David Ledyard-Marks: davidlm@umich.edu

Jordan Dantzer: jdantzer@umich.edu

Andrew Bieneman: bieneman@umich.edu

Monarch ButterfliesMonarch Butterflies• Danaus plexippus Danaus plexippus  • Life StagesLife Stages

– Milkweed:Milkweed:• Egg Egg • LarvaeLarvae• Pupae Pupae

– Adult - lifespan Adult - lifespan depends on migrationdepends on migration

– Multi-RegionalMulti-Regional

• ReproductionReproduction• Mortality RateMortality Rate

– AbioticAbiotic– BioticBiotic

http://www.kidzone.ws/animals/monarch_butterfly.htm

MigrationMigration

• Fall Migration to Fall Migration to Monarch Buttefly Monarch Buttefly Special Biosphere Special Biosphere Reserve (MBSBR) Reserve (MBSBR) on the border on the border between the States between the States of Mexico and of Mexico and MichoacanMichoacan

• October – April: October – April: ‘Overwintering’‘Overwintering’

• Full Migration Cycle Full Migration Cycle completed by completed by several generationsseveral generations

The ProblemThe Problem

• Monarch Butterflies Monarch Butterflies exclusively migrate exclusively migrate to the MBSBRto the MBSBR

• The Indigenous The Indigenous Population depends Population depends on the resources on the resources from the MBSBR for from the MBSBR for their survivaltheir survival

http://www.ecology.info/images/monarch-winter-cluster.jpg

HypothesisHypothesis

• Monarch Butterflies Monarch Butterflies and the Indigenous and the Indigenous Population Population surrounding the surrounding the MBSBR cannot MBSBR cannot continue to continue to cohabitate.cohabitate.

http://www.elmtreecentre.com/images/Monarch%20Butterfly%20-%20cropped%20for%20website.jpg

Our SolutionOur Solution

• Monarchs will Monarchs will exclusively utilize exclusively utilize the resources of the the resources of the MBSBRMBSBR– Genetically EngrainedGenetically Engrained– Unique EnvironmentUnique Environment

• The Indigenous The Indigenous Population PlanPopulation Plan– EcotourismEcotourism– ‘‘Pharmaceutical Pharmaceutical

Prospecting’Prospecting’– Year-long EconomyYear-long Economy

http://seanfitzgerald.com/images%20framesets/monarchs/living/source/mating_monarchs_1.htm

Migration Part #1Migration Part #1

• GeographyGeography– Continental DivideContinental Divide– We focus on the We focus on the

Monarchs East of the Monarchs East of the RockiesRockies

• Reproductive Reproductive DiapauseDiapause– Climate ChangesClimate Changes

• No floraNo flora• Unsuitable TemperaturesUnsuitable Temperatures

– Find sources of Find sources of milkweedmilkweed

http://www.butterflyencounters.com/store/products.php

Migration #2Migration #2

• How do they get to How do they get to Mexico Mexico – Successive Successive

GenerationsGenerations– Not GeographyNot Geography– UV Rays (Circadian UV Rays (Circadian

Clock)Clock)– MagnetismMagnetism

• Fuel = NectarFuel = Nectar– Stop-overStop-over

• Lipid DepletionLipid Depletion• Wind DamageWind Damage

http://www.pgmonarchs.org/bf.jpg

Monarch Butterfly Special Monarch Butterfly Special Biosphere ReserveBiosphere Reserve

• Established in 1986 Established in 1986 by a Presidential by a Presidential DecreeDecree

• Inaccessible AreaInaccessible Area• 2700m and 3600m 2700m and 3600m

peaks with slopes of peaks with slopes of 10-30%10-30%

• Homogenous Homogenous Middle-Aged Middle-Aged Oyamel Fir, Ideal Oyamel Fir, Ideal Climate for Climate for overwinteringoverwintering

http://www.cipec.org/research/mexico.html

Indigenous PopulationIndigenous Population

• Extreme PovertyExtreme Poverty– Basic NeedsBasic Needs– Not Conservation Not Conservation

MindedMinded

• Utilize MBSBRUtilize MBSBR– FarmingFarming– GrazingGrazing– FuelFuel– Timber (non-local)Timber (non-local)

DeforestationDeforestation

http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/monarch/SanctuaryDeforestationMaps.html

197119841999

ProblemsProblems• Human, not natural Human, not natural

protection (Problem protection (Problem with all Reserves)with all Reserves)

• Inadequate Border Inadequate Border ProtectionProtection

• Lack of Alternative Lack of Alternative Subsistence MeansSubsistence Means

• Not Compensated for Not Compensated for the Landthe Land

• MBSBR Ignored and MBSBR Ignored and Continued Use by Continued Use by IndigenousIndigenous

A Yucatan Maya farmer describes land use on his milpa

Illegal logging truck captured by community in the Monarch Butterfly Reserve; the loggers escaped.

http://www.cipec.org/research/mexico.html

The Next StepThe Next Step• 1998 - Double the 1998 - Double the

size of the Reservesize of the Reserve• 56,359 hectares56,359 hectares• Buy Logging RightsBuy Logging Rights

– GovernmentGovernment– Non-ProfitNon-Profit

• Develop Alternative Develop Alternative Employment in Employment in EcotourismEcotourism

• Creates No Need Creates No Need for Border for Border EnforcementEnforcement

http://www.amerikaventure.com/images/birding/guide_n_group.jpg

AlternativesAlternatives• Co-habitationCo-habitation

– Problem with Problem with Thinning TreesThinning Trees• TemperatureTemperature• LipidsLipids• UV RaysUV Rays• No Rain TrapsNo Rain Traps• Less Homogenous Less Homogenous

Oyamel Fir ZonesOyamel Fir Zones

– Current Rate of Current Rate of Human Use above Human Use above SustainabilitySustainability

• Butterfly TransferButterfly Transfer– Parasite EvolutionParasite Evolution

http://www.tabhauser.com/tab/images/butterfly%20monarch.JPG

The FutureThe Future

• EcotourismEcotourism– AutonomyAutonomy– Enforce Private Property Enforce Private Property

RightsRights– Expand Ecotourism Expand Ecotourism

ClienteleClientele– Social and Cultural Social and Cultural

Attractions for months Attractions for months without Butterfly without Butterfly ‘Overwintering’‘Overwintering’

– Develop Renewable Energy Develop Renewable Energy Source from Geothermal Source from Geothermal activityactivity

• Pharmaceutical Pharmaceutical ProspectingProspecting

Take Home MessageTake Home Message

The Challenge:The Challenge:

““If monarchs became extinct tomorrow, it If monarchs became extinct tomorrow, it is likely that the impact on our material is likely that the impact on our material well-being would be negligible” - Karen well-being would be negligible” - Karen

OberhauserOberhauser

Solutions ExistSolutions Exist