{"id":218,"date":"2019-07-23T19:30:20","date_gmt":"2019-07-23T19:30:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/greendeilab.com\/?page_id=218"},"modified":"2026-02-01T16:39:01","modified_gmt":"2026-02-01T21:39:01","slug":"monarch-butterfly-migration","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/greendeilab.com\/index.php\/monarch-butterfly-migration\/","title":{"rendered":"Tracking Migrating Monarchs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Monarchs navigate to their overwintering sites with striking precision each year. How and why “eastern” monarchs choose specific peaks within the oyamel fir forests of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt are still largely unknown. These choices likely involve navigation mechanisms that are unique among insects. We are combining novel miniaturized tracking electronics and machine learning methods with next-generation sequencing and imaging approaches to understand individual-level behaviors during migration.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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This work is an ongoing collaboration with David Blaauw<\/a> (UM EECS), Hun-Seok Kim<\/a> (UM EECS) and Inhee Lee<\/a> (U Pittsburgh ECE). This work is supported by the Monarch Butterfly Fund Flight Challenge<\/strong><\/a>, National Geographic Society<\/strong><\/a>, and the National Science Foundation<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Join our tracking project!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Over 100 volunteers from across the US and Canada are active collaborators on this project, helping us collect data to refine our tracking methods. Learn how to become a part <\/a>of<\/a> the team!<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>

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Image credit: Katherine Ernst<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Recent Publications<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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