Summary of the article
Name two (2) reasons why the amount of monarch butterflies is decreasing.
-Carbon emissions
-Herbicides
What economical impact (other than tourism) does the decrease of monarch butterflies have?
Flower markets will not be able to sell as many/the same amount of flowers if monarch butterflies disappear (because they are pollinators)
What is mutual symbiosis?
When two organisms both benefit from each other when living together.
TRUE OR FALSE? The disappearances of monarch butterflies will not impact people
FALSE
There are even non-profit organizations trying to save the monarch butterflies
What is cardenolide?
It is a toxic steroid that helps kills Ophryocystis elektroscirrha.
How will the decrease of monarch butterflies affect tourism?
If monarchs become extinct, the Mexican and Texan government will miss out on a lot of money
How will the decline of monarch butterflies affect food chains in their ecosystem?
Butterflies are important primary consumers in the food chain, and if they become extinct, other consumers will perish
Give an example of a non-profit organization that is trying to save monarch butterflies (make sure we mentioned them)?
Save Our Monarchs
What is Ophryocystis elektroscirrha and what does it do?
Ophryocystis elektroscirrha is a parasite that drills holes in baby caterpillars to reproduce
TRUE OR FALSE? Replanting the trees in breeding grounds for monarchs is not expensive because we don't need a lot.
FALSE
We need to replant many many trees to give them many places to breed and grow in population. Trees also take a very long time to grow, and you know what they say, time is money
What are viceroy?
The viceroy is another butterfly that looks exactly like the monarch and its survival depends on the existence of the monarch
What is the name of the milkweed that the public commonly mistakens for good?
Asclepias curassavica, a type of milkweed that is too toxic for monarchs
How is climate change affecting the wingspan of monarch butteflies? (Theory)
Wingspan depends on the distance the monarchs travel but climate change is pushing their destinations further.
Give two reasons why milkweeds and breeding grounds are being cut down
-To gain farmland
-Urban sprawl
-Limit competition between farmer's plants
-Resources
Which trophic level are monarch butterflies in and WHY?
The primary trophic level because they are herbivores.
What is a problem about people trying to plant milkweed?
Some people accidentally plant the wrong kind of milkweed, which could be too toxic for monarchs.
This is a critical thinking question! You get one minute to talk about this question. Is the decline of tourists really a negative impact when we are thinking about the environment, pollution, etc? You will get full points if you have a good explanation and good reasons
Answer will vary
This is a critical thinking question! You get one 50 seconds to talk about this question. In your group's opinion, what should most of the money used to save monarch butterflies go to? (ex. rebuilding habitats, planting milkweed, etc). You will get full points if you have a good explanation and good reasons
Answers will vary
This is a critical thinking question! You 50 seconds to talk about this question. How will the extinction of monarch butterflies affect the secondary consumers, tertiary consumers and quaternary consumers? (You will get full points if you have a good explanation)
Monarch butterflies are primary consumers so if they become extinct, an unstable ecosystem could literally collapse
This is a critical thinking question! You get 50 seconds to talk about this question. As a government, what would your group do to protect monarch butterflies from going extinct? What new laws would you create? (You will get full points if you have a good explanation and good reasons)
Answer will vary