Monarch Population Negatively Correlated with GE Acreage

[Mike Quinn]

The data are starting to back up the predicted genetically engineering
effects on the Monarch...

Monarch overwintering population decreased significantly over nearly the
same short period that genetically engineered crops increased significantly.
Total Monarch Coverage in the five main overwintering sanctuaries decreased
from 17.87 to 3.18 hectares between December 1996 and December 1997. Monarch
over-wintering populations have remained at near historic low levels ever
since.

<http://www.learner.org/jnorth/images/graphics/monarch/monarch_population940
1.gif>

U. S. farmers harvested some 30 million acres of genetically engineered
crops in 1997, up from 5 million acres in 1996 (Re 1997).

Re, D. B. (1997, September). Biotechnology--What's here and what's coming.
In R. H. Cross (Director), Bridging the Gap: Solving Practical Problems with
Technological Solutions. Research and Technology Transfer Symposium
conducted by the Institute of Food Science and Engineering, Texas A&M
University, College Station, TX.

---The following is from Journey North---

************************************************************
Monarch Population This Year at Lowest Level Recorded
************************************************************

Some very concerning population estimates were recently released from the
Mexican over-wintering sites.  This winter's population was the lowest since
records have been kept. Here are the annual measurements, courtesy of Sr.
Roberto Solis the director of the Reserva Especial de la Biosphera Mariposa
Monarca (REBMM). The numbers show the surface area each colony covered, in
hectares:

                       Monarch Coverage in Hectares
                       Year of Winter Measurement
Sanctuary             94/95   95/96   96/97   97/98   98/99   99/00   00/01

Sierra Chincua         3.48    4.16    7.09    0.73    1.96    0.92    0.77
El Rosario             3.58    4.35    7.61    2.12    2.00    3.78    1.27
*Other 3 Sanctuaries   0.75    4.00    3.17    0.33    1.25    1.27    0.25
TOTAL                  7.81   12.51   17.87    3.18    5.21    5.97    2.29


This graph shows the decline:
<http://www.learner.org/jnorth/images/graphics/monarch/monarch_population940
1.gif>

For more information see:
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/monarch/PopulationMexico.html

Elizabeth Howard
Journey North
http://www.learner.org

---------------------------------------------

Related Essay in the current issue of Orion Magazine:

Canary in the Cornfield
by Lincoln p. Brower
At stake in the debate over genetically modified Bt corn is not just the
monarch butterfly, but the integrity of the scientific process.
<http://www.orionsociety.org/pages/om/01-2om/01-2om_canary.html>


-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Mike Quinn
Invertebrate Biologist
Wildlife Diversity Branch
Texas Parks & Wildlife
Austin, TX Ph: 512/912-7059
mike.quinn at tpwd.state.tx.us

 
 ------------------------------------------------------------ 

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