When “ecosystem restoration” is mentioned, we often think of planting seeds or employing different management techniques for the vegetation community (e.g. burning, removal of invasive plants). However, many species need more help, particularly those that can’t be easily planted or make it to newly restored habitats on their own. In this sense, reintroductions can an important tool for conservation biologists. Our lab has been involved in endangered butterfly and plant reintroductions. We summarize our recent work on Mottled Duskywing in the “Study Systems” section of this website and, in collaboration with Jenny McCune (University of Lehtbridge), we are also involved with the reintroduction of several endangered plant species in southern Ontario, including Wood Poppy and Goldenseal. We now have plans to reintroduce another butterfly, the Frosted Elfin, that is current extirpated from Canada and have plans to collaborate with NRSI Inc. in Waterloo to reintroduce Jefferson salamander to formerly occupied breeding ponds.
Related Publications
5. Polley, M, Linton, JE, Brewster, A, MacKenzie, AS, Keyghobadi, N, Steiner, J, Kerekes, T & Norris, DR. Host plant patch size selection of an endangered butterfly, the Mottled Duskywing (Erynnis martialis), at a reintroduction size. In review: Journal of Insect Conservation
4. Polley, M, Linton, JE, Brewster, A, MacKenzie, AS, Keyghobadi, N, Steiner, J, Kerekes, T & Norris, DR. Reintroduction of an endangered butterfly, the Mottled Duskywing (Erynnis martialis). In revision: Animal Conservation
3. Demarse, A, Trendos, E, Linton, JE, Flockhart, DTT, Brewster, A, Keyghobadi, N, Custode, L & Norris, DR. 2023. Phenology, population size, and factors influencing variation in density of an endangered butterfly, the Mottled Duskywing (Erynnis martialis). Endangered Species Research 50:195-208.
2. Henault, J, Linton, JE, Norris, DR & Westwood, R. 2022. Egg laying behavior and larval-shelter-construction of the endangered Mottled Duskwing (Erynnis martialis). Journal of the Lepidopterists’ Society 76(1):43-55.
1. Kroeze, S, Brewster, A, Linton, JE, Norris, DR, Otis, G, Young, Y & Keyghobadi, N. 2022. Microsatellites for the at-risk Mottled Duskywing butterfly, Erynnis martialis. Conservation Genetics Resources 1:1.
