Chapter 54.4, Problem 2R

Summary Introduction

To review:

The following:

The actors responsible for metapopulation size of the Edith’s checkerspot butterfly in San Francisco Bay area with reference to the given Figure 1.

The fate of metapopulation during the extinction of the Morgan Hill population in 1998.

Given:

The metapopulation of Edith’s checkerspot butterfly in San Francisco Bay Area is divided into several populations that are confined to patches. These patches provide a suitable habitat on serpentine rock outcrops that contain the food plants of the species. In the given Figure 1 the arrows indicate events of colonization.

Figure 1: A metapopulation of checkerspots in San Francisco Bay region.

Introduction:

Edith’s checkerspot butterflies live mostly in San Francisco Bay area and rely on two specific plants species California plantain and purple owl’s clover. Metapopulation size of this butterfly changes due to climatic conditions of region. The climatic conditions affect the plants species on which the butterflies rely for their food.