Use of essential versus nonessential fatty acids during flight in monarch butterflies: Implications for the importance of nectaring during migration
Physiological Entomology,
Год журнала:
2025,
Номер
unknown
Опубликована: Фев. 7, 2025
Abstract
Many
insect
species
are
migratory,
but
migration
is
energetically
costly,
leading
to
a
trade‐off
between
and
subsequent
reproduction.
Of
importance
the
allocation
of
resources
reproduction
relative
use
essential
nonessential
fatty
acids.
How
different
ecological
conditions
experienced
by
individuals
affect
differential
nutrients
has
not
been
well
explored,
especially
in
insects.
Our
goal
was
evaluate
how
reproductive
(summer)
migratory
(fall)
rearing
source
patterns
acids
used
during
experimental
flights
(0–6
h)
monarch
butterflies
(
Danaus
plexippus
L.).
We
larval
adult
diets
manipulated
isotopically
(δ
13
C)
chromatographic
analyses
determine
acid
composition
fat
body.
C4
versus
C3
carbohydrate
feeding
increased
δ
C
value
lipids
monarchs
(−31.2‰
vs.
−22.1‰)
total
concentrations
reflecting
lipid
synthesis
feeding.
Fuel
flight
differed,
with
being
more
conserved
fall
summer
(21%
32%
loss,
respectively),
indicating
that
environmental
cues
responsible
for
onset
result
physiological
changes
modify
use.
Frequency
stopovers
nectar
quality
available
will
influence
capacity
conserve
up
through
overwintering
period.
Язык: Английский
Isotopes (δ2H) in wings and stored lipids of fall migratory monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) provide insights into population structure and nectaring origins
Scientific Reports,
Год журнала:
2025,
Номер
15(1)
Опубликована: Фев. 28, 2025
We
measured
stable
H
isotope
(δ2H)
concentrations
in
wing
and
stored
body
lipids
of
fall
migrating
monarch
butterflies
(Danaus
plexippus)
from
the
eastern
North
American
subpopulation
along
a
transect
southern
Ontario
to
overwintering
sites
central
Mexico
2019
2021.
analysed
δ2H
infer
natal
origins
using
both
spatially
explicit
approach
categorical
which
assigned
north,
portions
breeding
range
west
Appalachians.
The
migration
differed
composition
annually
likely
reflecting
differential
production
monarchs
latitudinally
due
varying
climate
conditions.
Surprisingly,
indicated
that
northern
regions
contributed
between
30
55%
across
years,
estimates
far
higher
than
previously
reported.
suggest
productions
zones
are
becoming
more
important
compared
earlier
decades.
Bulk
lipid
values
showed
patterns
general
increase
through
Oklahoma
before
declining
again
sites,
supporting
acquire
nectar
for
en
route
finally
at
overwinter
high-altitude
Mexico.
recommend
monitoring,
especially
monarchs,
be
conducted
track
contributing
annual
recruitment.
Язык: Английский
Dramatic recent declines in the size of monarch butterfly ( Danaus plexippus ) roosts during fall migration
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
121(43)
Опубликована: Окт. 15, 2024
The
conservation
status
of
monarch
butterflies
in
North
America
is
a
topic
intense
scrutiny
and
debate.
It
clear
that
winter
colonies
Mexico
are
declining,
yet
some
recent
studies
suggest
summer
breeding
populations
relatively
stable
similar
to
historical
abundances.
One
possible
explanation
for
these
discordant
patterns
fall
migration
success
has
been
recently
disrupted.
Here,
we
use
unexplored
citizen-scientist
dataset
on
the
size
“roosts,”
which
resting
aggregations
vegetation,
infer
changes
abundance
along
route
over
last
17
y.
We
found
timing
remained
unchanged
while
flyway
generally
become
warmer
greener.
Warmer
greener
conditions
were
associated
with
larger
roosts,
steady,
dramatic
declines
roost
sizes
through
time
independent
climate
landscape
factors.
Roost
have
declined
as
much
80%,
losses
increasing
from
north
south
route.
These
findings
failure
during
could
explain
apparent
drop
numbers
overwintering
populations.
This
turn
suggests
efforts
support
most
needed,
such
providing
high
quality
nectar
plants
or
limiting
planting
nonnative
milkweeds
enhance
parasite
loads.
Overall,
it
appears
under
imminent
threat,
even
if
species’
overall
survival
not.
Язык: Английский
Essential and nonessential fatty acid composition and use in overwintering monarch butterflies
Journal of Comparative Physiology A,
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
unknown
Опубликована: Дек. 21, 2024
Monarch
butterflies
(Danaus
plexippus)
undertake
one
of
the
most
remarkable
long-distance
insect
migrations,
travelling
thousands
kilometres
to
overwinter
in
central
trans-volcanic
belt
Mexico.
This
study
explored
how
monarch
use
essential
fatty
acids
(EFA)
and
nonessential
(NFA)
during
overwintering.
We
collected
150
(male/female)
from
Sierra
Chincua
wintering
colony
time
arrival
(December
2022)
before
departure
(February
2023)
analysed
their
lipid
content.
Our
findings
revealed
that
although
females
have
a
higher
mass
fraction
lipids,
male
female
depleted
lipids
similarly
over
time,
resulting
low
abdominal
fractions
by
late
February.
NFA,
including
oleic
palmitic
acid,
were
predominantly
used
for
energy
overwintering
butterflies.
In
contrast,
EFA
alpha-linolenic
linoleic
acids,
critical
reproductive
success
cellular
functions,
conserved
both
sexes.
Males
began
period
with
polar
components
head
thorax,
which
may
impact
degree
cold
acclimation
these
tissues
this
period.
Strategic
utilisation,
prioritising
preservation
NFA
optimizing
survival
probably
enhance
readiness
spring
remigration
reproduction.
differential
acid
underscores
delicate
balance
maintain
survive
highlights
potential
impacts
environmental
changes
on
dynamics
survival.
Язык: Английский
Breeding season temporal and spatial trends in continental-scale migration of the monarch butterfly
Environmental Entomology,
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
unknown
Опубликована: Окт. 4, 2024
Abstract
The
monarch
butterfly
(Danaus
plexippus)
is
a
vagile
species
that
undertakes
an
annual,
multi-generational
migration
across
North
America.
abundance
of
this
at
both
eastern
and
western
overwintering
sites
in
Central
Mexico
California
indicates
population
decline.
Success
continental-scale
conservation
programs
for
migratory
depends
on
providing,
maintaining,
protecting
habitats
appropriate
temporal
spatial
scales.
Here,
dynamics
gene
flow
were
obtained
by
combined
stable
isotope,
morphological,
genetic
analyses.
These
analyses
applied
to
samples
collected
from
May
September
during
2016–2021
locations
Iowa,
USA
collections
Pennsylvania,
Delaware,
Ohio,
Nevada,
Idaho,
Hawaii,
3
Australian
July
August
2016,
Texas
April
2021.
Evidence
seasonal
was
through
δ2H
collections,
which
corroborated
decreased
wing
hue
(a
morphological
marker
non-migratory
individuals).
In
10–15%
monarchs
represented
migrants
southern
areas
throughout
the
breeding
season
6%
midsummer.
Limited
sequence
variation
detected
mitochondrial
genome
impacted
capability
detect
significant
our
American
samples.
However,
2
novel
substitutions
identified
predicted
be
fixed
among
Australia
samples,
contributing
intercontinental
differentiation
counterparts
Our
assessment
range
provides
insight
into
previously
undetected
DNA
globally
distributed
populations.
Язык: Английский