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Diffendorfer JE, Botello F, Drummond MA, Ancona ZH, Corro LM, Thogmartin WE, Ibsen PC, Moreno-Sanchez R, Lukens L, Sánchez-Cordero V. Changes in landscape and climate in Mexico and Texas reveal small effects on migratory habitat of monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus). Sci Rep 2024; 14:6703. [PMID: 38509089 PMCID: PMC10954652 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56693-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The decline of the iconic monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) in North America has motivated research on the impacts of land use and land cover (LULC) change and climate variability on monarch habitat and population dynamics. We investigated spring and fall trends in LULC, milkweed and nectar resources over a 20-year period, and ~ 30 years of climate variables in Mexico and Texas, U.S. This region supports spring breeding, and spring and fall migration during the annual life cycle of the monarch. We estimated a - 2.9% decline in milkweed in Texas, but little to no change in Mexico. Fall and spring nectar resources declined < 1% in both study extents. Vegetation greenness increased in the fall and spring in Mexico while the other climate variables did not change in both Mexico and Texas. Monarch habitat in Mexico and Texas appears relatively more intact than in the midwestern, agricultural landscapes of the U.S. Given the relatively modest observed changes in nectar and milkweed, the relatively stable climate conditions, and increased vegetation greenness in Mexico, it seems unlikely that habitat loss (quantity or quality) in Mexico and Texas has caused large declines in population size or survival during migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay E Diffendorfer
- U.S. Geological Survey, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, Lakewood, CO, USA.
| | - Francisco Botello
- Departamento de Zoología, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
- Departamento de Monitoreo Biológico y Planeación de Conservación, Conservación Biológica y Desarrollo Social, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Mark A Drummond
- U.S. Geological Survey, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, Lakewood, CO, USA
| | - Zach H Ancona
- U.S. Geological Survey, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, Lakewood, CO, USA
| | - Lucila M Corro
- U.S. Geological Survey, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, Lakewood, CO, USA
| | - Wayne E Thogmartin
- U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI, USA
| | - Peter C Ibsen
- U.S. Geological Survey, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, Lakewood, CO, USA
| | - Rafael Moreno-Sanchez
- Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Denver, 1200 Larimer St, NC 3016-C, Denver, CO, 80204, USA
| | - Laura Lukens
- Monarch Joint Venture, 2233 University Ave W., Suite 426, St. Paul, MN, USA
- Department of Forestry & Rangeland Science, Colorado State University, 1472 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Victor Sánchez-Cordero
- Departamento de Zoología, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
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2
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Shirey V, Ries L. Population dynamics and drivers of the eastern monarch (Danaus plexippus) across its full annual cycle: a cross-scale synthesis of a model migratory species. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 60:101132. [PMID: 37871775 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2023.101132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
The monarch butterfly is arguably the best-known butterfly species throughout its global range. Declines in the size of the overwintering colonies in Mexico have sparked controversy regarding the conservation of the species and this controversy has been heightened since the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and International Union for the Conservation of Nature concluded that the eastern monarch populations were threatened (or in the case of United States Fish and Wildlife Service, warranted listing). Drivers of decline vary through space and time. Here, we present a synthesis of longitudinal monarch abundance studies that aim to disentangle the putative drivers of decline from one another. We find remarkable consistency that suggests monarch populations are indeed declining and that potential drivers of such decline shift over time. We strongly encourage future work on the species paired with mechanistic, experimental designs to address some long-standing knowledge gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaughn Shirey
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, 37th and O Streets NW, Washington, DC 20057, USA; Marine and Environmental Biology Section - Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Allan Hancock Foundation Building, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
| | - Leslie Ries
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, 37th and O Streets NW, Washington, DC 20057, USA
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3
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Rendón-Salinas E, Alonso A, García-Serrano E, Valera-Bermejo A, Quesada M. The monarch butterfly in Mexico: a conservation model. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 60:101112. [PMID: 37837693 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2023.101112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
Each fall, millions of monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus L.) travel from Canada and the United States to overwinter in Mexico and California. In 2022, the IUCN listed migratory monarchs as endangered because of their population decline. The main accepted drivers are widespread use of herbicides, effects of climate, and land use change that causes habitat loss. We analyzed the main actions taken to officially protect the overwintering sites and the migration phenomenon with the establishment of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in 2000. The conservation of the monarch overwintering sites in Mexico is an example of continuous work from their discovery to the present. We highlight the importance of monitoring the areas covered by overwintering monarchs in Mexico. These colonies represent the largest concentrations of monarch populations in the world. In the last 10 years, the average area covered by monarchs was 2.72 ( ± 0.47 SE) hectares.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alfonso Alonso
- Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | | | - Mauricio Quesada
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad (UNAM), Morelia, Mich., Mexico
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4
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Pereponova A, Lischeid G, Grahmann K, Bellingrath-Kimura SD, Ewert FA. Use of the term "landscape" in sustainable agriculture research: A literature review. Heliyon 2023; 9:e22173. [PMID: 38053865 PMCID: PMC10694147 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Finding consensus in definitions of commonly-used terms and concepts is a key requirement to enable cooperations between interdisciplinary scientists and practitioners in inter- or transdisciplinary projects. In research on sustainable agriculture, the term 'landscape' is emphasised in particular, being used in studies that range from biogeochemical to socio-economic topics. However, it is normally used in a rather unspecific manner. Moreover, different disciplines assign deviating meanings to this term, which impedes interdisciplinary understanding and synthesis. To close this gap, a systematic literature review from relevant disciplines was conducted to identify a common understanding of the term "landscape". Three general categories of landscape conceptualizations were identified. In a small subset of studies, "landscape" is defined by area size or by natural or anthropogenic borders. The majority of reviewed papers, though, define landscapes as sets of relationships between various elements. Selection of respective elements differed widely depending on research objects. Based on these findings, a new definition of landscape is proposed, which can be operationalized by interdisciplinary researchers to define a common study object and which allows for sufficient flexibility depending on specific research questions. It also avoids over-emphasis on specific spatio-temporal relations at the "landscape scale", which may be context-dependent. Agricultural landscape research demands for study-specific definitions which should be meticulously provided in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Pereponova
- Postdoctoral Researcher at Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany
| | - Gunnar Lischeid
- Co-Head of Research Platform Data Analysis and Simulation at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF, and Professor at University of Potsdam, Institute of Environmental Science and Geography, Germany
| | - Kathrin Grahmann
- Tenure Track Candidate at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany
| | - Sonoko Dorothea Bellingrath-Kimura
- Co-Head of Research Area 2 at Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) and Professor at Humboldt University of Berlin, Department of Agronomy and Crop Science, Germany
| | - Frank A. Ewert
- Scientific Director of the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) and Professor at the University of Bonn, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), Germany
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5
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Korkmaz R, Rajabi H, Eshghi S, Gorb SN, Büscher TH. The frequency of wing damage in a migrating butterfly. INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 30:1507-1517. [PMID: 36434816 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The ability to fly is crucial for migratory insects. Consequently, the accumulation of damage on the wings over time can affect survival, especially for species that travel long distances. We examined the frequency of irreversible wing damage in the migratory butterfly Vanessa cardui to explore the effect of wing structure on wing damage frequency, as well as the mechanisms that might mitigate wing damage. An exceptionally high migration rate driven by high precipitation levels in their larval habitats in the winter of 2018-2019 provided us with an excellent opportunity to collect data on the frequency of naturally occurring wing damage associated with long-distance flights. Digital images of 135 individuals of V. cardui were collected and analyzed in Germany. The results show that the hindwings experienced a greater frequency of damage than the forewings. Moreover, forewings experienced more severe damage on the lateral margin, whereas hindwings experienced more damage on the trailing margin. The frequency of wing margin damage was higher in the painted lady butterfly than in the migrating monarch butterfly and in the butterfly Pontia occidentalis following artificially induced wing collisions. The results of this study could be used in future comparative studies of patterns of wing damage in butterflies and other insects. Additional studies are needed to clarify whether the strategies for coping with wing damage differ between migratory and nonmigratory species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rabiya Korkmaz
- Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Hamed Rajabi
- Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
- Division of Mechanical Engineering and Design, School of Engineering, London South Bank University, London, UK
| | - Shahab Eshghi
- Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Stanislav N Gorb
- Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Thies H Büscher
- Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
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6
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Zilnik G, Bergeron PE, Chuang A, Diepenbrock L, Hanel A, Middleton E, Moretti E, Schmidt-Jeffris R. Meta-Analysis of Herbicide Non-Target Effects on Pest Natural Enemies. INSECTS 2023; 14:787. [PMID: 37887799 PMCID: PMC10607068 DOI: 10.3390/insects14100787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
A critical component of integrated pest management is minimizing disruption of biological control by reducing the use of pesticides with significant non-target effects on natural enemies. Insecticide non-target effects testing for natural enemies has become increasingly common, but research examining the non-target effects of herbicides on natural enemies is scarce, and recommendations regarding herbicide selectivity are non-existent. We used meta-analysis to summarize laboratory bioassays testing non-target effects of herbicides on arthropod natural enemies and identify patterns in taxon susceptibility and active ingredient toxicity. Data were extracted from 78 papers representing 801 total observations. Herbicides increased natural enemy mortality and decreased longevity, reproduction, and predation. Mesostigmatan mites and hemipterans were the most sensitive to herbicides, and spiders, neuropterans, and hymenopterans were the least sensitive. Mortality was higher in juvenile predators versus parasitoids but did not differ between adults; parasitoid juveniles are likely better protected within the host. In terms of acute mortality, metribuzin, glufosinate, and oxyfluorfen were the most harmful herbicides. Only nicosulfuron, rimsulfuron, pendimethalin, phenmedipham, atrazine, and urea did not increase natural enemy mortality. The large effect size of glufosinate is particularly concerning, as it is the most likely replacement herbicide for glyphosate in many crops. Many active ingredients remain under-studied. Our analysis indicates that herbicides have a strong potential to disrupt biological control in cropping systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Zilnik
- Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Crop Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, 5230 Konnowac Pass Road, Wapato, WA 98951, USA; (E.M.); (R.S.-J.)
