Marin Conservation League
Parks and Open Space Committee
3:00–5:00 pm
In-person/Zoom hybrid
Register via Zoom

Mapping the Endangered Myrtle’s Silverspot Butterfly Host Plant at Point Reyes National Seashore

Tanya Baxter, Principal at Baxter Botanical, and Cristobal Castaneda, Volunteer Manager for Point Reyes National Seashore Association (PRNSA), will present on their work to map the western dog violet (Viola adunca) at Point Reyes.

This diminutive plant of the coastal prairie is host to the endangered
Myrtle’s silverspot butterfly (Speyeria zerene ssp. myrtleae). Mapping this easily overlooked plant is helping scientists and land managers understand the violet’s range and preferred conditions, which is critical for protecting the butterfly and its grassland habitat.

To accomplish this large mapping project, Cristobal engaged community scientists this past spring. Data from mapping and monitoring efforts such as this inform targeted grazing and other vegetation-management programs.

To learn more before the presentation, read Mapping the Purple in PRNSA News.