The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) has experienced huge population declines in the past two decades, driving the need for more data on their habitat and habitat use across the breeding ground, as well as the effectiveness of conservation efforts. A variety of citizen science programs have allowed for volunteers to collect quality data in this regard, and make significant contributions to the scientific literature. Here, we will explore how citizen science has impacted monarch conservation, what data gaps persist, how the Integrated Monarch Monitoring Program seeks to fill these gaps while expanding existing citizen science datasets, and how to participate in any of these programs.

About the Speaker

Jennifer Thieme is the Regional Monitoring Coordinator at the Monarch Joint Venture. She engages conservation staff and citizen scientists in gathering data on monarchs and their habitat throughout the Midwest. Jennifer received her Masters of Science from The Ohio State University and has spent over a decade working for conservation organizations in the Midwest, with a focus on grassland and savanna systems. 

Cover photo by Arlene Koziol