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St. Francis satyr
Our current effort with St. Francis satyr is focused on developing
techniques for population monitoring. Our longer-term goals are
to determine the spatial structure of the butterfly's population, and
in particular the role of riparian corridors in promoting dispersal
between sites. Limited in distribution to Ft. Bragg, North
Carolina, St. Francis satyr
(Neonympha mitchellii francisci)
is one of the rarest butterflies in the US. Its
populations have been reduced by habitat loss, particularly by loss of
wetland openings along streams where the butterflies persist.
These wetlands are maintained by disturbance, mainly caused by beavers
that create and then abandon ponds. Fire can also set back
succession in these wetlands.
Our current work includes studies of:
- Effects of beavers on wetland plant communties,
including on habitat quality for St. Francis satyr [more info...]
- Effects of habitat fragmentation and landscape
boundaries on dispersal behavior [more info...]
- Optimal approaches to monitoring long-term
population dynamics
- Tests of food preferences for St. Francis satyr
caterpillars [more info...]
Our research on St. Francis satyr is funded by DoD, Department of
the Army, Endangered
Species Branch at Ft. Bragg and the Strategic
Environmental Research
and Development Program
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