The knowledge of citizen scientists, biologists, and naturalists informs this book's coverage of every aspect of the monarch butterfly's life cycle (breeding, migration, and overwintering) from the perspective of every established monarch population (western North American, eastern North American, and Australian). In addition to presenting the most recent basic research on this species, The Monarch Butterfly contains the first publication of data compiled from two established citizen science projects, Journey North and the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project. It also reports for the first time on two major events of long-term importance to monarch conservation and biology: the creation of a larger protected area in the Mexican overwintering sites and a weather-related mortality event during the winter of 2002. Monarch butterflies are arguably the most recognized, studied, and loved of all insects, and the attention that scientists and the general public have paid to this species has increased both our understanding of the natural world and our concern about preserving it. The unique combination of basic research, background information, and conservation applications makes this book a valuable resource for ecologists, entomologists, naturalists, and teachers.
Book Description
Contributors: Sonia M. Altizer, Emory University Xiomara Mora Alvarez, Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve David Bennett, University of Iowa Jane Borland, Lamar High School, Arlington, TX Walter Bremer, ASLA, Cal Poly State University Lincoln P. Brower, Sweet Briar College William H. Calvert, Independent Monarch Biologist Thomas William Crumpton III, Baylor University Andy Davis, Emory University Johannes Feddema, University of Kansas Concha Fernandez del Ray, Breck School, Minneapolis, MN Dan Feuerstein, California Polytechnic State University Miguel Franco, University of Plymouth Dennis Frey, California Polytechnic State University Eligio García-Serrano, Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve Mark S. Garland, New Jersey Audubon Society, Cape May Bird Observatory, Northwood Center Kari A. Geurts, University of Minnesota Liz Goehring, Pennsylvania State University Tammi Hoevenaar, Western Michigan University Elizabeth Howard, Journey North Laura C. H. Jesse, Iowa State University Carol C. Johnson, John Jay High School, San Antonio, TX Andrés F. Keiman, Instituto de Ecología, UNAM Dave Kust, Breck School, Minneapolis, MN Katherine Kust, Woodland Elementary School, Brooklyn Park, MN Kingston L. H. Leong, California Polytechnic State University Stephen B. Malcolm, Western Michigan University Jacob Miller, Breck School, Minneapolis, MN Monica Missrie, University of Minnesota Karen S. Oberhauser, University of Minnesota John J. Obrycki, Iowa State University Karen Pape, Breck School, Minneapolis, MN Sandra Perez, University of Texas at El Paso Michelle D. Prysby, Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Linda S. Rayor, Cornell University Eduardo Rendon-Salinas, Instituto de Ecología, UNAM Jaime Lobato Reyes, Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve Wayne A. Rochester, The University of Queensland Walter H. Sakai, Santa Monica College Andrew Schaffner, California Polytechnic State University Jason Shields Michelle J. Solensky, University of Minnesota O.R. "Chip" Taylor, University of Kansas Markisha Thomas, John Jay High School, San Antonio, TX Gwen Yoshimura Myron P. Zalucki, The University of Queensland
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Editorial Reviews
From the Back Cover
"The Monarch Butterfly: Biology and Conservation is the most up-to-date and therefore essential word on our most beloved butterfly, the grand and endangered phenomenon of the migratory Monarch. Everyone who cares a whit for Monarchs should read these crucial, comprehensive, and fascinating messages from an amazing animal and the scientists who seek to save it."--Robert Michael Pyle, Ph.D., author of Chasing Monarchs: Migrating with the Butterflies of Passage, and founder of The Xerces Society
"The world's best known and perhaps best studied butterfly species still holds some fascinating secrets. This delicate international treasure critically needs protection and the continued vigilance of professional researchers and members of the public. This book describes pressing issues regarding the ecology and conservation of the Monarch butterfly; it is valuable for aesthetic, social, political, and scientific reasons."--J. Mark Scriber, Professor of Entomology, Michigan State University, and author/editor of Swallowtail Butterflies: Their Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
"This book succeeds not only in updating the current state of our knowledge about Monarchs and their fantastic migration, but also in showing how studies of Monarchs contribute to larger issues in contemporary biology, and how citizen scientists can be engaged in the process of scientific discovery. The commitment and hard work of these citizen scientists and the scientists who coach them makes clear the Monarch is the People's butterfly!"--Ron Rutowski, butterfly behavioral ecologist, Arizona State University
