The major goal of this proposal is to test whether the federally endangered Karner blue butterfly is locally adapted; that is, if populations of this species have higher fitness (e.g., increased growth and survival) in its native versus non-native habitats. For this purpose, a field experiment at one of the reintroduction sites of this butterfly in NW Ohio and a greenhouse experiment at Bowling Green State University, OH, will be performed. A second research goal is to determine whether variation in host plant quality influences the performance as well as feeding and oviposition (egg laying) preferences of the KBB. This butterfly is likely to be highly affected by plant quality and other local environmental factors because of its restricted diet as well as limited dispersal abilities. Results from the proposed research will be useful to reevaluate current management practices for the wild lupine and the Karner blue butterfly.
The proposed study of local adaptation and its potential role in insect reintroductions will provide a pioneering case study in the emergent field of evolutionary conservation biology. Results will contribute to conservation management as well as to education, promoting scientific literacy through a K-12 program aimed at increasing teachers' and students' awareness of current environmental problems causing the extinction of plant and animal species in NW Ohio. The proposed project will also facilitate the participation of underrepresented groups in Science by providing an opportunity to recruit undergraduate and graduate students from underrepresented ethnic groups, and by allowing the participation of a multi-ethnic school in northwest Ohio. In this elementary-level public school, 40% of the students are from underrepresented groups and 90% are economically disadvantaged.
The major goal of this project was to evaluate local adaptation in the federally endangered Karner blue butterfly, and its potential implications for the recovery of this species in the wild. Results from this study are essential for reintroduction programs of insects and animals in general, since it emphasizes the importance of matching donor (animal) populations with recipient populations (of wild lupine plants in this project). This matching should be based by evaluating genetic variation in preferences that may exist between donor and recipient populations in the wild. Results from this study suggest that inter-population variation within a region may influence the successful establishment of a reintroduced species; therefore, more efforts may have to be placed in matching insect donor genotypes with plant genotypes/populations in a given reintroduced range. However, these results were dependent on the origin of the stock of butterflies used and the specific populations evaluated within a given region. Information from this project could be used in regulatory policy on the management and conservation of an endangered species. In addition, this project had important contributions to the community by including an educational component that involved several activities with 4th and 5th grade students in a multi-ethnic and economically disadvantaged elementary level school.
