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Smith's Blue Butterfly, cont. blue butterfly by its reclassification further emphasizes its endangerment in the dunes. The difference in blooming times between seacliff and coast buckwheat may instigate a temporal breeding barrier between the Smith's blue and the proposed Marina blue butterflies using each species of buckwheat, resulting in the two potentially distinct subspecies of butterflies. Coast buckwheat blooms up to 1 month before seacliff buckwheat. Adult butterflies emerge to breed precisely as the respective host plants bloom. As we cultivate the two buckwheat species, maintaining geographical separation of seacliff and coast buckwheat will help maintain each butterfly's genetic integrity. Restoration efforts are also very much focused on controlling the aggressive and invasive non-native European beach grass (Ammophila arenaria) and South African iceplant (Carpobrotus edulis). These two plants have reduced the abundance and range of the host buckwheat plants. To address this problem the California Park Service along with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other organizations and individuals are removing non-native species of plants and replacing them with local dune natives. The strategy involves creation of buckwheat corridors to connect smaller patches into a buckwheat network. In this way the health of the buckwheat population and its dependant butterflies is improved. Successful restoration management should also account for ecological relationships with other dune insects. Smith's blue butterflies have a mutualistic relationship with ants where each party receives a benefit. Ants help the larvae survive by protecting them from predatory spiders and parasitic wasps. In return the tending ants profit by feeding on a sugary substance the caterpillar excretes from the surface of its abdomen. Efforts to improve the health of Smith's blue butterfly populations may be assisted by focusing on the health of the tending ants. |
Last updated:
May 27, 2008
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