There is no public recovery plan for callippe silverspot (speyeria callippe callippe), however the most recent species status assessment (SSA) indicates grazing as one of the main factors positively…

There is no public recovery plan for callippe silverspot (speyeria callippe callippe), however the most recent species status assessment (SSA) indicates grazing as one of the main factors positively influencing resiliency, with population resiliency assessed by measurement of habitat factors including residual dry matter, grassland expanse, nectar plants and larval host plant viola pedunculata (SSA PP. I II). The SSA indicates that if management is increased prioritized, three populations rise in condition with the fourth maintaining current condition. Improved conditions are predicted to be: decrease in residual dry matter, increase in grassland expanse, increase nectar plants and increase in v. Pedunculata. Our proposed work here focuses on experiments to better understand habitat correlates (soil texture, soil depth, slope aspect) for minimum and maximum fall RDM, and spring herbaceous height obstruction to establish baselines and observe response to management. We also focus on improving the lack of understanding of viola pedunculata restoration, so that when grassland is expanded and improved, the host plant can also be restored. Germination success is high in v. Pedunculata (franklin ET AL. 2018), but efforts to plant seedlings have not worked (weiss pers. OBS. 2023). In SUM, our recovery actions directly align with those identified for callippe silverspot and two other endangered grassland butterflies (mission blue and BAY checkerspot). Our proposed work leverages matching funds and ongoing grazing work at SAN bruno MTN., and expands that work to include two vitally important populations of callippe silverspot (sears PT. And ferrari ranch) for which grazing management and or increased host plant abundance are required for improved outcomes.