| | - Paul E. Bergeron
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, 166 FSHN 100 Dairy Road, Pullman, WA 99164, USA; (P.E.B.); (A.H.)
| | - Angela Chuang
- Entomology and Nematology Department, Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida, 700 Experiment Station Rd., Lake Alfred, FL 33850, USA; (A.C.); (L.D.)
| | - Lauren Diepenbrock
- Entomology and Nematology Department, Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida, 700 Experiment Station Rd., Lake Alfred, FL 33850, USA; (A.C.); (L.D.)
| | - Aldo Hanel
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, 166 FSHN 100 Dairy Road, Pullman, WA 99164, USA; (P.E.B.); (A.H.)
| | - Eric Middleton
- Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, 9335 Hazard Way Suite 201, San Diego, CA 92123, USA;
| | - Erica Moretti
- Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Crop Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, 5230 Konnowac Pass Road, Wapato, WA 98951, USA; (E.M.); (R.S.-J.)
| | - Rebecca Schmidt-Jeffris
- Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Crop Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, 5230 Konnowac Pass Road, Wapato, WA 98951, USA; (E.M.); (R.S.-J.)
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7
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Bub S, Wolfram J, Petschick LL, Stehle S, Schulz R. Trends of Total Applied Pesticide Toxicity in German Agriculture. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:852-861. [PMID: 36548198 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c07251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Expressing temporal changes in the use of pesticides, based not only on amounts (masses) but also on their toxicity for different species groups, was proposed as a sensible approach for evaluating potential environmental risks. Here, we calculated the total applied toxicity (TAT) between 1995 and 2019 for Germany, mapped it, and compared it to the US TAT and other risk indicators. Results show that the German TAT for terrestrial vertebrates decreased over time by about 20%. The TAT increased by a factor of three for fishes, largely due to insecticides, by a factor of two for soil organisms, largely due to fungicides and insecticides, and, to a lower extent, for terrestrial plants, solely due to herbicides. Other species groups showed no trends in TAT, which for pollinators likely results from neonicotinoid use restrictions. Many TAT trends from Germany and the US differ, partly due to different insecticide and fungicide uses. TAT, SYNOPS risk indicators, and the EU Harmonized Risk Indicators, currently being used to assess the German National Action Plan's goal to reduce risks by 30% by 2023, lead to clearly different risk perceptions. Validated approaches are needed for evaluation of risk quantifications at the national scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sascha Bub
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstrasse 7, D-76829 Landau, Germany
| | - Jakob Wolfram
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstrasse 7, D-76829 Landau, Germany
| | - Lara L Petschick
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstrasse 7, D-76829 Landau, Germany
| | - Sebastian Stehle
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstrasse 7, D-76829 Landau, Germany
| | - Ralf Schulz
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstrasse 7, D-76829 Landau, Germany
- Eusserthal Ecosystem Research Station, University of Koblenz-Landau, Birkenthalstrasse 13, D-76857 Eusserthal, Germany
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8
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Wang L, Wang H, Zha Y, Wei H, Chen F, Zeng J. Forest Quality and Available Hostplant Abundance Limit the Canopy Butterfly of Teinopalpus aureus. INSECTS 2022; 13:1082. [PMID: 36554992 PMCID: PMC9780839 DOI: 10.3390/insects13121082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Hostplant limitation is a key focus of the spatial interaction between a phytophagous butterfly and a hostplant. The possible drivers related to the hostplants are species richness, abundance, or availability, but no consensus has been reached. In this study, we investigated the butterfly-hostplant interaction using the case of the forest canopy butterfly T. aureus in Asia, whose narrow distribution is assumed to be limited by its exclusive hostplant, Magnoliaceae, in tropic and subtropic regions. We recorded the Magnoliaceae species, as well as plant and butterfly individuals in transect, and we collected tree traits and topography variables. The results confirm that this butterfly is limited by the hostplants of their larval stage. The hostplants occurred exclusively in the middle-mountain region, with preference only for primeval forests. The hostplant resource was superior in the middle-mountain region, particularly concentrating in primeval forests. The hostplant's abundance, together with altitude and habitat types, was critical to this butterfly's occurrence, while those hostplant trees with an exposed crown, which are demanded by this butterfly in its oviposition, were the best drivers of positive butterfly-hostplant interactions. Therefore, the hostplant's limitation was mainly determined by the availability of the hostplant. This case study supports the hypothesis that the limitation on this butterfly's occurrence was driven by the hostplant's availability, and it suggests that protecting high-quality forests is a valuable activity and essential in the conservation of canopy butterflies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Wang
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grass and Administration on Forest Ecosystem Protection and Restoration of Poyang Lake Watershed, College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China
- The Station of Observation and Research of Jiulianshan, Longnan 341701, China
| | - Hui Wang
- The Station of Observation and Research of Jiulianshan, Longnan 341701, China
- Jiulianshan National Nature Reserve of Jiangxi, Longnan 341701, China
| | - Yuhang Zha
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grass and Administration on Forest Ecosystem Protection and Restoration of Poyang Lake Watershed, College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China
- The Station of Observation and Research of Jiulianshan, Longnan 341701, China
| | - Heyi Wei
- Geodesign Research Centre, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang 330022, China
| | - Fusheng Chen
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grass and Administration on Forest Ecosystem Protection and Restoration of Poyang Lake Watershed, College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China
- The Station of Observation and Research of Jiulianshan, Longnan 341701, China
| | - Juping Zeng
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grass and Administration on Forest Ecosystem Protection and Restoration of Poyang Lake Watershed, College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China
- The Station of Observation and Research of Jiulianshan, Longnan 341701, China
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9
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Pollinator biological traits and ecological interactions mediate the impacts of mosquito-targeting malathion application. Sci Rep 2022; 12:17039. [PMID: 36220841 PMCID: PMC9554017 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-20823-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Mosquito adulticides are perceived by the public as detrimental to nontarget arthropods, contributing to declines of native and beneficial insects. However, the actual impact of adulticides on nontarget arthropods in nature needs to incorporate biological and ecological elements. Here, we investigated the effect of biological/behavioral traits (butterfly roosting at different heights, roosting in sites underneath foliage, bumblebee hive usage) and interactions (parasitism, predation) of pollinators (butterflies and bumblebees) that could mediate the impacts of malathion application in manipulative semi-field experiments in Florida, USA. Roosting height from the spray route had a significant negative relationship with mortality of butterflies treated with ULV malathion, with high survival at the highest roosting height (7 m), but butterflies roosting among vegetation did not have higher survival. Bumblebees with hive access had significantly higher survival than bumblebees without hive access. Host plants treated with ULV malathion significantly reduced parasitism of monarch eggs by Trichogramma platneri, but increased predation of monarch caterpillars by Polistes paper wasps. These data provide insight into the realistic impacts of adulticide applications on pollinators in nature which will enable mosquito control districts to better limit nontarget effects of adulticide treatments and may help to address concerns related to potential nontarget effects.
