Community Science And Monarch Monitoring: Public Contributions To Scientific Research.pdf

Community science involves public participation in scientific research, with volunteers collecting data for studies without being professional scientists. The term "community scientist" is increasingly used alongside "citizen scientist." Community science has been integral to monarch butterfly monitoring since the 1950s, notably through Dr. Fred Urquhart's tagging project that identified their overwintering grounds in Mexico.

Community scientists contribute significantly by providing data and resources for large-scale studies, enabling research on various aspects of monarch biology such as migration, population dynamics, and responses to environmental changes. Their efforts have led to numerous peer-reviewed publications and conservation outcomes, including habitat improvement and education.

The Monarch Joint Venture (MJV) is a partnership focused on conserving the monarch migration across the U.S., emphasizing habitat conservation, education, and science. MJV collaborates with various partners to achieve its mission of sustaining monarch populations and their migration.

Several community science programs support monarch research:

1. Tracking the Migration: Programs like Journey North and Monarch Watch allow volunteers to track monarch migrations by reporting sightings and tagging butterflies.

2. Overwintering (Western): Western Monarch Count and Monarch Alert monitor the western overwintering population, assessing habitat health and predicting population sizes.

3. Monitoring Eggs, Larvae, and Natural Enemies: The Monarch Larva Monitoring Project and Project Monarch Health study monarch breeding success and parasite spread.

4. Integrated Monitoring: This program tracks monarchs and their habitats across breeding ranges to understand habitat use in various land-use types.

These initiatives provide opportunities for public involvement through data submission via online platforms, mail, or apps, contributing valuable insights into monarch conservation efforts.