Feedback from the Monarch authorities regarding research project
JCW1925 at aol.com
JCW1925 at aol.com
Fri Oct 1 08:55:49 EDT 1999
TO: Monarch authorities (scientist, educators, entomologist, lepidopterist,
conservationist, breeders, and all Monarchphiles)
RE: Letter to Wayne F. Wehling of the USDA regarding permit to conduct
scientific study
FROM: James Wiggins
Educational Science
We would like to open the proposed study to discussion. A comparison of
tagged indigenous (Monarch Watch) vs transplanted Monarchs (Educational
Science) over time might provide some interesting data. The data generated
from the proposed study will be administered by Educational Science and
posted on our website @ www.educationalscience.com.
Subj: Permit to conduct scientific study of transplanted Western and
Eastern Monarchs
Date: 9/30/99 3:48:14 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: JCW1925
To: Wayne.F.Wehling at usda.gov
Dear Dr. Wehling:
I am interested in funding and coordinating a research study that could
prove valuable in the conservation of the Monarch butterfly and to help
ensure its survival into the next century. Having developed a Monarch
rearing/tagging kit, we urge students to tag and release their butterflies.
We are proposing a research project designed to study the migration,
survival behavior, and fate of transplanted Western and Eastern Monarch
butterflies. We plan on collaborating with schools on this project, very
similar to the way Monarch Watch does. We plan to add a special Monarch
Research Project section on our website (still under construction) @
www.educationalscience.com. In order to go forward with the study we would
require from your office a special temporary research permit to ship
Eastern Monarchs to schools west of the Rockies. In my opinion, the benefits
of such a study far out weigh any potential risk. (known or unknown) Unlike
other organizations that ship monarchs to schools, our livestock is
certified OE protozoan and disease free.
Studies have been done that compared the mitochondrial DNA of
geographically isolated populations of monarch butterflies (western,
eastern, as well as from Mexico and the West Indies). The studies were
done by A. V. Brower and TM Boyce and their paper was published in the
journal Evolution. They found almost no mitochondrial DNA variation in the
different monarch populations. In their paper, they point out that the
level of similarity in the DNA from geographically isolated populations of
monarch butterflies is dramatically different from nearly all other groups of
animals studied. The authors argue that the most plausible explanation
is that all of today's monarchs have descended fairly recently from a very
small number of individuals and that not enough time has yet gone by for
their descendants to develop significant genetic changes from their common
ancestors. Based on this hard scientific data, in my opinion, we are
really dealing with only one very adaptable Monarch butterfly that is highly
and genetically programmed to survive. I believe that we could learn a lot
about the migration and survival behavior of the Monarch butterfly from the
proposed study. Data collected from this study could help the Monarch
butterfly survive well into the next century.
I spoke briefly, with Deborah Knott, Chief of the USDA permit unit about my
research proposal. She thought that involving students in a research project
that could potentially help the Monarch butterfly would be good. I also
talked to her about the DNA studies referenced above.
Educational Science manufactures and distributes science kits, science
novelties, nature kits, biotechnology education kits and equipment, and
entomology kits and equipment. Our mission at Educational Science is to make
science fun. We are committed to advancing science education in primary and
secondary schools. We promote scientific education and research by developing
educational science and nature kits that are fun and teach kids the basic
science principles. Most of our science kits include learning objectives and
science project suggestions.
Educational Science is interested in the conservation of the Monarch
butterfly through habitat restoration. Unless we restore the Monarch's
breeding habitats, the Monarch may not survive as a widespread North American
species.
All Monarch Butterfly Farm kits come with milkweed seeds. We urge customers
to plant the seeds in a home or school butterfly garden. Customers can also
purchase pesticide-free milkweed plants from us. When the plants mature and
the seed pods develop, we urge customers to give some to friends, neighbors,
and classmates. Planting a butterfly garden with pesticide-free plants, and
passing along the seeds to others, will help the Monarch butterfly survive.
In this way, together we can ensure the Monarch's return in the spring, and
its survival into the next century.
Please contact the Monarch authorities you mentioned in your last email to
discuss my proposal. I look forward to a favorable response from your office.
James Wiggins
Educational Science
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