Monarch Butterfly Migration Update: February 21, 2003

Today's Report Includes:

• Monarchs in the News: Population Rebounds, Deforestation Continues
• How News is Made
• Deforestation Pressures: Causes and Possible Solutions
• Domestic Uses of Wood: Ranch Tour With Noemi's Dad
• Challenge Question #5
• Where Are the Butterflies? Discussion of Challenge Question #2
• Why Look Down? Discussion of Challenge Question #3
• Millions of Monarchs Eaten by Predators
• Who Ate These Butterflies? Challenge Question #6

Dave Kust

"The data this winter indicate that the monarchs are moving back toward their average population size, which is very encouraging news," said Dr. Lincoln Brower. "But until illegal logging is halted in Mexico's butterfly sanctuaries, the monarchs remain increasingly vulnerable from exposure to storms and loss of habitat."

The researchers who measured the colonies this year witnessed illegal logging activities in the core zone of the reserve, in addition to heavy cutting in the parts of the buffer zone.

• Press Release: Monarch Butterfly Population Appears to Be Recovering from Last Winter's Devastating Die-off

• Monarch Butterflies Alive and Well in Mexico New York Times (No password required here.)
• Monarch Butterfly Comeback--National Public Radio: All Things Considered
• Se reduce mortandad de mariposa monarca-- Reforma (Mexico City)

Try This!

• Compare the headlines, content, wording, and information sources in each of the stories. How are they similar and different from the press release?
• If you wrote the headlines, what wording would you use?
• Did You Know? If your local newspaper missed this story, you can send the press release to a reporter. Learn how the news-making process works for yourself!

These maps show the rapid rate of deforestation in the monarch sanctuary area; 44% of the conserved forest was lost in the 15 years between 1984 and 1999. The butterflies need an intact forest to protect them from the elements. The trees serve as an umbrella and blanket, keeping the butterflies dry enough and warm enough to avoid freezing. In the coming weeks, we'll explore the complex issue of deforestation in the monarchs overwintering area, beginning with this week's story about the domestic wood needs of the local people.

Domestic Uses of Wood in the Monarch Sanctuary Region (Viewing Tips)

Noemi's family lives the traditional mountain lifestyle of Michoacan. On their ranch, they grow almost all of their own food, and they draw additional resources from the forest that surrounds them. Wood is an important resource. We asked Noemi's father to show us the many ways wood is used in their daily lives. Before viewing the video and photos, brainstorm with your class: How many different ways do you suppose the de Jesus family uses wood?

• A Glimpse at Daily Life in Garatachea (For those who cannot view the video clip.)

Challenge Question #5:
"How many uses of wood could you name before you watched the video (or saw the photos)? How many new uses did you find in the video/photos? Send your before-and-after lists with your answer."

(To respond to this question, please follow the instructions below.)

B

D

E

Students went on a photo safari last week in search of butterflies. Mrs. Nunnally's second grade class in Bedford, NH, said they looked long and hard at the photographs. "We think there are monarchs in photos D and E," they concluded. Mrs. Swentzel and her third grade class also looked carefully. "We feel that pictures B and E contain the colony of monarchs. But picture D has a few butterflies roosting on some of the trees." In describing the colonies they added, "They look like moss covered rocks hanging from the trees in the forest."

Great observations, everybody! In fact, D was a trick photo. You can see single butterflies, but those butterflies had flown away from the colonies, which were just over the hill in the direction the people are walking.

Here's what people imagined we were looking for:

• butterfly droppings
• pieces of butterfly wings or even some dead butterflies
• wings, bodies that had been eaten by birds, mice???
• you might even find a live monarch on the ground and you wouldn't want to step on it!

We were indeed watching for butterflies, dead and alive. Underneath a colony, butterflies litter the ground like confetti after a parade. And when the colony moves, the wings remain behind. We watched the ground for colorful wings, in case the butterflies were above us, camouflaged in the trees. Three times we came upon distinct areas where there were thousands of wings, but no butterflies above--silent testimony to the life and activity that was previously there. Because the wings remain on the ground for days and even weeks after the butterflies have gone, they leave a trail that tells the seasonal history of the colony. Scientists studying habitat needs can learn which areas are important to the butterflies by noting this litter of wings.

Millions of Monarchs Eaten by Predators
	Preyed-upon monarchs litter the forest floor (Viewing Tips)

Caution: Video clip of monarchs scattered across the forest floor like fallen soldiers is a little sad to see!

WHY are so many dead butterflies on the ground? Predators take a big bite out of the monarch population. "In a typical year, we estimate upwards of 15% of the entire over-wintering population dies due to predatory activities," says Dr. Calvert. (Many butterflies also die without apparent cause--perhaps from starvation.) "Of all the possible predators in the sanctuary area, only 3 prey extensively on monarchs--one mouse species and two bird species."

Black-eared mouse (Peromyscus melanotis)	Black-backed Oriole	Black-headed Grosbeak
	Photos Copyright Dr. Lincoln P. Brower, Sweet Briar College

Challenge Question #6:
"Who ate the butterflies in pictures #1, #2, an #3? Name the predator and give evidence."

IMPORTANT: Answer only ONE question in each e-mail message.

1. Address an e-mail message to: jn-challenge-monarch@learner.org
2. In the Subject Line of your message write: Challenge Question # 5 (or #6)
3. In the body of EACH message, give your answer to ONE of the questions above.

The Next Monarch Butterfly Migration Update Will Be Posted on February 28, 2003

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