"This accessible and highly current summary of monarch butterfly reproduction, migration, over-wintering, and conservation biology should be of interest to scientists, naturalists, and anyone who is simply curious about this elegant insect. The short research papers comprising the book provide a rich mix of information, ranging from basic biology to topical conservation and management issues."--Carol L. Boggs, Stanford University, editor of Butterflies: Ecology and Evolution Taking Flight
About the Author
Karen Oberhauser is an Assistant Professor and Michelle J. Solensky a Research Associate in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation at the University of Minnesota, where they study monarch biology. They also use monarchs to involve the broader community in science research through the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project and Monarchs in the Classroom.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
NOT A COFFE TABLE BOOK - GREAT STUFF HERE,
This review is from: The Monarch Butterfly: Biology and Conservation (Hardcover)
Dispite the pretty cover to this work, this is not a "coffee table book" about pretty butterflys. This is an indepth collection of scientific articles addressing all aspects of the Monarch Butterfly. Sections include Breeding Biology, Migration Biology, Overwintering Biology and Integrated Biology. The collection of articles and monographs is very extensive and very technical. The reader should be warned that this is in no way a light read. On the other hand, if you want information on the monarch Butterfly, I cannot think of a single volume which will deliver more information that you have here. Recommend this speciality book quite highly. It is well worth the price.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Includes Much Interesting Information on Monarch Butterflies,
By
This review is from: The Monarch Butterfly: Biology and Conservation (Hardcover)
Instead of repeating other reviewers, I focus on some basic data provided by this scholarly anthology. Did you know that, for some females, as many as 55% of eggs laid are infertile? (Prysby, p. 34). A female monarch may lay 300-400 eggs in her lifetime. (Oberhauser, p. 3). From hatching to pupation, the monarch larva increases its mass by a factor of about 2,000. (Oberhauser, p. 4).
Intentional outdoor protection of monarch eggs and young larvae, from predatory insects and other natural enemies, can increase the early 5-day survival rate from a few percent to nearly 40%. (Prysby, p. 31). Otherwise, the monarch survival rate up to the fifth instar larvae is on the order of 10-20%. (Prysby and Oberhauser, p. 19, Prysby, p. 27), and less than 10% [some say about 4%] to adulthood. (Oberhauser, p. 4).
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Helping to raise and understand Monarchs,
By
This review is from: The Monarch Butterfly: Biology and Conservation (Hardcover)
Each fall millions of the orange and black butterflies fly south to Mexico for the winter, then return to the United States and Canada in the spring. These butterflies, which make up the entire breeding stock of monarchs for the Midwest and Eastern United States and Canada, form one of the best-known spectacles to nature lovers. This book includes essays by 46 contributors from three continents. The essays fit well together because they document the 2001 Monarch Population Dynamics Conference, which aimed "to understand the annual dynamics of a migratory insect with a continental distribution." The book is divided into four sections: Breeding, Migration, Overwintering and Integrated Biology. Each section begins with an overview chapter followed by more detailed chapters. A third of the book is dedicated to overwintering biology. Wintering populations are very compact (up to 60 million individuals per hectare) and vulnerable to winter storms and land use change. The book contains a chapter on monarch conservation policy in the Mexican wintering grounds. That description of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve is a highlight of the book. The book encouraged me contribute to the Reserve through the WWF. That's a great way to keep current on new findings about these beautiful insects. It also encouraged me to plant milkweeds in our garden, a beautiful plant made more beautiful by making it possible to observe all phases of the Monarch's summer life span. The book offers other suggestions on how to learn more about Monarchs. The articles are science based although aimed at "citizen scientists". I would have liked an introductory chapter covering essential features of the insect and its life in order to be better prepared for the more detailed analysis later in the book. (Milkweed, Monarchs and More: A Field Guide to the Invertebrate Community in the Milkweed Patch by by Ba Rea makes an excellent choice.) Even without such an introduction, this is an excellent study on this beautiful butterfly. Robert C. Ross 2008
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