"BIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF THE MIGRATION OF THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY"
 

Professor Brower and his students have conducted research at the
overwintering sites of the monarch butterfly in the central volcanic
highlands of Mexico since 1977. His lecture will illustrate methods and
studies of how monarchs may find their way to Mexico, a novel orientation
theory, how the high altitude Oyamel fir forest provides a complex
microclimate that protects the millions of monarchs against winter storms,
and  how the butterflies recolonize their spring and summer breeding ranges
in the US and Canada.  Because the Oyamel forest is an Achilles Heel due
to forest exploitation, the monarch's migration and overwintering behaviors
have become endangered biological phenomena.  Current GIS studies of the
devegetation of the area and collaborative efforts involving The University
of Florida, Universidad Autonomia Nacional de Mexico (UNAM), the Mexican
Government,  and  the World Wildlife Fund-Mexico will be described.
 
 

Return to Schedule