Progress 10/01/19 to 09/30/20
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audiences reached for this project during the reporting period wereagricultural producers, county, regional and state-based extension personnel, agricultural commodity groups, agricultural-based industries, and individuals interested in establishing monarch habitat in Iowa. Partners include agribusiness, conservation organizations, state agencies (Iowa DNR, IDALS), NGOs, and federal agency professionals. Changes/Problems:The covid pandemic curtails our ability to hold in person (e.g., field day) meetings with stakeholders. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project has provided opportunities for MS and PhD students, staff and faculty to attend virtual professional meetings of the Entomological Society of America. Graduate students are also preparing and/or submitting journal articles, that further their professional development. In November 2019, one graduate student co-led and organized a symposium on butterflies at risk; she is currently the co-editor for an upcoming issue of the Annals of Entomology in which papers from the symposium will be published. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?With the covid pandemic it was not possible to hold field days. Research results have been delivered to stakeholders this year through a library of short videos available online [ https://monarch.ent.iastate.edu/video ], extension publications, symposia at professional meetings (e.g. Soil and Water Conservation Society, Entomological Society of America, Keystone Monarch Collaborative meetings, etc.) and social media via @IowaMonarchs, and interviews with media and farm publications. The Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium met in March and September, 2020 and were provided an update of the research and outreach/extension portfolio. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Data analysis and manuscript preparation/submission will continue, consistent with studies in progress or nearing completion. Future papers will address best practices for establishing and maintaining milkweed and native forbs in grass dominated sites, including sites dominated by brome; the nature and extent of intraspecific competition of monarch larvae with and without milkweed limitation. In 2021 research presentations are anticipated at virtual professional when available; e.g., 2021 National and North Central Entomological Society meetings. An Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium meeting is being planned for early 2021 to inform farm community members about research, progress on Iowa's strategy and the anticipated December 2020 monarch butterfly listing decision by USFWS and implications the decision for Iowa.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
IMPACT: Our research supports monarch conservation in Midwestern agroecosystems. Research this period advanced techniques to monitor and assess milkweed density in roadsides and evaluate causes of adult mortality during the fall migration. Published studies improved understanding of larval monarch growth and development in habitat patches with different milkweed densities and documented a potential method to evaluate continental dispersion of adult monarchs based on mitochondrial genome-wide variation. These findings were shared with stakeholders in a covid-19 environment with social media and on-line presentations at scientific meetings. This work aids in the development of monarch conservation practices and will inform the future USFWS Endangered Species Act listing decision and associated conservation practices being developed by USDA and stakeholders in agricultural communities. Presentations included senior staff and managers from USDA/NRCS, USFWS, and non-governmental organizations to support science-policy formulation associated with the pending, December 2019 ESA listing decision. Objective 1. Establish survey and sampling protocols that can be applied region-wide to evaluate breeding habitat quality, monarch habitat utilization, and life stage assessment for a region-wide monarch life cycle baseline. Habitat quality and monarch utilization data collected during 2016 - 2019 with common survey and sampling protocols at approximately 45 locations across the state have been curated and summarized. Statistical analyses of these data, pooled from 2 NRCS CIG grants and 2 commodity grants focused on habitat establishment methods at primarily grass-dominated sites will provide insights on monarch habitat succession and monarch utilization, based on egg, larvae and adult counts at each site. A manuscript addressing the economic benefits of converting grass dominated sites to monarch habitat was submitted to the Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management and is in revision. A manuscript describing a milkweed detection system for road rights of ways using cameras mounted on a vehicle and post- processing images using pattern recognition software was published. Objective 2. Research results will be communicated to stakeholders through a variety of educational outreach activities. With the covid pandemic it was not possible to hold field days. Research results have been delivered to stakeholders this year through a library of short videos available online [ https://monarch.ent.iastate.edu/video ], extension publications, symposia at professional meetings (e.g. Soil and Water Conservation Society, Entomological Society of America, Keystone Monarch Collaborative meetings) and social media via @IowaMonarchs, and interviews with media and farm