JMU research aids monarch butterfly conservation efforts

James Madison University biology professor Lee Brown is not surprised by the results of a recent study indicating a big drop in the U.S. butterfly population, and she hopes her tracking technology research will aid conservation efforts. 

Brown has been studying the implications of tagging monarch butterflies to track their movements. One tool being used is radio telemetry, which provides important conservation-relevant information about the movements of breeding, migrating and overwintering monarchs. Researchers attach tiny tags to the insects to gather data on continental-scale movements via the Motus network of telemetry towers.  These towers pick up signals from the tags and help scientists understand where the animals travel over long distances.   

Brown’s research addresses previous concerns that the weight of tags could affect butterfly movement.  

“As technological advances allow for smaller and smaller tags, researchers often put them on smaller and smaller insects without first evaluating their impacts. Up until last year, the smallest Motus-compatible tags being used to track monarchs weighed up to half their body weight. Even if the insects could still fly, that’s a heavy burden to carry.”   

Over the past year, smaller Motus-compatible telemetry tags have been released that weigh just over 10 percent of the average monarch’s weight; Brown’s team found the tags have minimal impacts on monarch movement.  

“The newer tags are also solar-powered and Bluetooth-compatible, meaning they can last a lot longer than battery-powered tags and can be detected with a smartphone, which opens up exciting possibilities for public participation in monitoring monarchs,” said Brown. 

Brown and her students are also studying the types of glue that work best for attaching the tags and ensuring the monarch’s survival.  

“Even if the tags themselves have limited impacts, they need to stay attached long enough to be detected by Motus towers, and the glue needs to be as non-toxic as possible for these small organisms to make their long journeys and survive winter,” Brown said.   

Brown and a graduate student will be presenting their work this summer and are continuing their butterfly research.