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2. Temporal Matching Between Monarch Butterflies and Milkweed Populations
- Temporal matches between monarch butterfly and milkweed population changes over the past 25,000 years Boyle, John H. et al. Current Biology, Volume 33, Issue 17, 3702 - 3710.e5
This research paper investigates the long-term population dynamics of monarch butterflies and common milkweed, their primary food source, over the past 25,000 years. The study utilizes genomic data, including a newly-constructed chromosome-level genome assembly for common milkweed, to reconstruct the demographic histories of both species. The authors found that both monarchs and milkweed experienced population expansions during the retreat of glaciers 10,000 to 20,000 years ago and again with the widespread clearing of North American forests in the last few centuries. Importantly, they found no evidence of recent population declines in either species despite well-documented decreases in monarch abundance over the past 40 years. This suggests that the observed monarch decline might not be a reflection of a true reduction in effective population size but rather a mismatch between the overwintering census population and the broader, genetically-diverse population. The study's findings provide valuable insights into the complex interplay between these iconic species and the impact of human activities on their long-term population trajectories.
The Evolution of Inflorescence Size in Asclepias (Asclepiadaceae)Willson, Mary F., and Peter W. Price. “The Evolution of Inflorescence Size in Asclepias (Asclepiadaceae).” Evolution, vol. 31, no. 3, 1977, pp. 495–511. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/2407517. Accessed 1 Oct. 2024.
This research article, published in 1977 in the journal Evolution, explores the evolutionary factors influencing the size of flower clusters, known as inflorescences, in the milkweed genus Asclepias. The authors, Mary F. Willson and Peter W. Price, hypothesize that inflorescence size is an evolved trait shaped by selection pressures related to both pollen donation and reception. They investigate this hypothesis by examining the relationship between inflorescence size and various reproductive outcomes like pod initiation, fruit maturation, and pollen donation. They find that larger inflorescences, while advantageous for attracting pollinators and facilitating pollen donation, do not always translate to more mature fruits due to factors like pod abortion and intrabrood competition. They conclude that while larger inflorescences may have a selective advantage in terms of pollen donation, factors like resource limitation, pod abortion, and intrabrood competition play significant roles in limiting inflorescence size, suggesting that the evolutionary trajectory of inflorescence size in Asclepias is likely driven by a complex interplay of these factors.
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By Grow Milkweed Plants Network- Temporal matches between monarch butterfly and milkweed population changes over the past 25,000 years Boyle, John H. et al. Current Biology, Volume 33, Issue 17, 3702 - 3710.e5
This research paper investigates the long-term population dynamics of monarch butterflies and common milkweed, their primary food source, over the past 25,000 years. The study utilizes genomic data, including a newly-constructed chromosome-level genome assembly for common milkweed, to reconstruct the demographic histories of both species. The authors found that both monarchs and milkweed experienced population expansions during the retreat of glaciers 10,000 to 20,000 years ago and again with the widespread clearing of North American forests in the last few centuries. Importantly, they found no evidence of recent population declines in either species despite well-documented decreases in monarch abundance over the past 40 years. This suggests that the observed monarch decline might not be a reflection of a true reduction in effective population size but rather a mismatch between the overwintering census population and the broader, genetically-diverse population. The study's findings provide valuable insights into the complex interplay between these iconic species and the impact of human activities on their long-term population trajectories.
The Evolution of Inflorescence Size in Asclepias (Asclepiadaceae)Willson, Mary F., and Peter W. Price. “The Evolution of Inflorescence Size in Asclepias (Asclepiadaceae).” Evolution, vol. 31, no. 3, 1977, pp. 495–511. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/2407517. Accessed 1 Oct. 2024.
This research article, published in 1977 in the journal Evolution, explores the evolutionary factors influencing the size of flower clusters, known as inflorescences, in the milkweed genus Asclepias. The authors, Mary F. Willson and Peter W. Price, hypothesize that inflorescence size is an evolved trait shaped by selection pressures related to both pollen donation and reception. They investigate this hypothesis by examining the relationship between inflorescence size and various reproductive outcomes like pod initiation, fruit maturation, and pollen donation. They find that larger inflorescences, while advantageous for attracting pollinators and facilitating pollen donation, do not always translate to more mature fruits due to factors like pod abortion and intrabrood competition. They conclude that while larger inflorescences may have a selective advantage in terms of pollen donation, factors like resource limitation, pod abortion, and intrabrood competition play significant roles in limiting inflorescence size, suggesting that the evolutionary trajectory of inflorescence size in Asclepias is likely driven by a complex interplay of these factors.