies select native nectar plants, restoration for Fender’s blue should include them along with the larval host. This study highlights the importance of differentiating between males and females when examining habitat requirements for an endangered species. Understanding how specific non-native species are used by endangered species will help managers decide when they should be removed or conserved.
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Details
- Title
- Sex-specific nectar plant use and selection by an endangered butterfly
- Creators
- Rhiannon Clare Thomas
- Contributors
- Cheryl Barbara Schultz (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Arts and Sciences, College of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525199001842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis