Restoration of Fender’s blue butterfly and its prairie ecosystem: Management applications of fire to Baskett Slough NWR

Author

Wilson, M.V. and Clark, D.L. Oregon State University

Publication Year

2000

Species

Fender's blue

Region

Willamette Valley

Habitat

Upland Prairie

Topic

Butterflies, Fire, Rare species recovery, Restoration & Management

Full Citation

Wilson, M.V. and Clark, D.L. 2000.  Restoration of Fender’s blue butterfly and its prairie ecosystem: Management applications of fire to Baskett Slough NWR.  Report to US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Oregon Natural Heritage  Program.

Author Contact Details

Author Email

Deborah.clark@lifetime.oregonstate.edu

We tested the recolonization ability of the Fender’s blue butterfly and monitored the vegetation response to a management-scale prescribed fire at the Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, western Oregon. The prescribed fire successfully cut shrub cover in half, but also reduced the size of Festuca roemeri, a dominant native grass. Although the fire killed all Fender’s blue butterfly larvae, as expected, adult females were able to recolonize the burned area from a nearby, unburned patch. These results support predictions that the Fender’s blue butterfly can recolonize burned areas for a distance of at least 100 m.