Butterfly Away

Team: 95

School: Melrose

Area of Science: Biology

Interim: Problem Definition ~ The Karner Blue Butterfly used to live in a band across 12 states from Minnesota to Maine and into Ontario. Now, however, it only occurs in seven states with Wisconsin and Michigan holding the greatest number of butterflies. These butterflies are at risk from extinction due to habitat degradation or loss. Our project is to model the current habitat of this species and then to suggest different ways of saving the butterfly.

Problem Solution ~ The butterflies depend on the fields of wild lupine to survive. These fields are being destroyed by natural fires and human encroachment. By modeling different ways to preserve current fields and create new ones we will find the best way to save this beautiful and rare species of butterfly.

Progress to Date ~ So far our team has mainly focused on gathering research and data over the lupine fields. It is important to understand their condition to know how to save the butterflies. For our model we are using Starlogo TNG. We have also begun planning the environment of our computer model and familiarizing ourselves with the programs intricate workings. Our next steps will be to create the lupine fields and the butterflies and then program their basic interactions.

Expected Results ~ We expect that the most effective way to preserve this species will be to create reserves of the lupine fields in relatively safe and secluded areas. To survive these butterflies require fields that are not constantly being destroyed. The best way to create these fields and introduce them to the butterflies is a question that requires more information.

Bibliography ~
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karner_Blue
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10370_12145_12204-33007--,00.html
http://www.butterflyrecovery.org/species_profiles/karner_blue/
http://eelink.net/EndSpp.old.bak/kblue.html
http://www.nwf.org/endangered/pdfs/KarnerBlueButterfly.pdf

Team Members:
Vincente Aleman
Jessica Gorley
Kimberly Lee
Dusty Payne

Team Members:

  Jessica Gorley
  Vincente Aleman
  Kimberly Lee
  Dusty Payne

Sponsoring Teacher: Rebecca Raulie

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