Monarch butterflies in East Bay Gardens: Impacts of native and non-species on seasonality, life history patterns, and predation of Monarch caterpillars
George Roderick, Professor
Environmental Science, Policy and Management
Closed. This professor is continuing with Fall 2024 apprentices on this project; no new apprentices needed for Spring 2025.
This project is focused on the residential urban gardens of the East Bay and how those gardens impact butterfly communities with a focus on the Western Monarch butterfly. The project covers topics of native and non-native plants, invasive arthropods, urban gardens, and changes in species interactions.
This project is in person and involves field-based surveys in gardens in Berkeley, Albany, and El Cerrito
Role: Students will participate in one or both of the following:
1) Monarch egg and caterpillar population counts: Students would visit milkweed plants included in the study on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, count eggs and caterpillars on study plants, and record counts via a google form. Gardens are located in Berkeley, Albany, and El Cerrito. These counts would initially be completed with graduate student Leslie McGinnis.
2) Invertebrate predator observations and surveys: Students would assist in surveys of invertebrates in urban gardens via collection and visual observation. Students would also monitor experimental interactions between caterpillars and invertebrate predators.
Students will learn about urban ecology, conservation biology, invasive species, how to conduct ecological studies and some data analysis.
Qualifications: Students should have an interest in citizen science/community science, urban agroecology, and/or environmental education. Butterfly eggs and young caterpillars are very small and fragile and can be difficult to locate. Monitoring both is delicate work requiring careful attention to detail, awareness, and patience. Study plants are located in greenstrips and residential gardens and students should be aware of the hard work involved in urban gardening and respectful of the gardens and gardeners. People passing by researchers will often stop to ask questions and learn about monarchs, invasive species, urban gardening, and global change. Ideal applicants would be comfortable balancing data collection and community outreach.
Day-to-day supervisor for this project: Leslie McGinnis, Graduate Student
Hours: 6-8 hrs
Off-Campus Research Site: Residential gardens and green strips in Berkeley, Albany, and El Cerrito
Related website: http://nature.berkeley.edu/evolab/
Environmental Issues Biological & Health Sciences