Journey North Monarch Butterfly Spring 2004

Monarch Butterfly Migration Update: February 6, 2004

Today's Report Includes:

Welcome to Journey North's Spring Monarch Migration Season!
Hello from Sunny Mexico: How's the Weather?
Challenge Question #1
Monarchs and Microclimate: Integrating Meteorology and Journey North
Monitoring the Monarchs' Weather: Daily Chart
Monarchs in the News: Matan heladas a monarcas
Challenge Question #2
All the Eggs in One Basket and Other Analogies
Monarch Population Dynamics: Let Me Count the Ways
NEW THIS SPRING: MapServer Makes Instant Maps
Testing 1,2,3...Put a "Practice Report" on the Map
Before the Migration Begins: Report Over-wintering Monarchs Now

Location of monarch sanctuaries in Mexico
NASA

Welcome to Journey North's Spring Monarch Migration Season!
We begin each year while the monarchs are still at the over-wintering sites, deep in central Mexico. Their spring migration will begin in March, just a few short weeks away. We hope you're ready to help track their journey north! (See how to prepare below.)

Hello from Sunny Mexico: How's the Weather?
Last fall, the monarchs flew a long distance to a very special place on the planet. The monarchs over-winter on just 10-12 mountain tops, in high elevation fir forests. Everybody knows that monarchs go to Mexico to escape the long, cold northern winters. What do you suppose the weather is like at the monarch sanctuaries, near the town of Angangueo, Mexico?

Here's the daily weather report for Angangueo, Michoacan, Mexico (Yahoo)

But wait! Before you look, think about this: How do you imagine the monarchs' winter weather in Mexico? How warm do you think it gets in the daytime? How cold do you think it gets at night? Record your predicted temperatures. Then check the weather report and answer this season’s first Challenge Question:

Challenge Question #1:
"How were the temperatures different than you predicted? What questions do you have now, based on this new information?"

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

Microclimate

A "microclimate" is the climate of a small, localized area in which the climate differs from the general climate due to the unique amounts of sunlight, wind and moisture this localized area receives.

Monarchs and Microclimate: Integrating Meteorology and Journey North
This winter, we'll explore the key climatic factors that can mean life or death for monarchs in Mexico. Temperatures, frost, dew, sunlight, shade, moisture, elevation and exposure are key variables in the monarch’s unique winter habitat. Record the daily weather data from Mexico on the chart below. Over the weeks, we'll see how each of the variables affects the monarchs:

Monitoring the Monarchs’ Weather: Daily Chart (Printer friendly version)

Monarchs in the News: Matan heladas a monarcas
On Tuesday this week, February 3, Mexican newspaper headlines reported that very low temperatures and a snowstorm killed up to 10 percent of the over-wintering monarch population, some 11 million monarchs. In contrast, the devastating storm back in January of 2002 killed 80% of the population at that time. Those interested and able can read the full story in Spanish in the Mexican Newspaper "Reforma." Search for the headlines, "Matan heladas a monarcas."

Mexican Newspaper "Reforma"
Challenge Question #2:
"If 10% of the population died, how many butterflies remain?"

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


Monarchs in 1999 Snowstorm Snow doesn't always kill monarchs. They can remain alive for days trapped or buried in snow.

All the Eggs in One Basket and Other Analogies
Cold temperatures and snow are among the many threats monarchs face while attempting to survive the winter in Mexico. Just imagine: 10% of the entire overwintering population died last week in a single storm!

It's often said that "all eggs are in one basket" while the monarchs are in Mexico. The over-wintering habitat is considered the "Achilles heel" of monarch survival. In the monarch's annual cycle, this habitat is considered the "weakest link in the chain." Draw images to illustrate these analogies, and explain why good winter habitat is critical for monarchs. When you read, watch how writers use analogies to help readers understand a new concept.

Monarch Population Dynamics: Let Me Count the Ways
Scientists who study population sizes and the many variables that affect them are concerned with "population dynamics." You'll appreciate how challenging the scientists' work is by thinking through this problem yourself! On the chart below, list all the factors you discover that can cause high or low numbers at each stage of the monarch's annual cycle. Keep and maintain this chart during your monarch study. How many variables can you add over time?

Monarch Population Dynamics

"Population Dynamics" is the study of changes in the number and composition of individuals in a population, and the factors that influence those changes.

NEW THIS SPRING! MapServer Makes Instant Maps
Before, our migration maps were updated once per week. Now, our new "MapServer" will add your sightings to the map while you wait. (Maps are remade every 5 minutes, after latitude and longitude of all new sightings have been retrieved.)

Link to MapServer

Testing 1,2,3...Put Your "Practice Report" on

the Map
Please help us work out the bugs before the migration begins. Come to the web and test the new system. Submit a "Practice Report,” wait 5 minutes... then see your report plotted on the map!

Please Report Over-wintering Monarchs Now

Here's Where Monarchs are Overwintering Now

Not all monarchs migrate to the Mexican sanctuaries. Some monarchs are found during the winter in northern Mexico, along the coasts of the U.S. Gulf States, and along the California coast. The map to the right shows where overwintering monarchs have already been reported.

If you see monarchs in your region now, please report them as "Monarchs Over-wintering." Before the migration begins, we want to document the location of over-wintering monarchs. We need to know where monarchs remained throughout the winter to properly interpret migration patterns in the spring.
Report Sightings and View the MapServer Here

How to Respond to Today's Challenge Questions:

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 #1 (or #2)
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 13, 2004