Monarch Watch

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Monarch Watch
FounderOrley R. "Chip" Taylor
TypeVolunteer-based citizen science organization
PurposeTracks the fall migration of the monarch butterfly
HeadquartersUniversity of Kansas
Director
Orley R. "Chip" Taylor
Chip Taylor, Director of Monarch Watch, holding a monarch butterfly
Chip Taylor, Director of Monarch Watch, holding a monarch butterfly

Monarch Watch is a volunteer-based citizen science organization that tracks the fall migration of the monarch butterfly.[1] It is self-described as "a nonprofit education, conservation, and research program based at the University of Kansas that focuses on the monarch butterfly, its habitat, and its spectacular fall migration."[2]

Organization

The informal organization is largely supported by teachers and students participating in "classroom projects, collaborative research" among other opportunities.

Fred Urquhart.[3] The tagging process was adapted by Orley Taylor to minimize the damage to the butterflies. Color-coded tags are glued to a monarch butterfly's wing.[3] Volunteers have tagged over 1.5 million monarchs in the last 26 years from Colorado to Canada.[6]

Monarch Waystation Program

Monarch Waystation Sign
Monarch Waystation Sign

The monarch butterfly is also known as the milkweed butterfly due to its subsistence on the milkweed plant for its habitat.[3] Largely due to commercial farming practices, the habitats of monarch butterflies have declined.[7] In an effort to mitigate the destruction of the monarch butterflies natural habitat, Monarch Watch has called for volunteers to plant milkweed wherever possible. Milkweed is essential to the life-cycle of the monarch butterfly as they lay their eggs on the underside of the plant's leaves.[8] It is possible to register and certify a site that is designated as a "Monarch Waystation."[9] These sites can also be added to an interactive map that is monitored by Monarch Watch. The program also offers free milkweed plugs to people that engage in the creation of habitats for monarchs and pollinators.[10] Primary consideration is given to non-profits and schools. There is an application process to receive the milkweed from Monarch Watch.[11]

Bring Back the Monarchs Campaign

Monarch Watch is not only focused on tracking the fall migration of monarchs, but also on the conservation of the monarch butterfly through the preservation and restoration of monarch habitats.[12] The destruction of habitats has negatively affected the monarch butterfly population as well as that of other pollinators.[12] Habitat shrinkage has resulted in the extinction of several species of pollinators over the last 50 years.[5] The monarch butterfly is also affected by parasites and the "declining winter habitat in Mexico."[8] Monarch Watch's efforts in this arena are specifically referred to at the "Bring Back the Monarchs Campaign."[12] The Bring Back the Monarchs Campaign is an offshoot of the Monarch Waystation Program.

Milkweed Market

Beyond offering free milkweed plugs, Monarch Watch also offers a shop by which an individual can purchase milkweed for the purpose of creating monarch habitats. The milkweed species offered to the buyer is contingent on the buyer's zip code, in an effort to ensure that only native milkweed is planted in the appropriate regional areas.[13]

References

  1. OCLC 54046294.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link
    )
  2. ^ a b [email protected], Jim Lovett -. "Monarch Watch : About Us : Introduction". monarchwatch.org. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
  3. ^
    ISSN 0036-8555
    – via ProQuest.
  4. ProQuest 462300037
    .
  5. ^
    ISSN 1053-6728
    – via ProQuest.
  6. ^ "A Message to all Taggers". Monarch Watch. 2018-08-03. Retrieved 2018-10-06.
  7. ^ [email protected], Jim Lovett -. "Monarch Watch : Monarch Waystation Program". monarchwatch.org. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
  8. ^
    ISSN 1525-1217
    – via ProQuest.
  9. ^ [email protected], Jim Lovett -. "Monarch Watch : Monarch Waystation Program". monarchwatch.org. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
  10. ^ "Monarch Waystation Network". Monarch Waystation Network. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
  11. ^ "Free Milkweed for Schools and NonProfits Application". Kansas Biological Survey. 2016-11-22. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
  12. ^ a b c "Bring Back The Monarchs". monarchwatch.org. Retrieved 2018-10-06.
  13. ^ "Monarch Watch Milkweed Market". monarchwatch.org. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
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