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10
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Putting pesticides on the map for pollinator research and conservation. Sci Data 2022; 9:571. [PMID: 36114185 PMCID: PMC9481633 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-022-01584-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Wild and managed pollinators are essential to food production and the function of natural ecosystems; however, their populations are threatened by multiple stressors including pesticide use. Because pollinator species can travel hundreds to thousands of meters to forage, recent research has stressed the importance of evaluating pollinator decline at the landscape scale. However, scientists’ and conservationists’ ability to do this has been limited by a lack of accessible data on pesticide use at relevant spatial scales and in toxicological units meaningful to pollinators. Here, we synthesize information from several large, publicly available datasets on pesticide use patterns, land use, and toxicity to generate novel datasets describing pesticide use by active ingredient (kg, 1997–2017) and aggregate insecticide load (kg and honey bee lethal doses, 1997–2014) for state-crop combinations in the contiguous U.S. Furthermore, by linking pesticide datasets with land-use data, we describe a method to map pesticide indicators at spatial scales relevant to pollinator research and conservation. Measurement(s) | LD50 • Pesticide • area of cropland • land cover | Technology Type(s) | dose response design • Survey • remote sensing | Factor Type(s) | pesticide active ingredient • contact vs. oral • state • year • crop group | Sample Characteristic - Organism | Apis mellifera | Sample Characteristic - Environment | cropland ecosystem | Sample Characteristic - Location | contiguous United States of America |
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11
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Scherer G, Fartmann T. Occurrence of an endangered grassland butterfly is mainly driven by habitat heterogeneity, food availability, and microclimate. INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 29:1211-1225. [PMID: 34585509 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia) was once widespread in large parts of Central Europe. However, in the course of the last century, populations of the butterfly largely collapsed. Here, we surveyed patch and microhabitat occupancy and its drivers in one of the last vital populations in calcareous grasslands. Our study revealed that environmental conditions at the landscape and habitat level determined the occurrence of E. aurinia in a montane agricultural landscape with low land-use intensity. Patch occupancy increased with the cover of Devil's-bit Scabious (Succisa pratensis) grasslands in the surroundings of the patches, habitat heterogeneity and host-plant cover. Microhabitat occupancy was driven by a warm microclimate and high availability of host plants. In the well-connected landscape of nutrient-poor grasslands, patch occupancy of E. aurinia was driven by parameters defining a high habitat quality. Habitat heterogeneity very likely buffers E. aurinia populations against environmental stochasticity and, hence, enhances long-term viability. For the gregariously feeding caterpillars of E. aurinia, host-plant biomass is essential. Due to their more luxuriant growth, S. pratensis plants were clearly preferred, although the Glossy Scabious (Scabiosa lucida) was also widespread. Additionally, the growth of large Succisa plants was favored by soil humidity and grassland abandonment. To cope with the adverse macro- and mesoclimatic conditions of the study area, females of the butterfly selected host plants growing in extraordinarily warm microhabitats for oviposition. To secure long-term viability of E. aurinia populations, we recommend creating mosaics of traditionally managed grasslands and early stages of abandonment within the patches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gwydion Scherer
- Department of Biodiversity and Landscape Ecology, University of Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Thomas Fartmann
- Department of Biodiversity and Landscape Ecology, University of Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Germany
- Institute of Biodiversity and Landscape Ecology (IBL), Münster, Germany
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12
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Crossley MS, Meehan TD, Moran MD, Glassberg J, Snyder WE, Davis AK. Opposing global change drivers counterbalance trends in breeding North American monarch butterflies. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:4726-4735. [PMID: 35686571 PMCID: PMC9542617 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Many insects are in clear decline, with monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) drawing particular attention as a flagship species. It is well documented that, among migratory populations, numbers of overwintering monarchs have been falling across several decades, but trends among breeding monarchs are less clear. Here, we compile >135,000 monarch observations between 1993 and 2018 from the North American Butterfly Association's annual butterfly count to examine spatiotemporal patterns and potential drivers of adult monarch relative abundance trends across the entire breeding range in eastern and western North America. While the data revealed declines at some sites, particularly the US Northeast and parts of the Midwest, numbers in other areas, notably the US Southeast and Northwest, were unchanged or increasing, yielding a slightly positive overall trend across the species range. Negative impacts of agricultural glyphosate use appeared to be counterbalanced by positive effects of annual temperature, particularly in the US Midwest. Overall, our results suggest that population growth in summer is compensating for losses during the winter and that changing environmental variables have offsetting effects on mortality and/or reproduction. We suggest that density-dependent reproductive compensation when lower numbers arrive each spring is currently able to maintain relatively stable breeding monarch numbers. However, we caution against complacency since accelerating climate change may bring growing threats. In addition, increases of summer monarchs in some regions, especially in California and in the south, may reflect replacement of migratory with resident populations. Nonetheless, it is perhaps reassuring that ubiquitous downward trends in summer monarch abundance are not evident.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S. Crossley
- Department of Entomology and Wildlife EcologyUniversity of DelawareNewarkDelawareUSA
| | | | - Matthew D. Moran
- Department of Biology and Health SciencesHendrix CollegeConwayArkansasUSA
| | - Jeffrey Glassberg
- North American Butterfly AssociationMorristownNew JerseyUSA
- Rice UniversityHoustonTexasUSA
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Yang LH, Swan K, Bastin E, Aguilar J, Cenzer M, Codd A, Gonzalez N, Hayes T, Higgins A, Lor X, Macharaga C, McMunn M, Oto K, Winarto N, Wong D, Yang T, Afridi N, Aguilar S, Allison A, Ambrose‐Winters A, Amescua E, Apse M, Avoce N, Bastin K, Bolander E, Burroughs J, Cabrera C, Candy M, Cavett A, Cavett M, Chang L, Claret M, Coleman D, Concha J, Danzer P, DaRosa J, Dufresne A, Duisenberg C, Earl A, Eckey E, English M, Espejo A, Faith E, Fang A, Gamez A, Garcini J, Garcini J, Gilbert‐Igelsrud G, Goedde‐Matthews K, Grahn S, Guerra P, Guerra V, Hagedorn M, Hall K, Hall G, Hammond J, Hargadon C, Henley V, Hinesley S, Jacobs C, Johnson C, Johnson T, Johnson Z, Juchau E, Kaplan C, Katznelson A, Keeley R, Kubik T, Lam T, Lansing C, Lara A, Le V, Lee B, Lee K, Lemmo M, Lucio S, Luo A, Malakzay S, Mangney L, Martin J, Matern W, McConnell B, McHale M, McIsaac G, McLennan C, Milbrodt S, Mohammed M, Mooney‐McCarthy M, Morgan L, Mullin C, Needles S, Nunes K, O'Keeffe F, O'Keeffe O, Osgood G, Padilla J, Padilla S, Palacio I, Panelli V, Paulson K, Pearson J, Perez T, Phrakonekham B, Pitsillides I, Preisler A, Preisler N, Ramirez H, Ransom S, Renaud C, Rocha T, Saris H, Schemrich R, Schoenig L, Sears S, Sharma A, Siu J, Spangler M, Standefer S, Strickland K, Stritzel M, Talbert E, Taylor S, Thomsen E, Toups K, Tran K, Tran H, Tuqiri M, Valdes S, VanVorhis G, Vue S, Wallace S, Whipple J, Yang P, Ye M, Yo D, Zeng Y. Different factors limit early- and late-season windows of opportunity for monarch development. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9039. [PMID: 35845370 PMCID: PMC9273743 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Seasonal windows of opportunity are intervals within a year that provide improved prospects for growth, survival, or reproduction. However, few studies have sufficient temporal resolution to examine how multiple factors combine to constrain the seasonal timing and extent of developmental opportunities. Here, we document seasonal changes in milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis)-monarch (Danaus plexippus) interactions with high resolution throughout the last three breeding seasons prior to a precipitous single-year decline in the western monarch population. Our results show early- and late-season windows of opportunity for monarch recruitment that were constrained by different combinations of factors. Early-season windows of opportunity were characterized by high egg densities and low survival on a select subset of host plants, consistent with the hypothesis that early-spring migrant female monarchs select earlier-emerging plants to balance a seasonal trade-off between increasing host plant quantity and decreasing host plant quality. Late-season windows of opportunity were coincident with the initiation of host plant senescence, and caterpillar success was negatively correlated with heatwave exposure, consistent with the hypothesis that late-season windows were constrained by plant defense traits and thermal stress. Throughout this study, climatic and microclimatic variations played a foundational role in the timing and success of monarch developmental windows by affecting bottom-up, top-down, and abiotic limitations. More exposed microclimates were associated with higher developmental success during cooler conditions, and more shaded microclimates were associated with higher developmental success during warmer conditions, suggesting that habitat heterogeneity could buffer the effects of climatic variation. Together, these findings show an important dimension of seasonal change in milkweed-monarch interactions and illustrate how different biotic and abiotic factors can limit the developmental success of monarchs across the breeding season. These results also suggest the potential for seasonal sequences of favorable or unfavorable conditions across the breeding range to strongly affect monarch population dynamics.
