Monarch Migration Research
Donation protected
Saving the Monarch migration is the biggest topic in the butterfly world today. Since it is a multi-thousand mile migration mediated by a hibernation/diapause, one cannot truly understand how to save the migration without completely understanding diapause/reproductive arrest. The main diapause information used today is 40 years old and needs to be updated with our new diapause trigger.
I am thankful for the Cornell University PhD program training in entomology, founding and 5 years of operating Orlando's only butterfly conservatory, Lukas Butterfly Encounter at Lukas Nursery, 5 years of Monarch research with Dr. Glenn Cunningham (retired UCF Chemistry Dept. Chairman) and training by the International Butterfly Breeders of America (IBBA) and International Association of Butterfly Exhibitors and Suppliers (IABES) has made this all possible.
Despite the Covid-19 pandemic our Fall 2020 diapause/reproductive hibernation trigger research for migratory Monarch enters its final phase. We will test 100 female & 100 male wild migratory Monarchs to find whether they are in partial diapause (their reproduction partially shut down) or in deep diapause (their reproduction completely shut down) for the third year. We will also manipulate any partial diapausing Monarchs into deep diapausing Monarchs one more time. We need reliable data with large numbers of Monarchs and are adding several more control experiments like testing males & females individually, etc.
Our collaboration begins this fall with a senior University of Central Florida Biology professor conducting some experiments in his lab. UCF is the largest research University in the Country by enrollment. This is a probationary period of collaboration for me and hopefully will culminate in our publication next summer of The Trigger for Reproductive Diapause in Migratory Monarchs of Eastern North America (Danaus plexippus). Our first grant application cannot occur until next year and our success will be depend mainly upon the result this fall of our research.
These are simple experiments using a new tool, a bio-assay for "hibernation" (true reproductive diapause) that is more sensitive than the previous methods. To obtain these wild migrants requires minimal travel, per diem and shipping, as well as some basic lab equipment costs (digital devices, small cages, nectar substitute, milkweed plants, etc.).
So if you care about protecting the Monarch migration with important new knowledge and scientific information, please make a small contribution to our efforts and plant more milkweed.
2020 Fall Cost Breakdown:
~200 wild Migrant Monarchs captured by a California Overwintering Colonies/entomology expert -$1,350
Including
-round trip airfare Sacramento to Minneapolis Aug. 21-25- $350
-rental car & gas: $350
-5 nights in motels: $350
-Consulting fee: $300
For Equipment
-$1000
Mike Rich
I am thankful for the Cornell University PhD program training in entomology, founding and 5 years of operating Orlando's only butterfly conservatory, Lukas Butterfly Encounter at Lukas Nursery, 5 years of Monarch research with Dr. Glenn Cunningham (retired UCF Chemistry Dept. Chairman) and training by the International Butterfly Breeders of America (IBBA) and International Association of Butterfly Exhibitors and Suppliers (IABES) has made this all possible.
Despite the Covid-19 pandemic our Fall 2020 diapause/reproductive hibernation trigger research for migratory Monarch enters its final phase. We will test 100 female & 100 male wild migratory Monarchs to find whether they are in partial diapause (their reproduction partially shut down) or in deep diapause (their reproduction completely shut down) for the third year. We will also manipulate any partial diapausing Monarchs into deep diapausing Monarchs one more time. We need reliable data with large numbers of Monarchs and are adding several more control experiments like testing males & females individually, etc.
Our collaboration begins this fall with a senior University of Central Florida Biology professor conducting some experiments in his lab. UCF is the largest research University in the Country by enrollment. This is a probationary period of collaboration for me and hopefully will culminate in our publication next summer of The Trigger for Reproductive Diapause in Migratory Monarchs of Eastern North America (Danaus plexippus). Our first grant application cannot occur until next year and our success will be depend mainly upon the result this fall of our research.
These are simple experiments using a new tool, a bio-assay for "hibernation" (true reproductive diapause) that is more sensitive than the previous methods. To obtain these wild migrants requires minimal travel, per diem and shipping, as well as some basic lab equipment costs (digital devices, small cages, nectar substitute, milkweed plants, etc.).
So if you care about protecting the Monarch migration with important new knowledge and scientific information, please make a small contribution to our efforts and plant more milkweed.
2020 Fall Cost Breakdown:
~200 wild Migrant Monarchs captured by a California Overwintering Colonies/entomology expert -$1,350
Including
-round trip airfare Sacramento to Minneapolis Aug. 21-25- $350
-rental car & gas: $350
-5 nights in motels: $350
-Consulting fee: $300
For Equipment
-$1000
Mike Rich
Organizer
Mike Rich
Organizer
Oviedo, FL
