Fish and Wildlife Service

Description

This project is an investigation of the effects of herbicide application on Fender�s blue butterfly and native and non-native vegetation at Baskett Slough NWR. The objectives of this study are to: quantify the impact of different herbicides on a common butterfly species under controlled conditions; assess herbicide effects on Fender�s blue butterfly and native and non-native vegetation; model the effects of a suite of herbicide-based management strategies on Fender�s blue butterfly population dynamics using field and laboratory-based data to parameterize the demographic model; and implement larger-scale applications to compare estimates of risk from the modeling effort to actual herbicide effects in large-scale, on-the ground treatments. Results of this study will be used to design an invasive species management strategy for the refuge, which ultimately will help to recover this imperiled butterfly species to the benefit of the American people.

Who can apply

• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education

Contact

Angie Chapman <br/>Administrative Officer <br/>Phone 360-484-3482
angie_chapman@fws.gov