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Pocius VM, Majewska AA, Freedman MG. The Role of Experiments in Monarch Butterfly Conservation: A Review of Recent Studies and Approaches. ANNALS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 115:10-24. [PMID: 35069967 PMCID: PMC8764570 DOI: 10.1093/aesa/saab036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) (Lepidoptera Danaidae Danaus plexippus (Linnaeus)) are an iconic species of conservation concern due to declines in the overwintering colonies over the past twenty years. Because of this downward trend in overwintering numbers in both California and Mexico, monarchs are currently considered 'warranted-but-precluded' for listing under the Endangered Species Act. Monarchs have a fascinating life history and have become a model system in chemical ecology, migration biology, and host-parasite interactions, but many aspects of monarch biology important for informing conservation practices remain unresolved. In this review, we focus on recent advances using experimental and genetic approaches that inform monarch conservation. In particular, we emphasize three areas of broad importance, which could have an immediate impact on monarch conservation efforts: 1) breeding habitat and host plant use, 2) natural enemies and exotic caterpillar food plants, and 3) the utility of genetic and genomic approaches for understanding monarch biology and informing ongoing conservation efforts. We also suggest future studies in these areas that could improve our understanding of monarch behavior and conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria M Pocius
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
| | | | - Micah G Freedman
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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Prouty C, Barriga P, Davis AK, Krischik V, Altizer S. Host Plant Species Mediates Impact of Neonicotinoid Exposure to Monarch Butterflies. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12110999. [PMID: 34821799 PMCID: PMC8623494 DOI: 10.3390/insects12110999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Neonicotinoids are the most widely used insecticides in North America and many studies document the negative effects of neonicotinoids on bees. Monarch butterflies are famous for their long-distance migrations, and for their ability to sequester toxins from their milkweed host plants. The neonicotinoids imidacloprid and clothianidin were suggested to correlate with declines in North American monarchs. We examined how monarch development, survival, and flight were affected by exposure to neonicotinoids, and how these effects depend on milkweed host plant species that differ in their cardenolide toxins. Monarch survival and flight were unaffected by low and intermediate neonicotinoid doses. At the highest dose, neonicotinoids negatively affected monarch pupation and survival, for caterpillars that fed on the least toxic milkweed. Monarchs fed milkweed of intermediate toxicity experienced moderate negative effects of high insecticide doses. Monarchs fed the most toxic milkweed species had no negative consequences associated with neonicotinoid treatment. Our work shows that monarchs tolerate low neonicotinoid doses, but experience detrimental effects at higher doses, depending on milkweed species. To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that host plant species potentially reduce the residue of neonicotinoid insecticides on the leaf surface, and this phenomenon warrants further investigation. Abstract Neonicotinoids are the most widely used insecticides in North America. Numerous studies document the negative effects of neonicotinoids on bees, and it remains crucial to demonstrate if neonicotinoids affect other non-target insects, such as butterflies. Here we examine how two neonicotinoids (imidacloprid and clothianidin) affect the development, survival, and flight of monarch butterflies, and how these chemicals interact with the monarch’s milkweed host plant. We first fed caterpillars field-relevant low doses (0.075 and 0.225 ng/g) of neonicotinoids applied to milkweed leaves (Asclepias incarnata), and found no significant reductions in larval development rate, pre-adult survival, or adult flight performance. We next fed larvae higher neonicotinoid doses (4–70 ng/g) and reared them on milkweed species known to produce low, moderate, or high levels of secondary toxins (cardenolides). Monarchs exposed to the highest dose of clothianidin (51–70 ng/g) experienced pupal deformity, low survival to eclosion, smaller body size, and weaker adult grip strength. This effect was most evident for monarchs reared on the lowest cardenolide milkweed (A. incarnata), whereas monarchs reared on the high-cardenolide A. curassavica showed no significant reductions in any variable measured. Our results indicate that monarchs are tolerant to low doses of neonicotinoid, and that negative impacts of neonicotinoids depend on host plant type. Plant toxins may confer protective effects or leaf physical properties may affect chemical retention. Although neonicotinoid residues are ubiquitous on milkweeds in agricultural and ornamental settings, commonly encountered doses below 50 ng/g are unlikely to cause substantial declines in monarch survival or migratory performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cody Prouty
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; (P.B.); (A.K.D.); (S.A.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Paola Barriga
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; (P.B.); (A.K.D.); (S.A.)
| | - Andrew K. Davis
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; (P.B.); (A.K.D.); (S.A.)
| | - Vera Krischik
- Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA;
| | - Sonia Altizer
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; (P.B.); (A.K.D.); (S.A.)
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Lövei GL, Lang A, Ferrante M, Bacle V. Can the growing of transgenic maize threaten protected Lepidoptera in Europe? INSECT SCIENCE 2021; 28:1159-1168. [PMID: 32672413 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We evaluated whether protected European butterflies can potentially be at risk if transgenic maize is extensively grown in Central Europe. We explored potential consequences of both insect resistant (IR) and herbicide resistant (HR) transgenic maize. IR maize can produce pollen that is toxic to lepidopteran larvae, and this puts butterfly species at possible risk if the presence of young larvae coincides with maize flowering, during which large quantities of maize pollen can be deposited on vegetation. By considering the timing of maize flowering in Europe and the phenology of the protected Lepidoptera species, we found that 31 species had at least one generation where 50% of the larval stage overlapped with maize flowering, and 69 species for which first instar larvae were present during maize pollen shedding. HR maize allows high concentration herbicide treatments on fields without seasonal limitation, which can drastically reduce weed densities. In cases where such weed species are host plants for protected butterflies, reduced host plant/food availability can result, causing population decreases. By using published information, we first identified the important weed species in major maize-growing European countries. Subsequently, we checked whether the host plants of protected Lepidoptera included species that are common maize weeds. We identified 140 protected species having food plants that are common weeds in one or more of the major European maize-growing countries. If HR maize is grown in Europe, there is a potential hazard that their food plants will seriously decline, causing a subsequent decline of these protected species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gábor L Lövei
- Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Slagelse, Denmark
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agricultural and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Andreas Lang
- Büro Lang, Zell im Wiesental, Germany
- Department of Environmental Geosciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marco Ferrante
- Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Slagelse, Denmark
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Azorean Biodiversity Group, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of the Azores, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
| | - Victor Bacle
- Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Slagelse, Denmark
- La Painerie, Preaux du Perche, Perche en Noce, France
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Niemuth ND, Wangler B, LeBrun JJ, Dewald D, Larson S, Schwagler T, Bradbury CW, Pritchert RD, Iovanna R. Conservation planning for pollinators in the U.S. Great Plains: considerations of context, treatments, and scale. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Neal D. Niemuth
- Habitat and Population Evaluation Team U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Bismarck North Dakota 58501 USA
| | - Brian Wangler
- Habitat and Population Evaluation Team U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Bismarck North Dakota 58501 USA
| | - Jaymi J. LeBrun
- Habitat and Population Evaluation Team U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Bloomington Minnesota 55437 USA
| | - David Dewald
- Natural Resources Conservation Service U.S. Department of Agriculture Bismarck North Dakota 58501 USA
| | - Scott Larson
- Ecological Services U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pierre South Dakota 57501 USA
| | - Todd Schwagler
- Natural Resources Conservation Service U.S. Department of Agriculture Bismarck North Dakota 58501 USA
| | - Curtis W. Bradbury
- Natural Resources Conservation Service U.S. Department of Agriculture Bismarck North Dakota 58501 USA
| | - Ronald D. Pritchert
- Habitat and Population Evaluation Team U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Bismarck North Dakota 58501 USA
| | - Rich Iovanna
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farm Production and Conservation Washington D.C. 20250 USA
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Chowdhury S, Zalucki MP, Amano T, Woodworth BK, Venegas-Li R, Fuller RA. Seasonal spatial dynamics of butterfly migration. Ecol Lett 2021; 24:1814-1823. [PMID: 34145940 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the seasonal movements of migratory species underpins ecological studies. Several hundred butterfly species show migratory behaviour, yet the spatial pattern of these migrations is poorly understood. We developed climatic niche models for 405 migratory butterfly species globally to estimate patterns of seasonal movement and the distribution of seasonal habitat suitability. We found strong seasonal variation in habitat suitability for most migratory butterflies with >75% of pixels within their distributions showing seasonal switching in predicted occupancy for 85% of species. The greatest rate of seasonal switching occurred in the tropics. Several species showed extreme range fluctuations between seasons, exceeding 10-fold for 53 species (13%) and more than 100-fold for nine species (2%), suggesting that such species may be at elevated extinction risk. Our results can be used to search for the ecological processes that underpin migration in insects, as well as to design conservation interventions for declining migratory insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawan Chowdhury
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, Qld, Australia
| | - Myron P Zalucki
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, Qld, Australia
| | - Tatsuya Amano
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, Qld, Australia
| | - Bradley K Woodworth
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, Qld, Australia
| | - Ruben Venegas-Li
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, Qld, Australia
| | - Richard A Fuller
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, Qld, Australia
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19
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Schulz R, Bub S, Petschick LL, Stehle S, Wolfram J. Applied pesticide toxicity shifts toward plants and invertebrates, even in GM crops. Science 2021; 372:81-84. [PMID: 33795455 DOI: 10.1126/science.abe1148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Pesticide impacts are usually discussed in the context of applied amounts while disregarding the large but environmentally relevant variations in substance-specific toxicity. Here, we systemically interpret changes in the use of 381 pesticides over 25 years by considering 1591 substance-specific acute toxicity threshold values for eight nontarget species groups. We find that the toxicity of applied insecticides to aquatic invertebrates and pollinators has increased considerably-in sharp contrast to the applied amount-and that this increase has been driven by highly toxic pyrethroids and neonicotinoids, respectively. We also report increasing applied toxicity to aquatic invertebrates and pollinators in genetically modified (GM) corn and to terrestrial plants in herbicide-tolerant soybeans since approximately 2010. Our results challenge the claims of a decrease in the environmental impacts of pesticide use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralf Schulz
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University Koblenz-Landau, 76829 Landau, Germany.
