| Abstract: | The Karner blue butterfly Lycaeides melissa samuelis is an endangered species residing in the Great Lakes and northeastern regions of the United States. Increased canopy cover is a major factor implicated in the decline of the Karner blue at many locales. Therefore, we examined how the butterfly‘s behavior varied with canopy cover. Adult males at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore used habitat under canopy openings for nearly 90% of their activities; females used openings and shaded areas more equally. The frequency of oviposition on the sole host plant, wild lupine Lupinus perennis, was highest under 30-60% canopy cover even though lupine was more abundant in more open areas. Larvae fed preferentially on larger lupine plants and on lupines in denser patches. However, lupines were generally large in the shade. Therefore, shade-related trade-offs existed between lupine abundance and distribution of larval feeding and oviposition. Also, heterogeneity of shading by sub-canopy woody vegetation was greater at oviposition sites than at sites where lupine did not grow. Given the importance of shade heterogeneity, a mixture of canopy opening and shades, on a scale similar to daily adult movement range, should be beneficial for this butterfly. |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 1000625 |
| Citation Author: | Grundel, Ralph; Pavlovic, Noel B.; Sulzman, Christina L. |
| Citation Contributing Office: | Great Lakes Science Center |
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| Citation End Page: | 53 |
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| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Biological Conservation |
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| Citation Number Of Pages: | 6 |
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| Citation Phsyical Description: | p. 47-53 |
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| Citation Publisher: | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
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| Citation Search Results Text: | Habitat use by the endangered Karner blue butterfly in oak woodlands: The influence of canopy cover; 1998; Article; Journal; Biological Conservation; Grundel, Ralph; Pavlovic, Noel B.; Sulzman, Christina L. |
| Citation Start Page: | 47 |
| Citation Volume: | 85 |
| Citation Year: | 1998 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Habitat use by the endangered Karner blue butterfly in oak woodlands: The influence of canopy cover; 1998; Article; Journal; Biological Conservation; Grundel, Ralph; Pavlovic, Noel B.; Sulzman, Christina L. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| Date Other: | Thu, 1 Jan 1998 00:00 -0600 |
| Publisher: | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
