摘要: |
Roadsides in North and Central Florida harbor a large number of milkweed populations important to the monarch butterfly. A total of 303 roadway locations had one or more plants of the target species Asclepias humistrata (pinewoods milkweed) or Asclepias tuberosa (butterflyweed). Plant densities ranged from 1 to 161 individuals per site, 40 high density sites were identified. The majority of these populations occurred on the back, steeply sloped section of the road verge with exposed sand/soil present and adjacent to dry habitats such as scrub, pineland, and sandhill. A comprehensive georeferenced Excel spreadsheet of all population locations and related population data was developed and submitted to Florida Department of Transportation. Communication/dissemination and vegetation management recommendations are presented to help maximize the availability and productivity of roadside milkweed populations for monarch and pollinator conservation. |