- Eusserthal Ecosystem Research Station, University Koblenz-Landau, 76857 Eusserthal, Germany
| | - Sascha Bub
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University Koblenz-Landau, 76829 Landau, Germany
| | - Lara L Petschick
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University Koblenz-Landau, 76829 Landau, Germany
| | - Sebastian Stehle
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University Koblenz-Landau, 76829 Landau, Germany
- Eusserthal Ecosystem Research Station, University Koblenz-Landau, 76857 Eusserthal, Germany
| | - Jakob Wolfram
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University Koblenz-Landau, 76829 Landau, Germany
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21
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Chowdhury S, Fuller RA, Dingle H, Chapman JW, Zalucki MP. Migration in butterflies: a global overview. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2021; 96:1462-1483. [PMID: 33783119 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Insect populations including butterflies are declining worldwide, and they are becoming an urgent conservation priority in many regions. Understanding which butterfly species migrate is critical to planning for their conservation, because management actions for migrants need to be coordinated across time and space. Yet, while migration appears to be widespread among butterflies, its prevalence, as well as its taxonomic and geographic distribution are poorly understood. The study of insect migration is hampered by their small size and the difficulty of tracking individuals over long distances. Here we review the literature on migration in butterflies, one of the best-known insect groups. We find that nearly 600 butterfly species show evidence of migratory movements. Indeed, the rate of 'discovery' of migratory movements in butterflies suggests that many more species might in fact be migratory. Butterfly migration occurs across all families, in tropical as well as temperate taxa; Nymphalidae has more migratory species than any other family (275 species), and Pieridae has the highest proportion of migrants (13%; 133 species). Some 13 lines of evidence have been used to ascribe migration status in the literature, but only a single line of evidence is available for 92% of the migratory species identified, with four or more lines of evidence available for only 10 species - all from the Pieridae and Nymphalidae. Migratory butterflies occur worldwide, although the geographic distribution of migration in butterflies is poorly resolved, with most data so far coming from Europe, USA, and Australia. Migration is much more widespread in butterflies than previously realised - extending far beyond the well-known examples of the monarch Danaus plexippus and the painted lady Vanessa cardui - and actions to conserve butterflies and insects in general must account for the spatial dependencies introduced by migratory movements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawan Chowdhury
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Richard A Fuller
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Hugh Dingle
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Jason W Chapman
- Biosciences, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, TR10 9FE, UK.,College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Myron P Zalucki
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
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Monticelli LS, Desneux N, Heimpel GE. Parasitoid-mediated indirect interactions between unsuitable and suitable hosts generate apparent predation in microcosm and modeling studies. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:2449-2460. [PMID: 33767813 PMCID: PMC7981237 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasitoids used as biological control agents often parasitize more than a single host species and these hosts tend to vary in suitability for offspring development. The population dynamics of parasitoids and hosts may be altered by these interactions, with outcomes dependent on the levels of suitability and acceptance of both host species. Parasitism of individuals of an unsuitable host species may indirectly increase populations of a suitable host species if eggs laid into unsuitable hosts do not develop into adult parasitoids. In this case, the unsuitable host is acting as an egg sink for parasitoids and this can reduce parasitism of suitable hosts under conditions of egg limitation. We studied parasitoid-mediated indirect interactions between two aphid hosts, Aphis glycines (the soybean aphid) and A. nerii (the milkweed, or oleander aphid), sharing the parasitoid Aphelinus certus. While both of these aphid species are accepted by A. certus, soybean aphid is a much more suitable host than milkweed aphid is. We observed a drastic reduction of parasitoid offspring production (45%) on the suitable host in the presence of the unsuitable host in microcosm assays. Aphelinus certus females laid eggs into the unsuitable hosts (Aphis nerii) in the presence of the suitable host leading to egg and/or time limitation and reduced fitness. The impact of these interactions on the equilibrium population sizes of the three interacting species was analyzed using a consumer-resource modeling approach. Both the results from the laboratory experiment and the modeling approaches identified apparent predation between soybean aphid and milkweed aphid, in which milkweed aphid acts as a sink for parasitoid eggs leading to an increase in the soybean aphid population. The presence of soybean aphids had the opposite effect on milkweed aphid populations as it supported increases in parasitoid abundance and thus reduced the fitness and abundance of this aphid species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie S. Monticelli
- Université Côte d’Azur, INRAE, CNRSUMR ISANiceFrance
- AgroécologieINRAEUniv. Bourgogne Franche‐ComtéDijonFrance
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Perović DJ, Gámez-Virués S, Landis DA, Tscharntke T, Zalucki MP, Saura S, Furlong MJ, Desneux N, Sciarretta A, Balkenhol N, Schmidt JM, Trematerra P, Westphal C. Broadening the scope of empirical studies to answer persistent questions in landscape-moderated effects on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. ADV ECOL RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.aecr.2021.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Santovito A, Audisio M, Bonelli S. A micronucleus assay detects genotoxic effects of herbicide exposure in a protected butterfly species. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2020; 29:1390-1398. [PMID: 32880882 PMCID: PMC7581572 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-020-02276-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Lycaena dispar Hawort (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae), a protected butterfly, is declining in Europe, but it thrives in rice fields in northern Italy. Here, agrochemical usage could threaten its long-term survival. We investigated, by micronucleus (MN) assay, the genotoxic effect of glyphosate, a common herbicide, on L. dispar larvae. Micronuclei (MNi) are DNA fragments separated from the main nucleus and represent the result of genomic damage that has been transmitted to daughter cells. In a control/treatment experiment, we extracted epithelial cells from last-instar larvae fed with Rumex spp. plants sprayed with a solution containing 3.6 g/L of glyphosate, and from larvae fed with unsprayed plants. MNi and other chromosomal aberrations-nuclear buds (NBUDs) and bi-nucleated cells-were then scored in 1000 cells/subject. Significant differences were found between glyphosate-exposed and control groups in terms of MNi and total genomic damage, but not in terms of NBUDs or bi-nucleated cells. We reported a possible genomic damage induced by glyphosate on larvae of L. dispar. For the first time, a MN assay was used in order to evaluate the genomic damage on a phytophagous invertebrate at the larval stage. Increased levels of MNi reflect a condition of genomic instability that can result in reduced vitality and in an increased risk of local extinction. Therefore, farmland management compatible with wildlife conservation is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfredo Santovito
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Torino, Italy
| | - Michela Audisio
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Torino, Italy
| | - Simona Bonelli
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Torino, Italy.
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Mixed-Species Gardens Increase Monarch Oviposition without Increasing Top-Down Predation. INSECTS 2020; 11:insects11090648. [PMID: 32971748 PMCID: PMC7565542 DOI: 10.3390/insects11090648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 09/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary The North American monarch butterfly is an iconic insect that has recently declined by over 80%, largely due to habitat loss. The primary approach to mitigate population declines is to plant milkweed, the primary host plant that monarch caterpillars feed and develop on. Recently, researchers have focused on optimizing monarch conservation habitats (i.e., milkweed plantings) in urban green spaces by studying habitat design and plant species selection. In many cases, as plant diversity increases, predatory and parasitic insect diversity increases and insect herbivore colonization and establishment decrease. We compared milkweed monocultures to a mixture of milkweed and other wildflower species to see what effects plant diversity have on monarchs and potential predators. We found that monarchs laid 22% more eggs on milkweed planted in mixed-species plots than milkweed in monoculture. We also found more predators in the mixed-species plantings, but this did not affect monarch disappearance rates. These results can be used to create evidence-based guidelines for monarch conservation habitats. Abstract Monarch butterfly populations have declined by over 80% in the last 20 years. Conservation efforts focus on the creation of milkweed habitats to mitigate this decline. Previous research has found monarchs lay more eggs per milkweed stem in urban gardens than natural habitats and recent work identified specific garden designs that make urban gardens more attractive to monarchs. Increasing plant diversity can reduce specialist insect herbivore colonization via bottom-up (e.g., plant) and top-down (e.g., predation) regulatory factors. Although this is beneficial for pest management efforts, it contradicts conservation efforts. In this study, we explored if adding multiple flowering species to garden-sized milkweed plantings affected monarch oviposition or top-down regulation of larvae. We compared monarch egg abundance, natural enemy abundance and richness, and biological control of monarch larvae in milkweed monocultures and milkweed mixed with four additional wildflower species. We found that monarchs laid 22% more eggs on sentinel milkweed plants in mixed-species plots with no effect of plant diversity on monarch survival. We also found higher natural enemy richness, wasp, and predatory bug abundance in the mixed-species plots and this did not translate to higher biological control rates. Our results provide more evidence that plant selection and habitat design are important for monarch conservation.
