Decline of the Monarchs

On Sept. 3 at 7 pm, Karen S. Oberhauser will present “Understanding Potential Impacts of Global Climate Change on Monarch Butterflies” at the UU Fellowship in Ephraim. This evening is one of the Climate Change Coalition of Door County’s monthly presentations offered free to the public in order to raise awareness of and encourage action on climate change.

Monarch butterfly populations have been declining during the last 20 years. Because insect numbers are notoriously difficult to assess, and because they often show large year-to-year fluctuations, simply documenting this decline has been a challenge.

Oberhauser will describe the biology of migratory monarch populations, and the work of citizens and scientists in documenting monarch numbers at all stages of their migratory cycle. She will also summarize the potential impacts of a changing climate on monarchs during all stages of their annual cycle of breeding, migrating and overwintering.

Oberhauser is a professor in the Dept. of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology at the University of Minnesota. Her strong interest in promoting a citizenry with a high degree of scientific and environmental literacy led to the development of a science education program that involves courses for teachers and opportunities for youth to engage in research and share their findings with broad audiences. In 2013, she received a White House Champion of Change award for her work with Citizen Science.

The UU Fellowship is located at 10341 Hwy 42 in Ephraim. For more information call 920.854.7559.