Challenges for Monitoring the Extent and Land Use/Cover Changes in Monarch Butterflies’ Migratory Habitat across the United States and Mexico

Rafael Moreno-Sanchez, James Raines, Jay Diffendorfer, Mark A. Drummond and Jessica Manko
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Rafael Moreno-Sanchez: Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Denver, 1200 Larimer St, NC 3016-C, Denver, CO 80204, USA
James Raines: Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Denver, 1200 Larimer St, NC 3016-C, Denver, CO 80204, USA
Jay Diffendorfer: Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, United States Geological Survey (USGS),West 6th Ave. and Kipling Street, Lakewood, CO 80225, USA
Mark A. Drummond: Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, United States Geological Survey (USGS), 2150 Centre Ave. #C, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA
Jessica Manko: Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Denver, 1200 Larimer St, NC 3016-C, Denver, CO 80204, USA

Land, 2019, vol. 8, issue 10, 1-17

Abstract: This paper presents a synopsis of the challenges and limitations presented by existing and emerging land use/land cover (LULC) digital data sets when used to analyze the extent, habitat quality, and LULC changes of the monarch ( Danaus plexippus ) migratory habitat across the United States of America (US) and Mexico. First, the characteristics, state of the knowledge, and issues related to this habitat are presented. Then, the characteristics of the existing and emerging LULC digital data sets with global or cross-border coverage are listed, followed by the data sets that cover only the US or Mexico. Later, we discuss the challenges for determining the extent, habitat quality, and LULC changes in the monarchs’ migratory habitat when using these LULC data sets in conjunction with the current state of the knowledge of the monarchs’ ecology, behavior, and foraging/roosting plants used during their migration. We point to approaches to address some of these challenges, which can be categorized into: (a) LULC data set characteristics and availability; (b) availability of ancillary land management information; (c) ability to construct accurate forage suitability indices for their migration habitat; and (d) level of knowledge of the ecological and behavioral patterns of the monarchs during their journey.

Keywords: Monarch butterflies; Danaus plexippus; migratory habitat; land use/cover (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlands:v:8:y:2019:i:10:p:156-:d:278768

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