The Federally endangered Mitchell’s Satyr butterfly is at risk of extinction due to small, isolated populations with low genetic diversity.​

Challenge: Understand and reduce the high risks and uncertainty with using assisted gene flow to inform the conservation strategy for this species.​

Principal Investigator(s):

• Sarah Fitzpatrick (Michigan State University)

Co-Investigator(s):

• Nick Haddad (Michigan State University)
• Cinnamon Mittan (Michigan State University)

Cooperator/Partner(s):

• Ashley Cole-Wick (Michigan Natural Features Inventory)
• Brian Counterman (Auburn University)
• Patrick Doran (The Nature Conservancy, Michigan)
• Nate Fuller (Sarrett Nature Center)
• Erica Henry (North Carolina State University)
• JoVonn Hill (Mississippi State University)
• Holly Hooper (Kalamazoo Nature Center)
• Kaitlyn Kelly (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
• Mitchell Letow (Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy)
• Dave Pavlik (Michigan State University)
• Ryan Walsh (Toledo Zoo)

Habitat loss is splitting the world’s plant and animal populations into smaller, more isolated fragments. At the same time, many organisms must also withstand rapid and stressful changes to their environment. Combined, these factors can increase extinction risk. A possible escape from extinction is through adaptation. Yet, small populations with low genetic diversity may be unable to adapt in time to keep pace with environmental change. One strategy to mitigate these problems is to move individuals from larger, more resilient populations with higher genetic variation into small, declining populations to induce 'genetic rescue'.

 This project will use cutting-edge genomic tools to evaluate the potential for genetic rescue to increase population growth and adaptive potential in the federally endangered Mitchell's satyr butterfly, an iconic species that has rapidly declined in the last few decades. Researchers will first evaluate patterns of genomic variation and inbreeding throughout the entire range of the species, identifying potential recipient and source populations for genetic rescue. Then, researchers will perform controlled crosses of individuals from these populations to confirm the viability of offspring and test differences in thermal tolerance. 

The proposed research emerged as a top priority of the US Fish and Wildlife Mitchell’s Satyr Working Group and will directly inform conservation and management in the context of genetic rescue. This work will provide crucial information for successful design and implementation of genetic rescue in Mitchell's satyr butterfly as well as other species that also face high extinction probability due to small population sizes and a rapidly changing climate.

 
Read more from the CASC Project Explorer.