Bay Checkerspot Butterfly Conservation

The Goal: Conserve threatened populations of the Bay Checkerspot butterfly through science-based habitat restoration and management.

The Problem: Encroachment on serpentine grassland habitat by human development has severely limited the distribution of the butterfly. In addition, invasive grass and shrub species are reducing populations of host and nectar plants, especially where atmospheric nitrogen deposition (from air pollution) favors faster-growing non-natives.

Science-Based Conservation:

Population monitoring: estimate butterfly population densities based on field counts of larvae and adults across habitat range
Habitat characterization: assess biotic factors (host plants, invasive species, etc.) and abiotic factors (microclimate, slope orientation, etc.) of local habitat
Habitat modeling: simulate population dynamics as influenced by prevailing climate, microclimate (solar exposure, temperature, etc.), slope orientation, host plant availability, and larvae development
Habitat restoration: enhance habitat suitability by limiting human disturbance, replanting native species, and controlling invasive species with well-managed grazing, burning, and mowing
Nitrogen deposition: assess and mitigate effects of atmospheric nitrogen deposition on the ecology of serpentine grasslands
Human impacts: assess and mitigate the impacts of human development on and near butterfly habitat
Adaptive management: implement site-specific management plans, with periodic review of success
Education and outreach: communicate with diverse audiences (public, resource managers, decision makers, etc.) through various media (press, field tours, web sites, briefings, presentations, brochures, etc.)

Benefits

Conservation of Bay Checkerspot butterfly
Sound scientific basis for proactive, cost-effective management
Compliance with government regulations
Mitigation of human impacts

Download Bay Checkerspot butterfly conservation vision pdf

Key Literature:

Murphy, D.D., and S.B. Weiss. 1988. A long-term monitoring
plan for a threatened butterfly. Conservation Biology 2:367-
374.

Murphy, D.D., and S.B. Weiss. 1988. Ecological studies and
the conservation of the Bay checkerspot butterfly,
Euphydryas editha bayensis. Biological Conservation 46:183-
200.

Weiss, S.B., D.D. Murphy, and R.R. White. 1988. Sun,
slope, and butterflies: topographic determinants of habitat
quality for Euphydryas editha bayensis. Ecology 69:1486-
1496.

Weiss, S.B. 1999. Cars, cows, and checkerspot butterflies:
nitrogen deposition and grassland management for a
threatened species. Conservation Biology 13:1476-1486.