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Lark TJ, Spawn SA, Bougie M, Gibbs HK. Cropland expansion in the United States produces marginal yields at high costs to wildlife. Nat Commun 2020; 11:4295. [PMID: 32908130 PMCID: PMC7481238 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18045-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent expansion of croplands in the United States has caused widespread conversion of grasslands and other ecosystems with largely unknown consequences for agricultural production and the environment. Here we assess annual land use change 2008-16 and its impacts on crop yields and wildlife habitat. We find that croplands have expanded at a rate of over one million acres per year, and that 69.5% of new cropland areas produced yields below the national average, with a mean yield deficit of 6.5%. Observed conversion infringed upon high-quality habitat that, relative to unconverted land, had provided over three times higher milkweed stem densities in the Monarch butterfly Midwest summer breeding range and 37% more nesting opportunities per acre for waterfowl in the Prairie Pothole Region of the Northern Great Plains. Our findings demonstrate a pervasive pattern of encroachment into areas that are increasingly marginal for production, but highly significant for wildlife, and suggest that such tradeoffs may be further amplified by future cropland expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler J Lark
- Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment (SAGE), Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1710 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53726, USA. .,DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
| | - Seth A Spawn
- Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment (SAGE), Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1710 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53726, USA.,DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.,Department of Geography, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Matthew Bougie
- Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment (SAGE), Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1710 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53726, USA.,DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Holly K Gibbs
- Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment (SAGE), Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1710 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53726, USA.,DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.,Department of Geography, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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27
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Larval pesticide exposure impacts monarch butterfly performance. Sci Rep 2020; 10:14490. [PMID: 32879347 PMCID: PMC7468139 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-71211-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The long-term decline of monarch butterflies has been attributed to loss of their milkweed (Asclepias sp.) host-plants after the introduction of herbicide-tolerant crops. However, recent studies report pesticide residues on milkweed leaves that could act as a contributing factor when ingested as part of their larval diet. In this study, we exposed monarch larvae to six pesticides (insecticide: clothianidin; herbicides: atrazine, S-metolachlor; fungicides: azoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin, trifloxystrobin) on their primary host-plant, A. syriaca. Each was tested at mean and maximum levels reported from published analyses of milkweeds bordering cropland and thus represent field-relevant concentrations. Monarch lethal and sub-lethal responses were tracked over their complete development, from early instar larvae to adult death. Overall, we found no impact of any pesticide on immature development time and relatively weak effects on larval herbivory or survival to adulthood. Comparatively stronger effects were detected for adult performance; namely, a 12.5% reduction in wing length in response to the fungicides azoxystrobin and trifloxystrobin. These data collectively suggest that monarch responses to host-plant pesticides are largely sublethal and more pronounced in the adult stage, despite exposure only as larvae. This outcome has important implications for risk assessment and the migratory success of monarchs in North America.
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Optimization of QuEChERS Method for Simultaneous Determination of Neonicotinoid Residues in Pollinator Forage. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25122732. [PMID: 32545582 PMCID: PMC7355641 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25122732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Consistent with the large-scale use of pesticide seed treatments in U.S. field crop production, there has been an increased use of neonicotinoid-treated corn and soybean seed over the past decade. Neonicotinoids can move downwind to adjacent off-field pollinator habitats in dust from planting and/or move downslope to habitats in surface water. The extent of potential neonicotinoid exposure to pollinators from neonicotinoid movement into these adjacent pollinator habitats is unclear. Pollen and leaf tissue extractions were completed using a quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) extraction procedure. Samples were subjected to a clean-up step using dispersive solid-phase extraction (dSPE) techniques prior to analysis. The compounds in the extracts were separated on a reversed-phase column with gradient elution and confirmed with tandem mass spectrometry. The extraction method showed acceptable recoveries of analytes ranging from 78.4 to 93.6% and 89.4 to 101% for leaf tissue and pollen, respectively. The method’s detection limits ranged from 0.04 to 0.3 ng/g in milkweed leaf tissue and 0.04 to 1.0 ng/g in pollen. The method is currently being employed in ongoing studies surveying pollen from a diversity of forbs and milkweed leaves obtained from habitat patches established within fields with a history of using neonicotinoid-treated seeds.
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29
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Brym MZ, Henry C, Lukashow-Moore SP, Henry BJ, van Gestel N, Kendall RJ. Prevalence of monarch (Danaus plexippus) and queen (Danaus gilippus) butterflies in West Texas during the fall of 2018. BMC Ecol 2020; 20:33. [PMID: 32532338 PMCID: PMC7291465 DOI: 10.1186/s12898-020-00301-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is a conspicuous insect that has experienced a drastic population decline over the past two decades. While there are several factors contributing to dwindling monarch populations, habitat loss is considered the most significant threat to monarchs. In the United States, loss of milkweed, particularly in the Midwest, has greatly reduced the available breeding habitat of monarchs. This has led to extensive efforts to conserve and restore milkweed resources throughout the Midwest. Recently, these research and conservation efforts have been expanded to include other important areas along the monarch’s migratory path. Results During the fall of 2018, we conducted surveys of monarch eggs and larvae through West Texas. We documented monarch and queen butterfly (Danaus gilippus) reproduction throughout the region and used the proportion of monarch and queen larva to estimate the number of monarch eggs. Peak egg densities for monarchs were as high as 0.78 per milkweed ramet after correction for the presence of queens. Despite our observations encompassing only a limited sample across one season, the peak monarch egg densities we observed exceeded published reports from when monarch populations were higher. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first study to correct for the presence of queens when calculating the density of monarch eggs. This research also provides insight into monarch utilization of less well-known regions, such as West Texas, and highlights the need to expand the scope of monarch monitoring and conservation initiatives. While the importance of monarch research and conservation in the Midwest is unquestionable, more comprehensive efforts may identify new priorities in monarch conservation and lead to a more robust and effective overall strategy, particularly given the dynamic and rapidly changing global environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Z Brym
- The Wildlife Toxicology Laboratory, Texas Tech University, Box 43290, Lubbock, TX, 79409-3290, USA
| | - Cassandra Henry
- The Wildlife Toxicology Laboratory, Texas Tech University, Box 43290, Lubbock, TX, 79409-3290, USA
| | - Shannon P Lukashow-Moore
- The Wildlife Toxicology Laboratory, Texas Tech University, Box 43290, Lubbock, TX, 79409-3290, USA
| | - Brett J Henry
- The Wildlife Toxicology Laboratory, Texas Tech University, Box 43290, Lubbock, TX, 79409-3290, USA
| | - Natasja van Gestel
- The Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Ronald J Kendall
- The Wildlife Toxicology Laboratory, Texas Tech University, Box 43290, Lubbock, TX, 79409-3290, USA.
