"Western monarch butterflies once arrived on California's coast by the millions, clustering in eucalyptus, pine and cypress groves from Mendocino to Baja California. This winter, volunteers counted fewer than 13,000. "Western monarchs are in serious trouble. The migration is collapsing," said Emma Pelton, a senior conservation biologist with the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, which carries out the annual count."
"Long-term research shows western monarch populations have declined by about 10% per year since the 1980s, driven largely by habitat loss, pesticide use and climate change. There were, however, a few bright spots. Among the 249 sites where this winter's count found monarchs, Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz County hosted the largest overwintering cluster, with about 2,500 butterflies."
"Researchers also deployed ultralight radio tags at some sites to better understand how monarchs move within and between groves, data that could help improve habitat management. Howard said she wasn't surprised by the low numbers, given weak signs from last summer's breeding season. "I'm always hoping for a bounce-back," she said, "but I also know it's going to take years of dedicated conservation action to see the long-term recovery we're really looking for.""
Western monarch numbers have fallen dramatically, with volunteers counting fewer than 13,000 butterflies this winter at 249 overwintering sites. Long-term research indicates populations have declined by about 10% per year since the 1980s, driven largely by habitat loss, pesticide use and climate change. Natural Bridges State Beach hosted the largest cluster, with about 2,500 butterflies. Researchers deployed ultralight radio tags to track movements within and between groves and to inform habitat management. Recovery will require years of dedicated conservation, including avoiding pesticides, planting native milkweed and nectar-rich flowers, protecting overwintering groves, and participating in community science.
#western-monarch-butterfly #population-decline #habitat-loss #pesticide-impacts #conservation-monitoring
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