Andy Davis, an assistant research scientist at the Odum School of Ecology, was quoted by EurekAlert! about the migration patterns of monarch butterflies.
The monarch butterfly is currently experiencing problems with its migration in eastern North America as fewer and fewer monarchs are successfully reaching their overwintering destinations, and scientists aren’t sure why. Recent research published in Animal Migration looks at this problem. The study, led by Hannah Vander Zanden, suggests that monarchs may be traveling elsewhere to overwinter.
“Previous research had suggested that some migrating monarchs may wind up in southern Florida if they become waylaid by strong westerly winds, but this evidence makes it seem like they purposely traveled to this location,” said Davis, whose research interests include the migration biology of birds and insects.
