In this study our objective was to establish baseline abundance numbers of butterflies and to evaluate a monitoring system that can be used by persons with relatively little experience to assess changes in butterfly abundance. Because butterflies that depend on grasslands use flowering plants as nectar sources and a variety of plant species as larval host plants, nectar and pollen resources are described as well.

The dataset consists of abundance information of butterfly species (61 species) collected at 25 sites in northwest Indiana in 1998 and 1999. Each site was surveyed 21 times. Auxiliary data on environmental conditions were collected to allow us to relate habitat differences among sites to differences in abundance and composition of the butterfly community.

The dataset consists of abundance information of butterfly species (61 species) collected at 25 sites in northwest Indiana in 1998 and 1999. Each site was surveyed 21 times. Auxiliary data on environmental conditions were collected to allow us to relate habitat differences among sites to differences in abundance and composition of the butterfly community.

Output from programming code written to summarize 2018 monarch butterfly abundance from monitoring data acquired using a modified Pollard walk at custom 2017 GRTS draw sites within select monitoring areas (see SOP 2 in ServCat reference 103367 for methods) of FWS Legacy Regions 2 and 3. Areas monitored included Balcones Canyonlands (TX), Hagerman (TX), Washita (OK), Neal Smith (IA) NWRs and several locations near the town of Lamoni, Iowa and northern Missouri. Input data file is named 'FWS_2018_MM_SOP2_for_SAS.csv' and is stored in ServCat reference 136485. See SM 5 (ServCat reference 103388) for dictionary of data fields in the input data file.

Output from programming code written to summarize 2018 monarch butterfly abundance from monitoring data acquired using a modified Pollard walk at custom 2017 GRTS draw sites within select monitoring areas (see SOP 2 in ServCat reference 103367 for methods) of FWS Legacy Regions 2 and 3. Areas monitored included Balcones Canyonlands (TX), Hagerman (TX), Washita (OK), Neal Smith (IA) NWRs and several locations near the town of Lamoni, Iowa and northern Missouri. Input data file is named 'FWS_2018_MM_SOP2_for_SAS.csv' and is stored in ServCat reference 136485. See SM 5 (ServCat reference 103388) for dictionary of data fields in the input data file.

Stabilizing the eastern, migratory population of monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) is expected to require substantial habitat restoration on agricultural land in the core breeding area of the Upper Midwestern U.S. Previous research has considered the potential to utilize marginal land for this purpose because of its low productivity, erodible soils, and high nutrient input requirements. This strategy has strong potential for restoring milkweed (Asclepias spp.), but may be limited in terms of its ability to generate additional biophysical and socioeconomic benefits for local communities. Here we explore the possibility of restoring milkweed via the creation of continuous riparian buffer strips around perennial and intermittent streams throughout the region. We use a GIS-based analysis to consider the potential of several different buffer-width scenarios to meet milkweed restoration targets. We further estimate the ability of these habitat areas to provide additional functionality in the form of crop pollination and water quality regulation across the entire region. Finally, we estimate the conservative economic value of these ecosystem services and compare it with the lost value of crops associated with each scenario. Results suggest that riparian buffers could be used to meet 10-43% of the total milkweed restoration target of 1.3 billion new stems with moderate management. The value of water quality and pollination benefits provided by buffers is estimated to exceed costs only for our smallest buffer-width scenario, with a cost-benefit ratio of 1:2.05. Larger buffer widths provide more milkweed, but costs to farmers exceed the benefits we were able to quantify. The large-scale restoration of multifunctional riparian corridors thus has the potential to add milkweed stems while also providing a variety of other valuable benefits. This suggests the potential to leverage monarch habitat restoration efforts for the benefit of a wider variety of species and a broader coalition of beneficiaries.

Stabilizing the eastern, migratory population of monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) is expected to require substantial habitat restoration on agricultural land in the core breeding area of the Upper Midwestern U.S. Previous research has considered the potential to utilize marginal land for this purpose because of its low productivity, erodible soils, and high nutrient input requirements. This strategy has strong potential for restoring milkweed (Asclepias spp.), but may be limited in terms of its ability to generate additional biophysical and socioeconomic benefits for local communities. Here we explore the possibility of restoring milkweed via the creation of continuous riparian buffer strips around perennial and intermittent streams throughout the region. We use a GIS-based analysis to consider the potential of several different buffer-width scenarios to meet milkweed restoration targets. We further estimate the ability of these habitat areas to provide additional functionality in the form of crop pollination and water quality regulation across the entire region. Finally, we estimate the conservative economic value of these ecosystem services and compare it with the lost value of crops associated with each scenario. Results suggest that riparian buffers could be used to meet 10-43% of the total milkweed restoration target of 1.3 billion new stems with moderate management. The value of water quality and pollination benefits provided by buffers is estimated to exceed costs only for our smallest buffer-width scenario, with a cost-benefit ratio of 1:2.05. Larger buffer widths provide more milkweed, but costs to farmers exceed the benefits we were able to quantify. The large-scale restoration of multifunctional riparian corridors thus has the potential to add milkweed stems while also providing a variety of other valuable benefits. This suggests the potential to leverage monarch habitat restoration efforts for the benefit of a wider variety of species and a broader coalition of beneficiaries.

Output from programming code written to summarize monarch butterfly abundance from monitoring data acquired using a modified Pollard walk at custom 2017 GRTS draw sites within select monitoring areas (see SOP 2 in ServCat reference 103367 for methods) of FWS Legacy Regions 2 and 3. Areas monitored included Balcones Canyonlands (TX), Hagerman (TX), Washita (OK), Neal Smith (IA), Necedah (WI) NWRs and several locations near the town of Lamoni, Iowa and private lands in northern Missouri.

Output from programming code written to summarize monarch butterfly abundance from monitoring data acquired using a modified Pollard walk at custom 2017 GRTS draw sites within select monitoring areas (see SOP 2 in ServCat reference 103367 for methods) of FWS Legacy Regions 2 and 3. Areas monitored included Balcones Canyonlands (TX), Hagerman (TX), Washita (OK), Neal Smith (IA), Necedah (WI) NWRs and several locations near the town of Lamoni, Iowa and private lands in northern Missouri.