A Cooperative Effort to Generate and Share Ecological Knowledge
The Monarch Larva Monitoring Project (MLMP) began in 1997 at the University of Minnesota. It involves citizens in collecting data that will help to explain the distribution and abundance patterns of monarch butterflies in North America. In 2002, we received a 3-year grant from the National Science Foundation to greatly expand training, analysis and dissemination aspects of this project. The National Science Foundation, Monarchs in the Classroom, and the Xerxes Society have provided financial and other support for MLMP.
What's New?
We've started a BLOG for MLMP! It's located at blog.mlmp.org. Its look will be changing in the near future (in fact, we're working on a redesign for the whole site), but it's working and we're using it. You can sign up to receive automatic email notifications when new blog posts are added.
MLMP In the News: MLMP featured in article in MN Conservation Volunteer magazine.
Citizen Science: MLMP featured in article on citizen science projects in BioScience magazine
Article: "Mission to Aid Monarchs" from the Louisville, KY Courier-Journal. Featuring MLMP volunteers Ann and Robert Richardson of Avon, IN.
Article on tachinid fly parasitism of monarch larvae using Monarch Larva Monitoring Project data: Oberhauser, K. S., I. Gebhard, C. Cameron, S. Oberhauser. 2007. Parasitism of Monarch Butterflies (Danaus plexippus) by Lespesia archippivora (Diptera: Tachinidae). American Midland Naturalist. 157:312-328.
USDA guide to US milkweed species
In December 2005, 38 MLMP volunteers attended a meeting on monarch biology and conservation in San Luis Obispo, CA to present their research findings and meet other monarch biologists. See their posters here.
Monarch Butterfly Conservation Fund (Working Paper)
Report any sighting of a monarch egg or larva, even if it was not on an official MLMP monitoring site.
Article on Monarch Butterfly Ecology by Karen Oberhauser and Michelle Solensky. Check out interesting articles on other organisms here as well!
New Items in the Monarch Store, including books, CDs, and informational games for kids!
© 2001-2006 by the Regents of the University of Minnesota. This site complies with the University of Minnesota's Online Privacy Policy. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. This project is supported, in part, by funding from the National Science Foundation. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily of the foundation. Comments or suggestions on this site? Email webmaster@mlmp.org
University of Minnesota, Department of
Natural Resources
St. Paul MN 55108