Butterfly response to ponderosa pine restoration and the efficacy of butterflies as indicators of pollinators

Waltz, Amy E. M. (2001) Butterfly response to ponderosa pine restoration and the efficacy of butterflies as indicators of pollinators. Doctoral thesis, Northern Arizona University.

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Abstract

Few ecosystem restoration studies monitor arthropods as important components of ecosystem recovery. We tested the hypothesis that ponderosa pine restoration treatments would increase adult butterfly species richness and abundance by monitoring changes in butterfly abundance following restoration. To examine potential mechanisms of adult butterfly distribution, the host plant availability, nectar plant availability and insolation (light intensity) were sampled in restoration treatment units and control forests. Three patterns emerged: 1. Butterfly species richness and abundance were 2 and 3 times greater, respectively, in restoration treatment units than in paired control forests one year following treatment, and 1.5 and 3.5 times greater two years following treatment. 2. Host plant and nectar plant species richness showed little difference between treated and control forests even 2 years following treatment. 3. Insolation (light intensity) was significantly greater in treated forests following restoration.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Keywords:	Butterflies, Wildlife, Indicator species, Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa)
Subjects:	S Agriculture > SD Forestry
Department/Unit:	College of Engineering, Forestry, and Natural Science > Biological Sciences Research Centers > Ecological Restoration Institute
Date Deposited:	17 May 2017 17:36
URI:	http://openknowledge.nau.edu/id/eprint/2796

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