Article
Ecology
Anurag A. Agrawal, Amy P. Hastings, Christophe Duplais
Summary: This study found that monarch butterflies preferentially sequester compounds that are less toxic to themselves but still toxic to their enemies, reducing self-harm while maintaining protection from predators.
Article
Entomology
Cody Prouty, Paola Barriga, Andrew K. Davis, Vera Krischik, Sonia Altizer
Summary: Neonicotinoids are widely used insecticides in North America, with studies showing negative effects on bees. Monarch butterflies, known for their long-distance migrations, were found to be negatively impacted by neonicotinoids, with effects dependent on the milkweed species they feed on. Results suggest that monarchs can tolerate low neonicotinoid doses, but experience detrimental effects at higher doses, influenced by the type of milkweed host plant. This study highlights the potential role of host plant species in reducing insecticide residue and calls for further investigation.
Article
Ecology
Leslie E. Decker, Christopher S. Jeffrey, Kaitlin M. Ochsenrider, Abigail S. Potts, Jacobus C. de Roode, Angela M. Smilanich, Mark D. Hunter
Summary: Animals rely on a balance of endogenous and exogenous sources of immunity to mitigate parasite attack, which is increasingly urgent to understand under rapid environmental change. In herbivores, immunity is influenced by environmental conditions, such as the consumption of plants with toxic steroids providing external immunity. Changes in milkweed phytochemistry induced by elevated CO2 alter the balance between exogenous and endogenous immunity sources, potentially leading to a shift in immune function under future atmospheric conditions.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anurag A. Agrawal, Katalin Boroczky, Meena Haribal, Amy P. Hastings, Ronald A. White, Ren-Wang Jiang, Christophe Duplais
Summary: Highly specialized insect herbivores can use plant chemical defenses as cues for oviposition and sequestration. Research has shown that variation in milkweed toxins can negatively impact the growth and sequestration of monarch butterflies, highlighting the evolution of novel plant defenses and the specific nature of plant defense mechanisms.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Amanda E. Martin, Greg W. Mitchell, Judith M. Girard, Lenore Fahrig
Summary: Research indicates that altering the landscape in agricultural regions, including reducing crop field sizes and increasing the cover of annual crops, can benefit milkweed populations. However, the effects of landscape-scale alterations on milkweed were found to be larger than those of within-field farming practices. Additionally, most variables had opposite effects on milkweed relative to other plants, suggesting that promoting milkweed abundance does not necessarily lead to an increase in overall weed cover.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Nick L. Rasmussen, Louie H. Yang
Summary: Phenological shifts can have persistent and qualitatively different effects on different life stages of plants, with early and late-season herbivory having different impacts on plant growth and reproduction.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bernadette M. Mach, William Long, Jaret C. Daniels, Adam G. Dale
Summary: Anthropogenic disturbance is causing global biodiversity loss, affecting the monarch butterfly which relies on milkweed. Planting ornamental milkweed in urban landscapes seems beneficial for the conservation of monarch butterflies. However, sap-feeding insect herbivores, such as the oleander aphid, can negatively impact monarch conservation efforts by reducing plant quality and triggering plant defenses.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bernadette M. Mach, William Long, Jaret C. Daniels, Adam G. Dale
Summary: Anthropogenic disturbance is causing global biodiversity loss, including the specialized monarch butterfly. In response, ornamental milkweed plantings are becoming more common in urban landscapes and have been shown to have conservation value for monarch butterflies. However, sap-feeding insect herbivores, such as the oleander aphid, often reach high densities on these plants. Aphid-infested milkweed may hinder monarch conservation efforts by reducing host plant quality and inducing plant defenses.
