Background

Monarch Butterflies migrate yearly between their overwintering grounds in Mexico and their breeding grounds across the United States and Canada. In late summer, monarchs in Ontario begin their 3,000 km journey south to Mexico. Unlike the spring migration north, the fall migration is undertaken by a single generation of butterflies.

Monarchs are diurnal migrants, meaning they migrate during the day. At night, migratory monarchs roost on trees or shrubs and often form large groups of butterflies. These roosts are usually near meadows or other habitat so they can feed and gain the energy required to complete their migration. Therefore, Monarch conservation must include breeding, roosting, and nectaring habitats.

This research project aims to identify locations best suited for conservation and restoration to help migratory Monarchs in Ontario. Statistical models will be used to describe the distribution of migratory Monarchs across Ontario. These models will help identify migration hotspots for Monarchs, and show how landscape and environmental features affect their flight paths.

My work focuses on the conservation of species at risk in Canada. I am interested in understanding the factors that put species at risk and then determining how to reduce the impact of these factors to recover populations. My team and I look for compatibility with farming practices and business practices on roadways and rights-of-way with the recovery of species at risk.

“It is imperative that we invest in initiatives to reverse the effects that pesticides and habitat loss have had on our pollinators. Together, we can do something about it and that is why planting a pollinator pathway across Canada and building a national monitoring program are key initiatives to stem the decline and build the numbers back up.”

A critical component of conservation is understanding how a species interacts with its environment. My interest is in discovering how the biotic and abiotic components of a landscape influence its resident species. Additionally, I’m interested in how that knowledge can be used to direct conservation efforts to prevent the loss of biodiversity.