publications. The Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium met in March and September, 2020 and were provided updates of research and outreach/extension portfolio. Objective 3. Determine optimal breeding habitat patch characteristics. We continue to work on this objective. Last year's report summarized research concerning monarch adult and larval preference of different milkweed species. This work was extended to assess larval utilization of single or co- located common milkweed ramets. These studies evaluated the extent to which larvae move on and between ramets and the extent of intra-specific competition of larvae on the same milkweed stem. Results to date indicate that larvae leave their natal ramet during the fourth instar even though sufficient biomass remains on the plant. These results indicate isolated milkweed stems will likely not support development through pupation. These findings were published in the Journal of Insect Conservation. Analyses of studies assessing intraspecific competition of monarch larvae are on-going. Monarch larvae engage in cannibalism during starvation and as the instar age span increased, cannibalism was more frequent. A second study determined how larval density and limited food availability played a role in larval cannibalism, which rarely happened under more favorable conditions. A third study established egg cannibalism among all instar stages. Additional analyses are also addressing results from experiments refining best practice for establishing common milkweed in brome. Preliminary results show that planting rhizomes is most successful; results to date also suggest that milkweed only patches in a brome-dominated landscape can connect other patches and larger restorations. The team contributed to a publication that further confirms increased spring and summer reproduction, rather than mortality during the fall migration, explains the annual variability in overwintering monarch populations.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Taylor, O.R., Pleasants, J.M., Grundel, R., Pecoraro, S.D., Lovett, J.P., and Ryan, A. 2019. Evaluating the migration mortality hypothesis using monarch tagging data. Frontiers Ecology Evolution. doi: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00264
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Fisher, K.E., Hellmich, R.L. and Bradbury, S.P. 2020. Significance of monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) larval movement on conservation efforts and survey designs. J. Insect Conser. (https://doi.ord/10.1007/s10841-019-00213-2).
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Ozcan, K., Sharma, A., Bradbury, S.P., Schweitzer, D., and Blodgett, S.L. 2020. Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) plant detection using mobile cameras. Ecosphere (https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.2992).
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Bradbury, S., Isenhart, T. and D. Schweitzer. 2019. Establishing and managing pollinator habitat on saturated riparian buffers. https://store.extension.iastate.edu/product/15730
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Bradbury, S.P. (Ed). 2020. Enhancing monarch conservation in Iowa. https://store.extension.iastate.edu/product/15925
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Progress 10/01/18 to 09/30/19
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience(s) for this project are agricultural producers, county, regional and state-based extension personnel, agricultural commodity groups, agricultural-based industries, and individuals interested in establishing monarch habitat in Iowa. Partners include agribusiness, state agencies (Iowa DNR, IDALS), NGOs, and federal agency professionals. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project has provided opportunities for MS and PhD students, staff and faculty to attend regional and national professional meetings and training opportunities. Developmental opportunities include presentations at ecological society, entomological and wildlife society meetings. Training at a NSF-sponsored workshop on statistical models to estimating flight paths and habitat utilization for one PhD student, who was selected through a competitive process. Examples of professional society meetings include North Central Branch of the Entomological Society of America meeting, in Cincinnati, OH (March 2019) and the national meeting Entomological Society of America meeting in Vancover, B.C. (Nov 2018). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Research results have been delivered to stakeholders this year through a variety of methods including 6 field days, a library of short videos available online [ https://monarch.ent.iastate.edu/video ], symposia at professional meetings (e.g. associations, societies, Monarch Joint Venture, etc.), in-person and webinar presentations to producer, commodity, and supply chain stakeholders, social media via @IowaMonarchs, and interviews with media and farm publications. The Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium met in April, 2019 and were provided an update of the research and outreach/extension portfolio. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Research, data analysis and manuscript preparation/submission will continue, consistent with studies in progress. Future studies include competition studies to determine how to keep brome from encroaching into a milkweed patch/prairie planting; assessing the extent to which nectar plants with milkweed in brome can attract female monarchs, and expanding egg cannibalism studies to determine if larvae have a preference for eggs over leaves. In November 2019 numerous presentations will be provided by team members - one graduate student co-leading and organizing a symposium on butterflies at risk. Additional papers anticipated for the 2020 North Central Entomological Society meeting. An Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium meeting is being planned for early 2020 to inform farm community members about research, progress on Iowa's strategy and the anticipated December 2020 decision by USFWS about monarch butterfly listing under the ESA and what implications it might have for Iowa.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
