Intra-annual Spatiotemporal Dynamics of the Monarch Butterfly (Lepidoptera: Danaidae), Regal Fritillary (Lepidoptera: Heliconiinae), and Their Floral Resources in North Dakota, United States

Author:

Antonsen Adrienne K1ORCID,Kral-O’Brien Katherine C1ORCID,Hovick Torre J1,Limb Ryan F1,Geaumont Benjamin A1,Harmon Jason P1ORCID

Affiliation:

1. School of Natural Resource Sciences, North Dakota State University, 202 Hultz Hall, 1300 Albrecht Boulevard, Fargo, ND 58102, USA

Abstract

Abstract Many butterflies in the United States, along with their nectar resources, are declining. Large-scale conservation planning can be challenging, however, when butterflies and their nectar sources exhibit disparate spatiotemporal dynamics. We initiated a multi-year survey on monarchs (Danaus plexippus), regal fritillaries (Speyeria idalia), and floral resources across North Dakota from 2017 to 2019 to understand resource use through space and time. We surveyed three sites in each county in North Dakota, twice a year for 3 yr, for a total of 954 site visits. Our objectives were to 1) identify important floral resources for monarchs and regal fritillaries, 2) determine intra-annual spatial and temporal distributions of the butterflies and their nectar sources, and 3) quantify how floral resources influenced butterfly abundance and interacted with spatiotemporal factors (latitude, longitude, and flight season). Milkweeds (Asclepias spp.), native thistles (Cirsium spp.), and blazing stars (Liatris spp.) were identified as particularly important nectar resources for monarchs and regal fritillaries; all plant and butterfly species exhibited unique spatiotemporal distributions. Monarch abundance at a site was positively related to the availability of flowering milkweeds, and regal fritillary abundance was positively related to the floral availability of native thistles and coneflowers (Echinacea spp.). These relationships were consistent across the spatial and temporal extent of our study, indicating that the butterfly–flower relationships we detected are maintained and relatively consistent across our study region and years. By accounting for spatiotemporal dynamics, we can help elucidate the persistence of butterfly-flower species interactions at large scales and inform conservation efforts for these threatened species.

Funder

North Dakota Department of Agriculture

Publisher

Oxford University Press (OUP)

Subject

Insect Science

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3