RIG: Testing local adaptation of the federally endangered Karner blue butterfly to wild lupine host plants from different geographic locations

该提案的主要目标是测试联邦濒危的Karner蓝蝶是否适应当地环境;也就是说，该物种的种群是否具有更高的适应性（例如，增加生长和生存）在其原生与非原生栖息地。 为此，将在西北俄亥俄州的一个重新引入该蝴蝶的地点进行田间实验，并在俄亥俄州的鲍林绿色州立大学进行温室实验。 第二个研究目标是确定宿主植物质量的变化是否会影响KBB的性能以及摄食和产卵（产卵）偏好。 这种蝴蝶可能会受到植物质量和其他当地环境因素的高度影响，因为它的饮食限制以及有限的传播能力。 从拟议的研究结果将是有用的，以重新评估目前的野生羽扇豆和Karner蓝蝴蝶的管理措施。 拟议的本地适应及其在昆虫再引入的潜在作用的研究将提供一个开创性的案例研究在新兴领域的进化保护生物学。 研究结果将有助于保护管理以及教育，通过K-12计划促进科学素养，旨在提高教师和学生对造成俄亥俄州西北部动植物物种灭绝的当前环境问题的认识。 拟议的项目还将促进代表性不足的群体参与科学，提供机会从代表性不足的族裔群体中招收本科生和研究生，并允许俄亥俄州西北部的一所多族裔学校参与。 在这所初级公立学校，40%的学生来自代表性不足的群体，90%的学生在经济上处于不利地位。

The major goal of this proposal is to test whether the federally endangered Karner blue butterfly is locally adapted; that is, if populations of this species have higher fitness (e.g., increased growth and survival) in its native versus non-native habitats. For this purpose, a field experiment at one of the reintroduction sites of this butterfly in NW Ohio and a greenhouse experiment at Bowling Green State University, OH, will be performed. A second research goal is to determine whether variation in host plant quality influences the performance as well as feeding and oviposition (egg laying) preferences of the KBB. This butterfly is likely to be highly affected by plant quality and other local environmental factors because of its restricted diet as well as limited dispersal abilities. Results from the proposed research will be useful to reevaluate current management practices for the wild lupine and the Karner blue butterfly. The proposed study of local adaptation and its potential role in insect reintroductions will provide a pioneering case study in the emergent field of evolutionary conservation biology. Results will contribute to conservation management as well as to education, promoting scientific literacy through a K-12 program aimed at increasing teachers' and students' awareness of current environmental problems causing the extinction of plant and animal species in NW Ohio. The proposed project will also facilitate the participation of underrepresented groups in Science by providing an opportunity to recruit undergraduate and graduate students from underrepresented ethnic groups, and by allowing the participation of a multi-ethnic school in northwest Ohio. In this elementary-level public school, 40% of the students are from underrepresented groups and 90% are economically disadvantaged.