IMPACT: Our research supports monarch conservation in Midwestern agroecosystems. Research this period advanced techniques to monitor and assess milkweed density in roadsides and adult butterfly populations in representative landscapes across Iowa. Studies also improved understanding of larval monarch growth and development in habitat patches with different milkweed densities. These findings were shared with stakeholders through field days, on-line videos, social media , and presentations at scientific meetings. This work aids in the development of monarch conservation practices and will inform the future USFWS Endangered Species Act listing decision and associated conservation practices being developed by USDA. This year senior staff and managers from these USDA/NRCS were briefed on the research effort to support science-policy formulation associated with the pending, December 2019 ESA listing decision. Objective 1. Establish survey and sampling protocols that can be applied region-wide to evaluate breeding habitat quality, monarch habitat utilization, and life stage assessment for a region-wide monarch life cycle baseline. Habitat quality and monarch utilization data collected during 2016 - 2019 with common survey and sampling protocols at approximately 45 locations across the state are being curated and summarized. Statistical nalyses of these data, pooled from 2 NRCS CIG grants and 2 commodity grants focused on habitat establishment methods at primarily grass-dominated sites will provide insights on monarch habitat succession and monarch utilization, based on egg, larvae and adult counts at each site. A manuscript describing a milkweed detection system for road rights of ways using cameras mounted on a vehicle and post-processing images using pattern recognition software, was accepted for publication. Another paper was accepted and published that used surveyed adult monarchs throughout the state of Iowa using a random stratified design. The survey data was to estimate monarch site occupancy and dynamics. The results of the modeling suggested that monarchs use landscape-level habitat cues (e.g., presence of woodland) but not local site variables, such as milkweed density. Objective 2. Research results will be communicated to stakeholders through a variety of educational outreach activities. Research results have been delivered to stakeholders this year through a variety of methods including 6 field days, a library of short videos available online [ https://monarch.ent.iastate.edu/video ], symposia at professional meetings (e.g. associations, societies, Monarch Joint Venture, etc.) in-person and webinar presentations to producer, commodity, and supply chain stakeholders, social media via @IowaMonarchs, and interviews with media and farm publications. The Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium met in April, 2019 and were provided an update of the research and outreach/extension portfolio. Objective 3. Determine optimal breeding habitat patch characteristics. We continue to work on this objective. Last year's report summarized research concerning monarch adult and larval preference of different milkweed species. This work has been extended to assess larval utilization of common single or co-located milkweed ramets. These studies are evaluating the extent to which larvae move on and between ramets and the extent of intra-specific completion of larvae on the same milkweed stem. Results to date indicate that larvae leave their natal ramet during the fourth instar even though sufficient biomass remains on the plant. These results indicate isolated milkweed stems will likely not support development through pupation. A manuscript was submitted to the Journal of Insect Conservation; the paper is being revised based on minor comments and will be re-submitted before the end of the calendar year. Studies were also undertaken to assess intraspecific competition of monarch larvae. Monarch larvae engage in cannibalism during starvation and as the instar age span increased, cannibalism was more frequent. A second study determined larval density and food conditions played a role in larval cannibalism, which rarely happened under the more favorable conditions. A third study established egg cannibalism among all instar stages. Research also involved best practice for establishing common milkweed in brome. Preliminary results show that planting rhizomes is most successful among all pre-treatments. Results to date also suggest that milkweed only patches in a brome-dominated landscape can connect other patches and larger restorations. The team has also contributed to understanding the monarch migration from the North Central states to Mexico, with one paper accepted for publication (see products section) and one in review: Taylor, O.R., Pleasants, J.M., Grundel, R., Pecoraro, S.D., Lovett, J.P., and Ryan, A. 2019. Evaluating the migration mortality hypothesis using monarch tagging data. Frontiers Ecology Evolution (submitted).
