Preserving the Endangered Butterfly Species of New Jersey

1. Preserving the Endangered Butterfly Species of New Jersey Domenic DeSocio Ed Devine Ethan Winter

2. Itinerary • Objectives and rationale • Butterflies • Plants • Materials and Procedure • Analysis and Evaluation

3. Project Objective • Build butterfly garden. • Provide habitat for endangered and threatened species of butterflies. • Conserve biodiversity. • Beautify the school grounds.

4. Gauging Efficacy • Weekly counts taken of species. • Diversity and abundance over weeks. • Analysis of counts explain success.

5. Why Butterflies? • Butterflies renowned for beauty. • Food source. • Active pollinators.

6. Biodiversity • Butterflies important food source for other insects and birds. • Hummingbirds also utilize the same food source (nectar) as butterflies.

7. Butterflies in New Jersey • 3 threatened species. • 3 endangered species. • Over 140 species native to New Jersey.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. Mitchell’s Satyr - Endangered • Decline due to habitat loss (“Mitchell’s Satyr,” 2010). • Wet meadows and fens. • Food sources vary.

11. Frosted Elfin - Threatened • Occurs in varying isolated locations (“Frosted Elfin,” 2010). • Lives in open areas. • Feeds on local foliage.

12. Checkered White - Threatened • Open areas and along tree line (“Checkered White,” 2010). • Decline due to habitat loss. • Varying food sources.

13. Silver-Bordered Fritillary - Threatened • Lives in sedge meadows and grasslands. • New Jersey is on southeast border of territory. • Varying food sources.

14. 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.

15. Schizachyrium scoparium • Little bluestem (“Little bluestem,” 2002) • Medium sized grass • Grows in spring • Native to state • Dry soil • Neutral soil

16. Potentilla canadensis • Dwarf cinquefoil (“Dwarf Cinquefoil,” 2010) • Small flowering plant • Grows in spring and summer • Native to New Jersey

17. Bulbostylis capillaris • Threadleaf beakseed • Type of sedge plant • Small herb • Thready, thin leaves • Native to New Jersey

18. Buddleja davidii • Butterfly bush • Large flowering blush • Bright purple flowers • Great source of butterfly food • Introduced to New Jersey • Tolerant of spring temperatures

19. Achillea ptarmica • Sneezeweed • Small, white flowers • Dry soil • High sun tolerance • Native to New Jersey • Flowers exhibit Fibonacci sequence

20. Previously mentioned plant species. Other local nectar plants. Planting soil. Work gloves Shovels. Trowels. Watering cans / hose. Wheelbarrow. Pruning shears. Materials

21. Procedure • Buy plants, seeds, and soil • Butterfly garden sets • Gather materials • Dig out area • Behind school

22. Procedure (cont.) • Add top soil • Plant seeds and plants • Monitory plant growth

23. Data Collection • Observe butterfly garden • 30 minutes uninterrupted • Count number of butterflies • Repeat once a week for the remainder of the school year

24. 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

25. Conclusion • Protect biodiversity • Valuable part of ecosystem • Create butterfly garden • Create habitat and food source • Many species of butterfly

26. Appalachian 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 References