Research, Information, & Monitoring

Translate data into useful information for conservation, restoration, and management of pollinators and their habitat in Arizona based on stakeholder needs and activities. 

• Identify all accessible sources of monarch data in AZ; determine how the data can be accessed, managed, and combined; and develop a plan for creating a flat file of the presence data each year that can be shared with collaborators or anyone looking to analyze monarch data,  to “improve understanding of monarch movements throughout the life cycle, including overwintering sites in the West, major movement and migration routes, and interchange between the western and eastern populations” (WAFWA Strategy RBH-S4) and “monitor changes in breeding and migratory patterns across the western landscape over time” (WAFWA Strategy M-S3). 

• Develop recommendations for community science to “organize, encourage, and facilitate community science projects to collect information on the most important regional information needs to fill in information gaps” (WAFWA Strategy EO-S3) and “monitor changes in breeding and migratory patterns across the western landscape over time” (WAFWA Strategy M-S3). 

• Gather published data and expert knowledge on which native milkweed species are safe for grazing lands and areas adjacent to grazing lands to “Encourage BMPs for grazing operations that maintain native milkweed, native forbs and native grasses that serve as nectar and breeding habitat for the monarch butterfly and other pollinators” (WAFWA Strategy AL-S4) and “increase knowledge of best practices to implement monarch/pollinator conservation on working lands” (WAFWA Strategy RBH-S6)

• Determine timing of monarch movement and activity through Arizona to provide data-driven BMPs to “develop state brochures that integrate audience-targeted information with state-specific information for distribution” (WAFWA Strategy EO-S2) and “encourage the use of BMPs to promote monarch-friendly habitat within ROWs” (WAFWA Strategy ROW-S1)

The research group is tackling different topics and finding new goals and priorities. We welcome input and feedback from anyone, even if you are not interested in research. What do you need to know for your work? Are there science-based solutions you want us to explore or know about? We have recently had excellent discussions on data-driven management for public lands and distribution of monarchs in the state.