Assistant Professor Providence College Greenville, Rhode Island
Earth’s increased global temperature as a response to climate change has caused less snowfall and earlier snowmelt in spring. These changes can alter the phenology of organisms such as through plant leafing and flower blooming. This can harm species reliant on plants that are more sensitive to temperature changes. The frosted elfin (Callophrys irus) is a species of concern in 11 states—including RI, MA, and CT. These host plant specialists only lay eggs on small yellow wild indigo (Baptisia tinctoria) and wild lupine (Lupinus perennis). If neither plant emerges and develops leaves by the time butterflies are laying eggs, this would be catastrophic for the downstream population. These phenological changes can also affect host plant nutritional content, impacting the caterpillars’ only food source and consequent health. We predict that the growth of wild indigo plants will be greater in plots with decreased snowpack and that nutritional content will vary between treatments. For this study, we focused on the wild indigo plant, investigating patches at Gavins Pond in Foxborough, MA.
.png)
