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The Monarch Larva Monitoring Project: Citizens and Scientists Unraveling an Ecological Mystery

The Monarch Larva Monitoring Project: Citizens and Scientists Unraveling an Ecological Mystery. Outline. Monarch Biology Introduction to the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project MLMP findings. Fall Migration. Spring Migration. The Monarch Larva Monitoring Project. MLMP Training.

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The Monarch Larva Monitoring Project: Citizens and Scientists Unraveling an Ecological Mystery

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  1. The Monarch Larva Monitoring Project: Citizens and Scientists Unraveling an Ecological Mystery

  2. Outline • Monarch Biology • Introduction to the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project • MLMP findings

  3. Fall Migration

  4. Spring Migration

  5. The Monarch Larva Monitoring Project

  6. MLMP Training www.mlmp.org

  7. MLMP Protocol • Volunteer and Choose a Site • Gardens, parks, roadsides, prairies (need milkweed) • Site Description • Location, size, type • Milkweed species and density • Weekly Monitoring (2-3 hours) • Estimate monarch densities • Quantify milkweed quality • Estimate parasitism rates • Track weather conditions

  8. Past and Current Monitoring Locations as of Summer 2003

  9. Annual Variation in Egg densities: Upper Midwest

  10. Egg densities: Upper Midwest Maximum eggs/milkweed

  11. Survival approximate measure of survival from egg to 5th instar Total # of 5ths Total # eggs =

  12. Upper Midwest Survival # 5th instars/# eggs 4861 179 1223 2799 1997 2423 10951 (# of eggs on bars)

  13. Tachinid Fly Parasitism

  14. Tachinid Fly Parasitism 2003 Rates in 2 Regions Upper Midwest Rates Proportion Parasitized

  15. MLMP Extensions • Monarchs and genetically modified crops (Bt corn and herbicide tolerant soybeans) • Potential effects of climate change • Impacts of land use changes • Impacts of pesticides • Impacts of environmental perturbations

  16. Impacts of Environmental Perturbations January 2002 Mexico Storm

  17. Egg densities: Upper Midwest Maximum eggs/milkweed

  18. Key Motivators • “My work may help promote monarch conservation” • “My work is leading to increased understanding of monarch biology” • “I am involved in real scientific research”

  19. Scientific Outcomes • Much can be learned from basic distribution and abundance data • In addition, data can • provide direction for experimental and theoretical research • inform public policy and conservation efforts

  20. Thanks!! • MLMP volunteers throughout US and Canada, students Michelles Solensky and Prysby, Sonia Altizer, Liz Goehring, Jolene Lushine and many more • NSF, Monarchs in the Classroom, and the Xerces Society

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