Monarch Butterfly Micro-climate Study

Beginning in winter 2002, we began an on-going study to gather baseline data on microclimate variables in the monarch butterfly overwintering habitats at Andrew Molera State Park (Stands A and B) and Point Lobos State Reserve in Monterey County. Our main objectives were to design a long-term monitoring study to 1) compare microclimate characteristics among monarch butterfly overwintering groves and 2) investigate the relationship between microclimate and relative numbers of overwintering monarch butterflies within the groves.自2002年冬季起，我们启动了一项持续研究，旨在采集蒙特雷县（Monterey County）安德鲁·莫莱拉州立公园（Andrew Molera State Park，A、B林班）与罗伯斯角州立保护区（Point Lobos State Reserve）内黑脉金斑蝶（monarch butterfly）越冬栖息地的微气候变量基准数据。本研究的核心目标为设计一项长期监测方案，以达成两项研究目的：1）对比不同黑脉金斑蝶越冬林丛的微气候特征；2）探究越冬林丛内微气候与黑脉金斑蝶相对种群数量之间的关联。