Abstract
Restoring critically imperiled midwestern oak savanna habitat is frequently guided by the requirements of the federally endangered Karner blue butterfly (Plebejus melissa samuelis). Although studies often correlate butterfly population size or density with nectar species abundance, nectar characteristics are seldom considered. We compared floral nectar resources across 15 sites categorized by Karner blue butterfly occupancy by quantifying the floral abundance, nectar volume, and sugar concentration for 22 species, calculating their mean nectar availability per stem, measuring environmental variables, and estimating a species' nectar sugar contribution to the landscape across seasons. Species identity predicted nectar volume and sugar concentrations. Mean nectar volume ranged between 0.02 and 2.20 μl and sugar ranged between 3.06% and 61.26% Brix per flower. Rubus flagellaris and Ceanothus americanus contributed the most nectar sugar per stem in the spring and summer, respectively. Sites with a history of occupation had 11 times greater nectar sugar available in the spring than previous release locations or restorations without occupation. Improved understanding of seasonal distribution, quality, and abundance of oak savanna nectar resources is likely to aid habitat restoration planning and conservation efforts for pollinators of this critically imperiled habitat.
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Claims 6
Claim · model-written summary
Species identity predicted nectar volume and sugar concentration.
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
t0“oak savannas”
e0“Species identity predicted nectar volume and sugar concentrations.”
Claim · model-written summary
Mean nectar volume ranged from 0.02 to 2.20 μl per flower.
Verbatim
t0“oak savannas”
e0“Mean nectar volume ranged between 0.02 and 2.20 μl and sugar ranged between 3.06% and 61.26% Brix per flower.”
Claim · model-written summary
Nectar sugar ranged from 3.06% to 61.26% Brix per flower.
Verbatim
t0“oak savannas”
e0“sugar ranged between 3.06% and 61.26% Brix per flower.”
Claim · model-written summary
Rubus flagellaris contributed the most nectar sugar per stem in spring.
- Taxon
- Rubus flagellaris
Rubus flagellarise0 - Outcome
- nectar sugar per steme0
- Direction
- moste0
- Qualifier
- springe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Rubus flagellaris and Ceanothus americanus contributed the most nectar sugar per stem in the spring and summer, respectively.”
Claim · model-written summary
Ceanothus americanus contributed the most nectar sugar per stem in summer.
- Taxon
- Ceanothus americanus
Ceanothus americanuse0 - Outcome
- nectar sugar per steme0
- Direction
- moste0
- Qualifier
- summere0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Rubus flagellaris and Ceanothus americanus contributed the most nectar sugar per stem in the spring and summer, respectively.”
Claim · model-written summary
Historically occupied sites had 11 times more spring nectar sugar than release or unoccupied restoration sites.
Verbatim
t0“oak savannas”
e0“Sites with a history of occupation had 11 times greater nectar sugar available in the spring than previous release locations or restorations without occupation.”