Project Grant 2334260

This Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation (CFDA 47.074 - Biological Sciences) provides $487,916 to The Trustees of Smith College to conduct research on how the Baltimore checkerspot butterfly responds to changes in climate and novel host plant species. The key objectives are to: 1) investigate how host shifts affect the butterfly's exposure and tolerance to thermal stress and drought, 2) determine if host shifts are driven by synchronization between the butterfly and its host plants, and 3) examine how host shifts influence the butterfly's thermal sensitivity and ability to respond to environmental stress. This research will contribute to understanding the factors that restrict herbivore host shifts and the role of host shifts in species' ability to adapt to climate change. The project will also educate college students and the public about insect conservation through displays of live butterflies. The award period runs from May 1, 2024 to April 30, 2027.