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