Professors of Biology Ernest Williams and William Pfitsch have received a grant from the National Wildlife Federation's Species Recovery Fund to help begin the reintroduction of the Karner Blue butterfly, a federal endangered species to the Rome Sand Plains. Williams is also monitoring the population of Frosted Elfin butterfly. "The National Wildlife Federation grant is primarily to plant lupine populations in the Rome Sand Plains that will eventually allow us to begin introduction of the Karner Blue butterfly," said Pfitsch. Pfitsch and Williams have four students working with them this summer: Charlotte Hodde '04, Ashley Kuenzi '05, Krista Marran '04, and Sarah McNeil '04.
Professor's Pfitsch and Williams are working with the Rome Sand Plains Resource Team, a collaboration of landowners and outside parties with an interest in conservation in the Sand Plains. The NWF grant is one of only twelve given nationally out to local groups that seek to improve the conditions for endangered species. "Our goal is the restoration of the butterfly habitat, primarily the lupines the butterflies need for egg-laying. We hope to expand the existing lupine population, " said Williams. The team is also monitoring the population of the New York State threatened Frosted Elfin butterfly species, still found in the Rome Sand Plains' receding populations of lupine. The Rome Sand Plains has sand dunes left over from the last glacial period, when glacial Lake Iroquois, covered the region. Sand was blown into 150-foot high sand dunes in this unique area. Since then, succession has led vegetation to take over the area, replacing the once abundant fields of lupine that supported Frosted Elfin butterfly population. By working with other members of the resource management team, including staff from SUNY Morrisville, who are germinating and growing lupines for transplanting, Williams and Pfitsch hope to begin the successful expansion of the existing lupine population and ultimately raise the numbers of Frosted Elfin butterflies as well as introduce Karner Blue butterflies. Populations of Karner Blue butterflies are found in the Albany Pine-Bush region. It is the intention of both Professors Pfitsch and Williams that one-day eggs will be transferred successfully from the Albany area to the Rome Sand Plains. "We hope to have different patches of lupines connected well enough for butterflies of both species to traverse from one to another, producing a population structure known as a metapopulation," said Williams optimistically. Both Professors Pfitsch and Williams are grateful for the contributions from the NWF and from Hamilton College, both of which are supporting this work.
