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
www.mlmp.org
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
Past and Current Monitoring Locations as of Summer 2003
Annual Variation in Egg densities: Upper Midwest
0.00
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
0.25
0.30
5/3
5/1
7
5/3
1
6/1
4
6/2
8
7/1
2
7/2
6
8/9
8/2
3
9/6
9/2
0
Eg
gs
pe
r m
ilkw
ee
d o
bs
erv
ed
1997
1998
2000
2002
2003
0.00
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
0.25
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Maxim
um
eg
gs/m
ilkw
eed
Egg densities: Upper Midwest
Survival
Total # of 5ths
Total # eggs
approximate measure of survival from egg to 5th instar
=
Upper Midwest Survival
(# of eggs on bars)
0.00
0.02
0.04
0.06
0.08
0.10
0.12
0.14
0.16
0.18
0.20
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
2799
179 1223
10951 2423
1997
4861
# 5
th in
sta
rs/#
eg
gs
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
WI
- 27
MI
- 46
MI
- 57
WI
- 16
WI
- 26
WI
- 38
PA
- 4
08
WI
- 13
WI
- 17
MI
- 11
4
WI
- 20
4
WI
- 10
PA
-11
MI
- 12
WI
- 12
Man
itoba
- 1
4
WI
- 19
MN
- 2
1
NC
- 3
6
MI
- 55
WI
- 72
dead fromanothercause
parasitizedby fly
healthyadult
1999 2000 2001 2002
Tachinid Fly Parasitism
Tachinid Fly Parasitism
0.00
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
0.25
0.30
2000 2001 2002 20030.00
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
0.25
0.30
MN, WI, MI PA, OH
Upper Midwest Rates
2003 Rates in 2 Regions
Pro
port
ion
P
ara
sit
ized
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
Impacts of Environmental Perturbations
January 2002 Mexico Storm
0.00
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
0.25
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Maxim
um
eg
gs/m
ilkw
eed
Egg densities: Upper Midwest
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”
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
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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