Sipping on Nectar: Butterflies and Flowers in Oak Savannas on Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Abstract

Photo 1. View of a Garry oak savanna field site in Camrose Park, Victoria, BC, Canada. Oak savannas in the region are characterized by rocky outcroppings, a dense understory of forbs, and an open canopy of mostly Garry oak trees (Quercus garryana) mixed in with Douglas Firs (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and Arbutus (Arbutus menziesii). In front of the treeline, the nectar-less yellow flowers of invasive Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius) can be seen. Photo credit: Stephanie A. Rivest. Photo 2. Examples of flowering plants recorded in Garry oak savannas around Victoria, BC. Western Buttercup (top left panel: Ranunculus occidentalis) and Sea Blush (top right panel: Plectritis congesta) are native to the region, while Himalayan Blackberry (bottom right panel: Rubus armeniacus) and Cornflower (bottom right panel: Centaurea cyanus) are non-native. Photo credit: Stephanie A. Rivest. Photo 3. A native Propertius Duskywing (Erynnis propertius) butterfly foraging for nectar on a native White Brodiaea (Triteleia hyacinthine) flower in an oak savanna in Victoria, BC. Photo credit: Stephanie A. Rivest. Photo 4. A native Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) butterfly foraging for nectar on a native Oceanspray (Holodiscus discolor) flower in an oak savanna in Victoria, BC. Photo credit: Stephanie A. Rivest. Photo 5. A native Lorquin's Admiral (Limenitis lorquini) perched on a researcher's hand during a field survey of an oak savanna in Victoria, BC. The butterfly's proboscis explores the researcher's skin, hoping to collect the sodium from sweat. Photo credit: Stephanie A. Rivest. Source paper: These photographs illustrate the article “Flowering phenology influences butterfly nectar foraging on non-native plants in an oak savanna” by Stephanie A. Rivest, E.M. Wolkovich, and Heather M. Kharouba published in Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.4004