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30
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Halsch CA, Code A, Hoyle SM, Fordyce JA, Baert N, Forister ML. Pesticide Contamination of Milkweeds Across the Agricultural, Urban, and Open Spaces of Low-Elevation Northern California. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
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31
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Decker LE, Hunter MD. Interspecific variation and elevated CO 2 influence the relationship between plant chemical resistance and regrowth tolerance. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:5416-5430. [PMID: 32607163 PMCID: PMC7319169 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
To understand how comprehensive plant defense phenotypes will respond to global change, we investigated the legacy effects of elevated CO2 on the relationships between chemical resistance (constitutive and induced via mechanical damage) and regrowth tolerance in four milkweed species (Asclepias). We quantified potential resistance and tolerance trade-offs at the physiological level following simulated mowing, which are relevant to milkweed ecology and conservation. We examined the legacy effects of elevated CO2 on four hypothesized trade-offs between the following: (a) plant growth rate and constitutive chemical resistance (foliar cardenolide concentrations), (b) plant growth rate and mechanically induced chemical resistance, (c) constitutive resistance and regrowth tolerance, and (d) regrowth tolerance and mechanically induced resistance. We observed support for one trade-off between plant regrowth tolerance and mechanically induced resistance traits that was, surprisingly, independent of CO2 exposure. Across milkweed species, mechanically induced resistance increased by 28% in those plants previously exposed to elevated CO2. In contrast, constitutive resistance and the diversity of mechanically induced chemical resistance traits declined in response to elevated CO2 in two out of four milkweed species. Finally, previous exposure to elevated CO2 uncoupled the positive relationship between plant growth rate and regrowth tolerance following damage. Our data highlight the complex and dynamic nature of plant defense phenotypes under environmental change and question the generality of physiologically based defense trade-offs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mark D. Hunter
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of MichiganBiological Sciences BuildingAnn ArborMIUSA
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32
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Bargar TA, Hladik ML, Daniels JC. Uptake and toxicity of clothianidin to monarch butterflies from milkweed consumption. PeerJ 2020; 8:e8669. [PMID: 32195048 PMCID: PMC7069410 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent concern for the adverse effects from neonicotinoid insecticides has centered on risk for insect pollinators in general and bees specifically. However, natural resource managers are also concerned about the risk of neonicotinoids to conservation efforts for the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) and need additional data to help estimate risk for wild monarch butterflies exposed to those insecticides. In the present study, monarch butterfly larvae were exposed in the laboratory to clothianidin via contaminated milkweed plants from hatch until pupation, and the effects upon larval survival, larval growth, pupation success, and adult size were measured. Soils dosed with a granular insecticide product led to mean clothianidin concentrations of 10.8–2,193 ng/g in milkweed leaves and 5.8–58.0 ng/g in larvae. Treatment of soils also led to clothianidin concentrations of 2.6–5.1 ng/g in adult butterflies indicating potential for transfer of systemic insecticides from the soil through plants and larvae to adult butterflies. Estimated LC50s for total mortality (combined mortality of larvae and pupae) and EC50 for larval growth were variable but higher than the majority of concentrations reported in the literature for clothianidin contamination of leaves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy A Bargar
- Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Michelle L Hladik
- California Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Jaret C Daniels
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.,Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, FL, USA
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33
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Lukens L, Kasten K, Stenoien C, Cariveau A, Caldwell W, Oberhauser K. Monarch Habitat in Conservation Grasslands. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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34
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Douglas MR, Sponsler DB, Lonsdorf EV, Grozinger CM. County-level analysis reveals a rapidly shifting landscape of insecticide hazard to honey bees (Apis mellifera) on US farmland. Sci Rep 2020; 10:797. [PMID: 31964921 PMCID: PMC6972851 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-57225-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Each year, millions of kilograms of insecticides are applied to crops in the US. While insecticide use supports food, fuel, and fiber production, it can also threaten non-target organisms, a concern underscored by mounting evidence of widespread decline of pollinator populations. Here, we integrate several public datasets to generate county-level annual estimates of total 'bee toxic load' (honey bee lethal doses) for insecticides applied in the US between 1997-2012, calculated separately for oral and contact toxicity. To explore the underlying components of the observed changes, we divide bee toxic load into extent (area treated) and intensity (application rate x potency). We show that while contact-based bee toxic load remained relatively steady, oral-based bee toxic load increased roughly 9-fold, with reductions in application rate outweighed by disproportionate increases in potency (toxicity/kg) and extent. This pattern varied markedly by region, with the greatest increase seen in Heartland (121-fold increase), likely driven by use of neonicotinoid seed treatments in corn and soybean. In this "potency paradox", farmland in the central US has become more hazardous to bees despite lower volumes of insecticides applied, raising concerns about insect conservation and highlighting the importance of integrative approaches to pesticide use monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret R Douglas
- Department of Environmental Studies & Environmental Science, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA, 17013, USA.
| | - Douglas B Sponsler
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 16802, PA, USA
| | - Eric V Lonsdorf
- Institute on the Environment, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Christina M Grozinger
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 16802, PA, USA
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35
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Abstract
Insect declines are being reported worldwide for flying, ground, and aquatic lineages. Most reports come from western and northern Europe, where the insect fauna is well-studied and there are considerable demographic data for many taxonomically disparate lineages. Additional cases of faunal losses have been noted from Asia, North America, the Arctic, the Neotropics, and elsewhere. While this review addresses both species loss and population declines, its emphasis is on the latter. Declines of abundant species can be especially worrisome, given that they anchor trophic interactions and shoulder many of the essential ecosystem services of their respective communities. A review of the factors believed to be responsible for observed collapses and those perceived to be especially threatening to insects form the core of this treatment. In addition to widely recognized threats to insect biodiversity, e.g., habitat destruction, agricultural intensification (including pesticide use), climate change, and invasive species, this assessment highlights a few less commonly considered factors such as atmospheric nitrification from the burning of fossil fuels and the effects of droughts and changing precipitation patterns. Because the geographic extent and magnitude of insect declines are largely unknown, there is an urgent need for monitoring efforts, especially across ecological gradients, which will help to identify important causal factors in declines. This review also considers the status of vertebrate insectivores, reporting bias, challenges inherent in collecting and interpreting insect demographic data, and cases of increasing insect abundance.
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Affiliation(s)
- David L Wagner
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, USA;
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36
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Challenges for Monitoring the Extent and Land Use/Cover Changes in Monarch Butterflies’ Migratory Habitat across the United States and Mexico. LAND 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/land8100156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This paper presents a synopsis of the challenges and limitations presented by existing and emerging land use/land cover (LULC) digital data sets when used to analyze the extent, habitat quality, and LULC changes of the monarch (Danaus plexippus) migratory habitat across the United States of America (US) and Mexico. First, the characteristics, state of the knowledge, and issues related to this habitat are presented. Then, the characteristics of the existing and emerging LULC digital data sets with global or cross-border coverage are listed, followed by the data sets that cover only the US or Mexico. Later, we discuss the challenges for determining the extent, habitat quality, and LULC changes in the monarchs’ migratory habitat when using these LULC data sets in conjunction with the current state of the knowledge of the monarchs’ ecology, behavior, and foraging/roosting plants used during their migration. We point to approaches to address some of these challenges, which can be categorized into: (a) LULC data set characteristics and availability; (b) availability of ancillary land management information; (c) ability to construct accurate forage suitability indices for their migration habitat; and (d) level of knowledge of the ecological and behavioral patterns of the monarchs during their journey.
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37
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Cariveau AB, Anderson E, Baum KA, Hopwood J, Lonsdorf E, Nootenboom C, Tuerk K, Oberhauser K, Snell-Rood E. Rapid Assessment of Roadsides as Potential Habitat for Monarchs and Other Pollinators. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
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38
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Hermann SL, Blackledge C, Haan NL, Myers AT, Landis DA. Predators of monarch butterfly eggs and neonate larvae are more diverse than previously recognised. Sci Rep 2019; 9:14304. [PMID: 31586127 PMCID: PMC6778129 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-50737-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Conserving threatened organisms requires knowledge of the factors impacting their populations. The Eastern monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus L.) has declined by as much as 80% in the past two decades and conservation biologists are actively seeking to understand and reverse this decline. While it is well known that most monarchs die as eggs and young larvae, few studies have focused on identifying what arthropod taxa contribute to these losses. The aim of our study was to identify previously undocumented predators of immature monarchs in their summer breeding range in the United States. Using no-choice feeding assays augmented with field observations, we evaluated 75 arthropod taxa commonly found on the primary host plant for their propensity to consume immature monarchs. Here we report 36 previously unreported monarch predators, including representatives from 4 new orders (Orthoptera, Dermaptera, Lepidoptera and Opiliones) and 11 taxa (Acrididae, Gryllidae, Tettigoniidae, Forficulidae, Anthocoridae, Geocoridae, Lygaeidae, Miridae, Nabidae, Erebidae and Opilliones). Surprisingly, several putative herbivores were found to readily consume immature monarchs, both in a targeted fashion or incidentally as a result of herbivory. This work expands our understanding of the monarch predator community and highlights the importance of unrecognized predation on insects of conservation concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara L Hermann
- Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, USA.