Article
Plant Sciences
Alma N. Carvajal N. Acosta, Anurag A. Agrawal, Kailen Mooney
Summary: The response of herbivorous insects to plant drought stress varies greatly among plant species and insect feeding guilds. Plant trait values associated with adaptation to arid environments can have positive effects on the survival of monarch butterflies, while having no effect on oleander aphids. Drought-induced changes in plant quality are negatively correlated with the survival of both herbivores. These findings highlight the importance of plant traits in determining the impact of drought on insect herbivores.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Samantha M. Knight, D. T. Tyler Flockhart, Rachael Derbyshire, Mark G. Bosco, D. Ryan Norris
Summary: The study suggests that neonicotinoid insecticides may have negative effects on the egg-laying and larval survival of monarch butterflies. Milkweed near neonicotinoid-treated crops is more likely to be preferred by monarch butterflies. However, monarch butterflies do not actively select plots with fewer arthropods for oviposition.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Sydney M. Gilmour, Heather M. Kharouba
Summary: Climate change-induced phenological asynchrony between monarch butterflies and milkweed may not negatively affect larval performance, according to a field study in Canada.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biology
Delbert Green II
Summary: Studying monarch butterflies within the framework of movement ecology can help us understand and track their annual migration patterns. Advancements in tracking technology have led to smaller and more capable monitoring systems, allowing us to gain insights into monarch biology and ecology, as well as the broader field of insect movement ecology and its impact on human life.
CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Matthew Z. Brym, Natasja van Gestel, Cassandra Henry, Brett J. Henry, Shannon P. Lukashow-Moore, Ronald J. Kendall
Summary: The monarch butterfly population has declined due to the loss of milkweed plants, prompting efforts to restore milkweed, particularly in areas like the Midwestern US. This study evaluated the feasibility of milkweed restoration in the Rolling Plains ecoregion of West Texas and found successful establishment and growth of milkweed colonies across the area. Factors such as plant age, species, and location were significant predictors of establishment and growth, highlighting the importance of regionally adapted milkweed restoration strategies.
JOURNAL FOR NATURE CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Collin B. Edwards, Stephen P. Ellner, Anurag A. Agrawal
Summary: Plants use multiple traits to defend against herbivores, and the defense synergy hypothesis suggests that some traits are more effective when expressed together. This study tested for synergies between defense traits in common milkweed and found evidence for multiple synergies and antagonisms. The strongest evidence was found between leaf mass per area and low nitrogen content. The study also showed that different defense traits had context-dependent effects on herbivores. These findings provide evidence that multiple classes of plant defense can work together to impact insects.
Article
Agronomy
Anna S. Westbrook, Masoume Amirkhani, Alan G. Taylor, Michael T. Loos, John E. Losey, Antonio DiTommaso
Summary: Intensive agricultural crop production often leads to low biodiversity, which may decrease ecosystem services and limit crop yield. To address this issue, farmers can enhance biodiversity by planting non-crop species near crop fields. We have developed a seed-molding method, using a conventional corn planter, that allows for the precise and efficient establishment of non-crop species. Our experiments with common milkweed as a model native species demonstrate the potential of this technology to increase agroecosystem biodiversity.
Article
Biology
Kristel F. Sanchez, Naomi Huntley, Meghan A. Duffy, Mark D. Hunter
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2019)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Annabel L. Smith, Trevor R. Hodkinson, Jesus Villellas, Jane A. Catford, Anna Maria Csergo, Simone P. Blomberg, Elizabeth E. Crone, Johan Ehrlen, Maria B. Garcia, Anna-Liisa Laine, Deborah A. Roach, Roberto Salguero-Gomez, Glenda M. Wardle, Dylan Z. Childs, Bret D. Elderd, Alain Finn, Sergi Munne-Bosch, Maude E. A. Baudraz, Judit Bodis, Francis Q. Brearley, Anna Bucharova, Christina M. Caruso, Richard P. Duncan, Johnm. Dwyerh, Ben Gooden, Ronny Groenteman, Liv Norunn Hamre, Aveliina Helm, Ruth Kelly, Lauri Laanisto, Michele Lonati, Joslin L. Moore, Melanie Morales, Siri Lie Olsen, Meelis Partel, William K. Petry, Satu Ramula, Pil U. Rasmussen, Simone Ravetto Enri, Anna Roeder, Christiane Roscher, Marjo Saastamoinen, Ayco J. M. Tack, Joachim Paul Topper, Gregory E. Vose, Elizabeth M. Wandrag, Astrid Wingler, Yvonne M. Buckley
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2020)
Article
Biology
Peter Shaffery, Bret D. Elderd, Vanja Dukic
JOURNAL OF MATHEMATICAL BIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Ecology
Andrew J. Flick, Tom A. Coudron, Bret D. Elderd
Article
Ecology
Leslie E. Decker, Mark D. Hunter
