Lupinus perennis (Fabaceae), the perennial lupine, is an important plant of the oak openings habitat around Lake Erie. Aside from its beauty, it provides an important floral resource for native bumble bees and solitary bees, and is a host plant for several rare and endangered butterflies, including the Karner Blue, the Persius Dusky Wing, and Frosted Elfin.

In collaboration with Dr. Helen Michaels (Bowling Green State University), and several graduate students, I am investigating the effects of plant population size and density on reproductive success of Lupines in several oak-openings populations in NorthWestern Ohio. More on this EPA-funded work can be found here. One of our undergraduate student research assistants has constructed a wonderful web page explaining some of our work in the context of science education.

2008. Bernhardt CE, RJ Mitchell, HJ Michaels. Effects of population size and density on pollinator visitation, pollinator behaviour, and pollen tube abundance in Lupinus perennis. International Journal of Plant Sciences 169: 944-953.

2008. Michaels HJ, XJ Shi, RJ Mitchell. Effects of population size on performance and inbreeding depression in Lupinus perennis. Oecologia 154:651-661.

Shi, XJ, HJ Michaels, RJ Mitchell. Effects of self-pollination and maternal resources on reproduction and offspring performance in the wild lupine Lupinus perennis (Fabaceae). Sexual Plant Reproduction 18 :55-64

Bombus bimaculatus on Lupinus perennis. Habitat shot, Lou Campbell Preserve, Ohio DNR

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Osmia Sp. On Lupinus Perennis. Lupine and Puccoon (Lithospermum sp)

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Quicktime movies of pollinators foraging on Lupine at Cascade Metropark (a small and disjunct population in Summit County OH) in 1997 are available:

Bombus griseocollis - Foraging sequence - 1.2 meg

Bombus griseocollis - closeup - note how the flower is manipulated - 3.4 meg

Osmia sp. 2.2 meg. Notice her use of the middle set of legs to manipulate the flower and pump out pollen

Web Sites relating to the oak openings and Lupine

The Oak Openings/Oak Savannah Project in NW Ohio

Toledo Metro Parks (Oak Openings)

Kitty Todd Preserve (TNC)

Lupine in the Chicago area (Bigeastern)

Karner Blue and Lupine at the Indiana Dunes

Habitat Requirements of Lupine and the Karner Blue Butterfly

Karner Blue (Ohio DNR)

Karner Blue (U. Michigan)

Karner Blue (Pine Bush NY)

TNC’s oak openings page (click on logo). A real treat! Logo is from their page.

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Mitchell home page

Last modified: 09/12/08