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New "Tactics and Vectors" Web Site

Donald Davis (Donald_Davis@stubbs.woodsworth.utoronto.ca)
Sun, 7 Sep 1997 12:03:28 -0500

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Dr. David Gibo, Erindale College, University of Toronto, has studied monarc=
h butterfly flight tactics for over 20 years and recently set up a web sit=
e to promote field studies by volunteer researchers on the flight behaviour=
and navigation of migrating butterflies in North America. He invites all =
interested individuals to participate in this study.=20

Dr. Gibo's website is wealth of information concerning migrating butterfly =
species, flight strategies, hypotheses about butterfly migration. He notes=
that at least 9 other North American butterflly species migrate north, so=
uth and /or soar in thermals - noting that the list of species is subject t=
o change as more information becomes available.=20

Following the example of Dr. Fred Urquhart and others in enabling individu=
als lacking extensive post secondary education to make significant contribu=
tions to a long term scientific project, Dr. Gibo provides information conc=
erning the tools and methods required to gather data. The basic field kit c=
onsists of a pair of binoculars, a good compass, a watch, a method of measu=
ring the wind, a thermometer, a clipboard and data forms.

The description of hypotheses on navigation by migrating monarch butterflie=
s is particularly well done, and includes the basic concept, assumptions, p=
redictions, limitations of the hypotheses, advantages and problems of navig=
ating as described by the hypotheses, and various tests, limitations and pr=
oblems related to the hypotheses.

An Associate Professor of Zoology at the University of Toronto, Dr. Gibo h=
as made many significant contributions in the areas of animal behaviour, en=
tomology, forensic entomology, mechanisms of evolution and has published nu=
merous scientific papers. Dr. Gibo has studied monarch flight from ultrali=
ght aircraft and gliders, and has even made use of surplus W.W.II radar equ=
ipment in his studies=21

Dr. Gibo's web site can be accessed at: http://www.erin.utoronto.ca/=7Ew3gi=
bo. Dr. Gibo can also be contacted at: dgibo=40credit.erin.utoronto.ca.

------------------------------------

Dr. Gibo's site offers a number of interesting links to other sites, such a=
s Journey North, the Monarch Watch, the red admiral and painted lady websit=
e.

The Red Admiral and Painted Lady Website can also be reached at: http:www.p=
ublic.iastate.edu/=7Emariposa/homepage.html

Don Davis

Toronto, ON

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