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2020)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Abrianna J. Soule, Leslie E. Decker, Mark D. Hunter
JOURNAL OF INSECT CONSERVATION
(2020)
Article
Ecology
Leslie E. Decker, Christopher S. Jeffrey, Kaitlin M. Ochsenrider, Abigail S. Potts, Jacobus C. de Roode, Angela M. Smilanich, Mark D. Hunter
Summary: Animals rely on a balance of endogenous and exogenous sources of immunity to mitigate parasite attack, which is increasingly urgent to understand under rapid environmental change. In herbivores, immunity is influenced by environmental conditions, such as the consumption of plants with toxic steroids providing external immunity. Changes in milkweed phytochemistry induced by elevated CO2 alter the balance between exogenous and endogenous immunity sources, potentially leading to a shift in immune function under future atmospheric conditions.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Amanda R. Meier, Mark D. Hunter
Summary: This study investigated the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on predator-herbivore interactions through a field experiment. The results showed that the availability of AMF in soils had pervasive and complex effects on the dynamics between predators and herbivores.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Abigail S. Potts, Mark D. Hunter
Summary: Phenotypic variability in a population of common milkweed is influenced more by environmental factors than genetic factors, as indicated by a lack of correlation in trait expression between maternal lines from different environments. Genotype-by-environment interactions were observed for most resistance traits, highlighting the importance of environmental conditions in shaping phenotypic variation in milkweed populations.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Luis Y. Santiago-Rosario, Kyle E. Harms, Bret D. Elderd, Pamela B. Hart, Maheshi Dassanayake
Summary: As an important micronutrient for many organisms, sodium plays a crucial role in ecological and evolutionary dynamics. This study found that most plant populations experience detrimental effects on growth at high sodium concentrations, but tissue sodium concentrations generally increase with increasing substrate sodium levels. Despite the growth responses, sodium accumulation tends to follow an increasing trend as substrate sodium levels rise.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Peter P. Issa, Michael Garvey, Scott Grimmell, Pramod Pantha, Maheshi Dassanayake, Bret D. Elderd
Summary: Plant vascular systems can transport entomopathogens from the soil into plant tissues, but it is not fully explored whether other soil dwelling entomopathogens utilize this pathway for movement. Research showed that baculoviruses, a common entomopathogen and bioinsecticide, may not be translocated through plant vascular pathways to induce lethal infection in insects.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Michael Garvey, Kale Costanza, Scott Grimmell, Bret D. Elderd
Summary: Knowing the duration insect pests exist in the environment is crucial for growers to determine management strategies and treatments. However, experiments on the long-term performance of insect pests on different plant cultivars are rare. In this study, the performance of fall armyworm on soybean cultivars induced/non-induced with jasmonic acid (JA) was investigated. The results showed that both plant cultivar and JA induction were significant factors affecting mortality. Larval development to pupation was extended when feeding on induced plants, but pupal mass was not affected.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Benjamin G. Van Allen, Forrest Dillemuth, Vanja Dukic, Bret D. Elderd
Summary: While cannibalism is usually seen as detrimental to the health of the cannibal, research shows that in certain cases, consuming infected individuals may actually be advantageous for the uninfected cannibal. This is because it can lower the risk of infection and reduce competition for resources.
Editorial Material
Ecology
Robert L. L. Richards, Bret D. D. Elderd, Meghan A. A. Duffy
Summary: Disease ecologists have recognized that examining host-parasite interactions in isolation is limiting, as community members, particularly predators, can significantly impact host-parasite dynamics. The current understanding is that predators can potentially increase disease in their prey, and this predator-spreaders are now considered crucial in disease dynamics. However, empirical research on this topic remains fragmented. This study reviews existing evidence, provides heuristics to understand whether a predator is likely to be a predator-spreader, and offers guidance for targeted study and quantification of predator effects on parasitism. The aim is to enhance understanding of this important interaction and develop a predictive ability for how changes in predation will influence parasite dynamics.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Grant Foster, Bret D. Elderd, Robert L. Richards, Tad Dallas
Summary: By studying the transmission of the 1918 H1N1 influenza and 2020 SARS-CoV-2 pandemics in 43 cities in the United States, we found that despite similarities in transmission modes and locations, there are differences in the basic reproductive number and epidemic traits between the two diseases.