Preserving the Endangered Butterfly Species of New Jersey

Domenic DeSocio

Ed Devine

Ethan Winter

Itinerary

• Objectives and rationale

• Butterflies

• Plants

• Materials and Procedure

• Analysis and Evaluation

Project Objective

• Build butterfly garden.

• Provide habitat for endangered and threatened species of butterflies.

• Conserve biodiversity.

• Beautify the school grounds.

Gauging Efficacy

• Weekly counts taken of species.

• Diversity and abundance over weeks.

• Analysis of counts explain success.

Why Butterflies?

• Butterflies renowned for beauty.

• Food source.

• Active pollinators.

Biodiversity

• Butterflies important food source for other insects and birds.

• Hummingbirds also utilize the same food source (nectar) as butterflies.

Butterflies in New Jersey

• 3 threatened species.

• 3 endangered species.

• Over 140 species native to New Jersey.

Arogos Skipper - Endangered

• Experiencing rapid declines (“Arogos Skipper, 2010).

• Lives in dry grass lands.

• Feeds on the Little Bluestem and other varying food sources.– Varieties native to New Jersey.

Mountain Grizzled Skipper - Endangered

• Declining due to insecticides (“Appalachian Grizzled Skipper,” 2010).

• Fields and forests.

• Feeds on dwarf cinquefoil and other varying food sources.– Native to New Jersey.

Mitchell’s Satyr - Endangered

• Decline due to habitat loss (“Mitchell’s Satyr,” 2010).

• Wet meadows and fens.

• Food sources vary.

Frosted Elfin - Threatened

• Occurs in varying isolated locations (“Frosted Elfin,” 2010).

• Lives in open areas.

• Feeds on local foliage.

Checkered White - Threatened

• Open areas and along tree line (“Checkered White,” 2010).

• Decline due to habitat loss.

• Varying food sources.

Silver-Bordered Fritillary - Threatened

• Lives in sedge meadows and grasslands.

• New Jersey is on southeast border of territory.

• Varying food sources.

Which Plants to Use?

• Plants local to New Jersey.

• Plants that attract both threatened and endangered species and other native species.

• Plants that contribute to the aesthetic appeal of school ground.

Schizachyrium scoparium

• Little bluestem (“Little bluestem,” 2002)– Medium sized grass– Grows in spring

• Native to state– Dry soil – Neutral soil

Potentilla canadensis

• Dwarf cinquefoil (“Dwarf Cinquefoil,” 2010)– Small flowering plant– Grows in spring and summer

• Native to New Jersey

Bulbostylis capillaris

• Threadleaf beakseed– Type of sedge plant– Small herb– Thready, thin leaves

• Native to New Jersey

Buddleja davidii

• Butterfly bush– Large flowering blush– Bright purple flowers– Great source of butterfly food

• Introduced to New Jersey– Tolerant of spring temperatures

Achillea ptarmica

• Sneezeweed– Small, white flowers– Dry soil– High sun tolerance

• Native to New Jersey– Flowers exhibit Fibonacci sequence

Materials

• Previously mentioned plant species.

• Other local nectar plants.

• Planting soil.• Work gloves

• Shovels.• Trowels.• Watering cans /

hose.• Wheelbarrow.• Pruning shears.

Procedure

• Buy plants, seeds, and soil– Butterfly garden sets

• Gather materials

• Dig out area– Behind school

Procedure (cont.)

• Add top soil

• Plant seeds and plants

• Monitory plant growth

Data Collection

• Observe butterfly garden

– 30 minutes uninterrupted

– Count number of butterflies

– Repeat once a week for the remainder of the school year

Data Analysis

• Mean number of butterflies will be found

• Differences between weeks will be presented

• Graphical representations will be made• Line charts and bar graphs

Conclusion

• Protect biodiversity– Valuable part of ecosystem

• Create butterfly garden– Create habitat and food source

• Many species of butterfly

ReferencesAppalachian Grizzled Skipper. (2010). The State of New Jersey. Retrieved March 2, 2010, from

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/ensp/pdf/end-thrtened/apgrzldskip.pdf

Arogos Skipper. (2010). The State of New Jersey. Retrieved March 2, 2010, from http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/ensp/pdf/end-thrtened/arogosskipper.pdf

Butterfly and Moth Information. (1997). Center for Insect Science Education Outreach. Retrieved March 2, 2010, from University of Arizona website: http://insected.arizona.edu/bflyinfo.htm

Checkered White. (2010). The State of New Jersey. Retrieved March 2, 2010, from http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/ensp/pdf/end-thrtened/chkrdwhite.pdf

Dwarf Cinquefoil. (2010). Connecticut. Retrieved March 2, 2010, from

http://www.ct-botanical society.org/galleries/potentillacana.html

Frosted Elfin. (2010). The State of New Jersey. Retrieved March 2, 2010, from http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/ensp/pdf/end-thrtened/frstdelfin.pdf

Little Bluestem. (2002, February 5). United States Department of Agriculture: Natural Resources Conservation Service. Retrieved March 2, 2010, from http://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_scsc.pdf

Mitchell’s Satyr. (2010). The State of New Jersey. Retrieved March 2, 2010, from http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/ensp/pdf/end-thrtened/mitchell.pdf

New Jersey's Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. (2004, March 11). New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife. Retrieved March 2, 2010, from http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/tandespp.htm