Monarch Caterpillar Movement on Milkweed Plants
Presenter Type
UNO Undergraduate Student
Advisor Information
Timothy Dickson, UNO Associate Professor of Biology
Location
CEC RM #201/205/209
Presentation Type
Poster
Poster Size
48 inches height; 36 inches width
Start Date
22-3-2024 1:00 PM
End Date
22-3-2024 2:15 PM
Abstract
Monarch caterpillars only eat milkweeds. The problem, though, is that the abundance of milkweeds has drastically decreased due to habitat conversions like agriculture use. To help, conservation organizations want to plant milkweeds. It has always been assumed that monarch caterpillars stay on the same plant, but 2022 preliminary data from John Brennan (UNO graduate student) suggests caterpillars may regularly move between plants. If this occurs, milkweeds planted too far away from each other could result in the death of the already endangered monarch caterpillars. The purpose of this project is to determine the number of monarch caterpillars that move between milkweed plants and if the distance between them plays a significant role in their movement. It is assumed that one milkweed plant provides enough resources for a monarch caterpillar to grow, but if there is caterpillar movement between milkweeds, then they need multiple plants to help them grow.
Monarch Caterpillar Movement on Milkweed Plants
CEC RM #201/205/209
Monarch caterpillars only eat milkweeds. The problem, though, is that the abundance of milkweeds has drastically decreased due to habitat conversions like agriculture use. To help, conservation organizations want to plant milkweeds. It has always been assumed that monarch caterpillars stay on the same plant, but 2022 preliminary data from John Brennan (UNO graduate student) suggests caterpillars may regularly move between plants. If this occurs, milkweeds planted too far away from each other could result in the death of the already endangered monarch caterpillars. The purpose of this project is to determine the number of monarch caterpillars that move between milkweed plants and if the distance between them plays a significant role in their movement. It is assumed that one milkweed plant provides enough resources for a monarch caterpillar to grow, but if there is caterpillar movement between milkweeds, then they need multiple plants to help them grow.
Additional Information (Optional)
I want to make clear that I (Timothy Dickson) am entering the information for an undergraduate student that has graduated. I do not have the NU ID number for the student so I entered my own number. I will try to get the NU ID number from the student, but do not have access to it right now.