Recent years have seen a decline in many species of wildlife and nature. Now a new report shows that numbers of the Monarch butterfly, which is already in decline, continues to dwindle.
Craig Wilson is a senior research associate in the Center for Mathematics and Science Education at the Texas A&M University and says that in 2012 the Monarch butterflies will decline by another 30 per cent. Like many other species, the butterflies are vulnerable to the changing climate and environment.
The butterflies were already reducing in numbers because of deforestation and other factors and in the past year a new threat came into play; the Monarchs are common in Mexico and the survival of the species was further compromised by the drought and fires that swept the region.
Wilson explains:
“Last year’s severe drought and fires in the region no doubt played a part, resulting in less nectar for the Monarchs as they migrated south. But estimates show that each year, millions of acres of land are being lost that would support Monarchs, either by farmers converting dormant land for crop use – mainly to herbicide tolerant corn and soybeans – or the overuse of herbicides and mowing. Milkweed is the key plant because it’s the only plant where the female will lay her eggs.”
Wilson goes on to explain that the loss of land directly affects the survival rates of the Monarch Butterfly:
“Chip Taylor, who is the director of Monarch Watch at the University of Kansas, estimates that 100 million acres of land have already been lost that previously supported Monarchs.”
A recent report by the World Wildlife Foundation shows that the number of Monarch butterflies who winter in Mexico fell by a third in 2011. The WWF continues its work preserving the species at the Mexico Monarch Butterfly Reserve.
Craig Wilson is a senior research associate in the Center for Mathematics and Science Education at the Texas A&M University and says that in 2012 the Monarch butterflies will decline by another 30 per cent. Like many other species, the butterflies are vulnerable to the changing climate and environment.
The butterflies were already reducing in numbers because of deforestation and other factors and in the past year a new threat came into play; the Monarchs are common in Mexico and the survival of the species was further compromised by the drought and fires that swept the region.
Wilson explains:
“Last year’s severe drought and fires in the region no doubt played a part, resulting in less nectar for the Monarchs as they migrated south. But estimates show that each year, millions of acres of land are being lost that would support Monarchs, either by farmers converting dormant land for crop use – mainly to herbicide tolerant corn and soybeans – or the overuse of herbicides and mowing. Milkweed is the key plant because it’s the only plant where the female will lay her eggs.”
Wilson goes on to explain that the loss of land directly affects the survival rates of the Monarch Butterfly:
“Chip Taylor, who is the director of Monarch Watch at the University of Kansas, estimates that 100 million acres of land have already been lost that previously supported Monarchs.”
A recent report by the World Wildlife Foundation shows that the number of Monarch butterflies who winter in Mexico fell by a third in 2011. The WWF continues its work preserving the species at the Mexico Monarch Butterfly Reserve.
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