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Monarch Larva Monitoring Project
Goals and Roles
“A Cooperative Effort to Generate and Share Ecological
Knowledge”
Citizen ScienceCitizen Science:• involves the public in organized scientific
research• is often used in conservation, applied
ecology and natural resource management• is an important tool in basic ecological
research
Examples of Citizen Science Projects
• NWS Cooperative Observing Program includes 11,500 volunteer observation stations
• National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count
• Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s FeederWatch, House Finch Disease Survey, etc.
Monarch Citizen Science• Insect Migration Association (1952)• Fourth of July Butterfly Count (1970’s)• Monarch Watch• Journey North• MLMP• Monarchs in the Classroom• Texas Monarch Watch• California Monarch Alert• Migratory Pollinators Project
Why Monarchs?• Scientific reasons
Migration and annual variability in pathways and strategies
Broad geographic distribution
• Practical reasons Ease of observation
and identification Amenability to
experimental research
Public recognition and iconic status
Monarch Larva Monitoring Project
• Network of volunteers tracking immature monarch abundances in the US and Canada
• Began in 1994 with UM lab group• Citizen involvement in 1997 • Differs from most other Citizen Science
projects in amount of time required and basic research focus
Outreach/Dissemination
Goal #1
• Understand local ecosystems and basic ecological principles
• Understand the scientific process
• Understand policy and conservation applications of ecological data
Increased scientific Increased scientific literacyliteracy
Outreach/Dissemination
Goal #2
• Exhibit for participating nature centers
• Website • Annual newsletter
conveying project findings, background information, links to other projects, etc.
Dissemination to participants and Dissemination to participants and communitycommunity
Outreach/Dissemination
Goal #3
• MLMP and extended research
• Education for non-volunteer audience: data utilization, project findings
Research/science education program for nature Research/science education program for nature centerscenters
Outreach/Dissemination
Goal #4
K-12 Involvement• Participation in MLMP via
school/teacher• Via ISE (visits to nature
centers, summer involvement)
• Data/curriculum utilization
Link formal education community, ISE and Link formal education community, ISE and scientistsscientists
Project Activities Goal #1
Provide baseline data on monarch Provide baseline data on monarch population biology for educators, population biology for educators, scientists, policy makers, and the publicscientists, policy makers, and the public • Basic distribution and abundance data • Temporal and spatial comparisons • Importance of various monarch habitats • Effects of environmental perturbations• Population dynamics (e.g. predation, timing of
mortality)
Project Activities Goal #2
Provide trainer and volunteer supportProvide trainer and volunteer support
• Encourage and facilitate communication• Retain volunteers • Disseminate findings• Make data collection and entry easy and
meaningful On-line tutorial Data sheets and directions Assuring quality data
University of Minnesota
•Training, Resources, Protocol Provide training materials Provide hands-on practice with monitoring and larva
ID Directions for training and recruiting Develop protocol
•Project communication and support Newsletter, website, networking (naturalists and
volunteers) Nature center and site displays Online support and field questions
•Data analysis and dissemination•Evaluation
Nature Centers• Conduct monitoring workshops
Registration, recruitment, logistics, materials Provide training for a variety of volunteer types Help volunteers develop implementation plans
• Facilitate on-site monitoring Set up schedule, maintain data Oversee data input
• Follow-up and support: maintain excitement and involvement
• Education Display Incorporation into other program activities
Volunteers• Conduct weekly monitoring
Per plant monarch density Site description, milkweed density Optional weather, plant condition and parasitism
data
• Data input Online data forms Data validation
• Education For children, students, community, etc.