Publications
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Blader, Teresa Rose. 2018. Milkweed patch size effects on monarch butterfly oviposition within Iowa prairies and roadsides. Iowa State University graduate theses and dissertations. 16319. https://doi.org/10.31274/etd-180810-5949
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Dinsmore, S.J., Vanausdall, R.A., Murphy, K.T., Kinkkead, K.E., and Frese, P.W. 2019. Patterns of monarch site occupancy and dynamics in Iowa. Frontiers Ecology Evolution. doi: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00169
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Progress 12/13/17 to 09/30/18
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this project are agricultural producers, county, regional and state based extension personnel, agricultural commodity groups, agricultural-based industries, and individuals interested in establishing monarch habitat in Iowa. Partners include agribusiness, state agencies (IDNR, IDALS), NGOs, and federal agencies professionals. Changes/Problems:The upcoming decision by the USFWS on whether the monarch butterfly will be listed as a threatened species or not will have implications for research, extension and agricultural activities. The decision is anticipated in June 2019. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project has supported MS, and Ph.D. students, postdocs, staff and faculty to attend regional and national professional meetings and training opportunities.Training opportunities include both entomological meetings and also statistical training for spatial statistics. Examples include North Central Branch of the Entomolgocial Society of America meeting, in Madison WI (March 18-21, 2018), national meeting Entomolgical Society of America meeting in Vancover, B.C. (Nov 2018), Ecological Society of America meeting in Aug 2018, and other specialized trainings. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Research results have been delivered to stakeholders through a vareity of methods including field days, a Monarch Summit, short videos available online, symposia at professional meetings, interviews with media and farm publications. Participants at the2018Iowa Monarch Summit and Field Day enjoyed a full day ofpresentationsand field tours at the ISU Field Extension Education Lab near Boone, Iowa Aug 2018).Mike Naig, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, welcomednearly 70attendees and highlighted the importance of partnerships to support conservation efforts statewide. Participants rotated throughindoor and outdoorpresentations led by: Kelsey Fisher, ISU graduate student -- What radio telemetry can tell us about monarchs Dr. Tyler Grant, ISU postdoctoral researcher -- Modeling monarch habitat in the agricultural landscape Keith Bidne, USDA-ARS -- Monarch butterfly biology, annual migration, and life stages Josh Divan, Laura Leben, Dan Borchardt; Iowa Pheasants Forever -- Choosing native mixes to fit your goals Wayne Fredericks, Mitchell county farmer -- Pollinator habitat: Our journey Seth Appelgate, ISU ag specialist -- Monarch habitat establishment Ethan Thies,ISUag specialist-- Water quality and conservation practices Dr. Bob Hartzler, ISU Extension weed scientist -- Weed management in conservation plantings What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We plan to hold two summer field day events regarding the monarch butterfly habitat, establishment. An extension publication is planned to completion in 2019 that will detail successful steps to habitat establishment based on three years of research in a vareity of Iowa habitats. An Iowa Monarch Conservation Consoritum meeting is planned for April 2,2019 to inform farm community members about research, progress on strategy and the anticipated upcoming decision by USFWS about monarch butterfly listing and what implications it might have for Iowa.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Obj1. Establish survey and sampling protocols that can be applied region-wide to evaluate breeding habitat quality, monarch habitat utilization, and life stage assessment for a region-wide monarch life cycle baseline. Survey and sampling protocols have been tested throughout the state that evaluate habitat and monarch butterfly activity. Additional work is being done to evaluate a milkweed detection system using mobile cameras. A manuscript of this work is being developed. Obj. 2. Research results will be communicated to stakeholders through a variety of educational outreach activities. Research results have been delivered to stakeholders through a varity of methods including field days, a Monarch Summit, short videos available online, symposia at professional meetings, interviews with media and farm publications. The Iowa Monarch Conservation Strategy was approved by consoritum members in March 2018 and was updated with Best Management Practices. Obj. 3. Determine optimal breeding habitat patch characteristics and landscape spatial arrangements. We continue to work on the third goal. A Ph.D. student has been examining spatial arrangements and the monarch butterfly's response to stimuli.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
V. M. Pocius, Monarch butterflies do not place all of their eggs in one basket: oviposition on nine Midwestern milkweed species , Ecosphere, vol. 9, no. 1, 2018.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
V. M. Pocius, Monarch Butterflies Show Differential Utilization of Nine Midwestern Milkweed Species , Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 2018. DOIGoogle ScholarXML
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
S. E. Lizotte-Hall, Effect of postemergence fomesafen application on common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) growth and utilization by monarchs (Danaus plexippus) , Crop Protection, vol. 116, pp. 121-125, 2018.
DOIGoogle ScholarXML
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
T. J. Grant, Predicting monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) movement and egg-laying with a spatially-explicit agent-based model: The role of monarch perceptual range and spatial memory , Ecological Modelling, vol. 374, 2018.DOIGoogle ScholarXML
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