| | | | - Nathan L Haan
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA
| | - Andrew T Myers
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA.,Program in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA
| | - Douglas A Landis
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA.,Program in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA
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39
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Crone EE, Pelton EM, Brown LM, Thomas CC, Schultz CB. Why are monarch butterflies declining in the West? Understanding the importance of multiple correlated drivers. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2019; 29:e01975. [PMID: 31310685 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Revised: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the factors associated with declines of at-risk species is an important first step in setting management and recovery targets. This step can be challenging when multiple aspects of climate and land use are changing simultaneously, and any or all could be contributing to population declines. We analyzed population trends of monarch butterflies in western North America in relation to likely environmental drivers. Unlike the larger eastern monarch population, past analyses of western monarchs have only evaluated the importance of climate (i.e., not land use) factors as drivers of abundance. We used partial least squares regression (PLSR) to evaluate the potential importance of changes in land use and climate variables. Trends in western monarch abundance were more strongly associated with land use variables than climate variables. Conclusions about importance of climate and land use variables were robust to changes in PLSR model structure. However, individual variables were too collinear to unambiguously separate their effects. We compared these conclusions to the more widely used technique of multiple regression, followed by multi-model inference (MRMI). Naïve interpretation of MRMI results could be misleading, if collinearity were not taken into account. MRMI was also highly sensitive to variation in model construction. Our results suggest a two-pronged approach to monarch conservation, specifically, starting efforts now to restore habitat, while also using experiments to more clearly delineate separate effects of climate and land use factors. They also demonstrate the utility of PLSR, a technique that is growing in use but is still relatively under-appreciated in conservation biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth E Crone
- Department of Biology, Tufts University, 200 College Avenue, Medford, Massachusetts, 02155, USA
| | - Emma M Pelton
- Xerces Society, 628 Northeast Broadway Suite 200, Portland, Oregon, 97232, USA
| | - Leone M Brown
- Department of Biology, Tufts University, 200 College Avenue, Medford, Massachusetts, 02155, USA
| | - Cameron C Thomas
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, 14204 Northeast Salmon Creek Avenue, Vancouver, Washington, 98686, USA
| | - Cheryl B Schultz
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, 14204 Northeast Salmon Creek Avenue, Vancouver, Washington, 98686, USA
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40
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Weiser EL, Diffendorfer JE, Grundel R, López‐Hoffman L, Pecoraro S, Semmens D, Thogmartin WE. Balancing sampling intensity against spatial coverage for a community science monitoring programme. J Appl Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Emily L. Weiser
- Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center U.S. Geological Survey La Crosse WI USA
| | - Jay E. Diffendorfer
- Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center U.S. Geological Survey Denver CO USA
| | - Ralph Grundel
- Great Lakes Science Center U.S. Geological Survey Chesterton IN USA
| | - Laura López‐Hoffman
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment and Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy The University of Arizona Tucson AZ USA
| | - Samuel Pecoraro
- Great Lakes Science Center U.S. Geological Survey Chesterton IN USA
| | - Darius Semmens
- Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center U.S. Geological Survey Denver CO USA
| | - Wayne E. Thogmartin
- Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center U.S. Geological Survey La Crosse WI USA
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41
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James DG. A Neonicotinoid Insecticide at a Rate Found in Nectar Reduces Longevity but Not Oogenesis in Monarch Butterflies, Danaus plexippus (L.). (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). INSECTS 2019; 10:insects10090276. [PMID: 31480499 PMCID: PMC6780620 DOI: 10.3390/insects10090276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Revised: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The monarch butterfly in North America has suffered a serious population decline since the mid-1990s. The introduction and widespread use of neonicotinoid insecticides during the same time period has been suggested as a potential driver of this decline but no studies have looked at the impact of these insecticides on adult monarchs. A brief laboratory study assessed the impact of Imidacloprid, the most commonly used neonicotinoid, on western monarch butterfly longevity and oogenesis. Imidacloprid at 23.5 ppb, a field-realistic rate reported from wild nectar and pollen, was fed ad libitum to newly-eclosed monarchs in a sugar-based diet for 22 days. Treated monarchs showed reduced longevity, suffering 78.8% mortality by day 22, compared to 20% in untreated monarchs. Prior to death, butterflies exhibited signs of poisoning including uncoordinated flapping of wings and uncontrolled vibrating of wings and body. Imidacloprid did not reduce egg production. Shortened adult longevity has serious consequences for monarch population development, migration and overwintering. The potential widespread impact of imidacloprid-contaminated crop and wild flower nectar, may be a significant driver of monarch population decline. More research on the impact of neonicotinoid insecticides on the monarch and other butterflies should be viewed as a serious priority.
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Affiliation(s)
- David G James
- Department of Entomology, Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center, Washington State University, 24106 North Bunn Road, Prosser, WA 99350, USA.
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42
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Crewe TL, Mitchell GW, Larrivée M. Size of the Canadian Breeding Population of Monarch Butterflies Is Driven by Factors Acting During Spring Migration and Recolonization. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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43
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Olaya-Arenas P, Kaplan I. Quantifying Pesticide Exposure Risk for Monarch Caterpillars on Milkweeds Bordering Agricultural Land. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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44
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Myers A, Bahlai CA, Landis DA. Habitat Type Influences Danaus plexippus (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) Oviposition and Egg Survival on Asclepias syriaca (Gentianales: Apocynaceae). ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2019; 48:675-684. [PMID: 31074487 DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvz046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
As agricultural practices intensify, species once common in agricultural landscapes are declining in abundance. One such species is the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus L.), whose eastern North American population has decreased approximately 80% during the past 20 yr. One hypothesis explaining the monarch's decline is reduced breeding habitat via loss of common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca L.) from agricultural landscapes in the north central United States due to the adoption of herbicide-tolerant row crops. Current efforts to enhance monarch breeding habitat primarily involve restoring milkweed in perennial grasslands. However, prior surveys found fewer monarch eggs on common milkweed in grassland versus crop habitats, indicating potential preference for oviposition in row crop habitats, or alternatively, greater egg loss to predation in grasslands. We tested these alternative mechanisms by measuring oviposition and egg predation on potted A. syriaca host plants. Our study revealed that habitat context influences both monarch oviposition preference and egg predation rates and that these patterns vary by year. We found higher monarch egg predation rates during the first 24 h after exposure and that much of the predation occurs at night. Overall, we documented up to 90% egg mortality over 72 h in perennial grasslands, while predation rates in corn were lower (10-30% mortality) and more consistent between years. These findings demonstrate that weekly monarch egg surveys are too infrequent to distinguish oviposition habitat preferences from losses due to egg predation and suggest that monarch restoration efforts need to provide both attractive and safe habitats for monarch reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Myers
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
- Program in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
| | | | - Douglas A Landis
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
- Program in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
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Tyler Flockhart DT, Larrivée M, Prudic KL, Ryan Norris D. Estimating the annual distribution of monarch butterflies in Canada over 16 years using citizen science data. Facets (Ott) 2019. [DOI: 10.1139/facets-2018-0011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Monarch butterflies ( Danaus plexippus, Linnaeus, 1758) are comprised of two migratory populations separated by the Rocky Mountains and are renowned for their long-distance movements among the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Both populations have declined over several decades across North America prompting all three countries to evaluate conservation efforts. Monitoring monarch distribution and abundance is a necessary aspect of ongoing management in Canada where they are a species at risk. We used presence-only data from two citizen science data sets to estimate the annual breeding distribution of monarch butterflies in Canada between 2000 and 2015. Monarch breeding distribution in Canada varied widely among years owing to natural variation, and when considering the upper 95% of the probability of occurrence, the annual mean breeding distribution in Canada was 484 943 km2 (min: 173 449 km2; max: 1 425 835 km2). The area of occurrence was approximately an order of magnitude larger in eastern Canada than in western Canada. Habitat restoration for monarch butterflies in Canada should prioritize productive habitats in southern Ontario where monarchs occur annually and, therefore, likely contribute most to the long-term viability of monarchs in eastern North America. Overall, our assessment sets the geographic context to develop successful management strategies for monarchs in Canada.
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Affiliation(s)
- D. T. Tyler Flockhart
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
- University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Appalachian Laboratory, Frostburg, MD 21532, USA
| | - Maxim Larrivée
- Insectarium de Montréal, 4581 rue Sherbrooke E., Montreal, QC H1X 2B2, Canada
| | | | - D. Ryan Norris
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
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46
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Grant TJ, Bradbury SP. The Role of Modeling in Monarch Butterfly Research and Conservation. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Haan NL, Landis DA. The Importance of Shifting Disturbance Regimes in Monarch Butterfly Decline and Recovery. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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48
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Cariveau AB, Holt HL, Ward JP, Lukens L, Kasten K, Thieme J, Caldwell W, Tuerk K, Baum KA, Drobney P, Drum RG, Grundel R, Hamilton K, Hoang C, Kinkead K, McIntyre J, Thogmartin WE, Turner T, Weiser EL, Oberhauser K. The Integrated Monarch Monitoring Program: From Design to Implementation. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
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Monarch butterfly and milkweed declines substantially predate the use of genetically modified crops. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:3006-3011. [PMID: 30723147 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1811437116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) decline over the past 25 years has received considerable public and scientific attention, in large part because its decline, and that of its milkweed (Asclepias spp.) host plant, have been linked to genetically modified (GM) crops and associated herbicide use. Here, we use museum and herbaria specimens to extend our knowledge of the dynamics of both monarchs and milkweeds in the United States to more than a century, from 1900 to 2016. We show that both monarchs and milkweeds increased during the early 20th century and that recent declines are actually part of a much longer-term decline in both monarchs and milkweed beginning around 1950. Herbicide-resistant crops, therefore, are clearly not the only culprit and, likely, not even the primary culprit: Not only did monarch and milkweed declines begin decades before GM crops were introduced, but other variables, particularly a decline in the number of farms, predict common milkweed trends more strongly over the period studied here.
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Schultz CB, Haddad NM, Henry EH, Crone EE. Movement and Demography of At-Risk Butterflies: Building Blocks for Conservation. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY 2019; 64:167-184. [PMID: 30296858 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-011118-112204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The number of insect species at risk of population decline and extinction is increasing rapidly. Yet we know almost nothing about the ecology of these species, except for at-risk butterflies. A growing body of literature shows how butterfly vital rates, including demography and movement, are essential for guiding conservation and recovery. History has shown us that without these data, conservation decisions often weaken, rather than enhance, population viability. This is especially true in changing landscapes. We review knowledge of vital rates across all at-risk butterflies. We have information on movement for 17 of 283 butterfly species and information on demography for 19 species. We find that habitat-specific movement behavior is key to understanding how to connect populations, and habitat-specific demography is central to managing habitats. Methods and analyses worked out for butterflies can provide a scaffold around which to build studies for the conservation of other at-risk insects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nick M Haddad
- Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University, Hickory Corners, Michigan 49060, USA
| | - Erica H Henry
- North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
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