EAPSI: Using the Trans-Pacific Dispersal of the Monarch Butterfly to Better Understand Its Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation

黑脉金斑蝶（Danaus plexippus）最著名的是它们在北美的分布范围，但最近也在几乎每一个太平洋岛链上定居。由于地理上的隔离，这些岛上的帝王蝶种群提供了理想的？自然实验？来解决帝王蝶的生态学和进化问题。 这个项目将集中在博物馆标本和活捕捉君主从澳大利亚？迁徙和非迁徙的帝王蝶共存的地方吗并将与迈伦Zalucki博士（昆士兰州大学），世界？他是太平洋岛屿君主的最重要专家。从这项研究的结果将有助于更好地了解（1）基因和环境的线索，管理君主迁移，（2）如何迁移和非迁移君主可能会在他们的形态，行为和与寄生虫的相互作用不同，（3）的策略采用马利筋宿主植物，以科普君主植食性。这些信息将有助于保护北美君主的战略，这些君主目前正在申请联邦保护地位。 海洋岛屿长期以来一直是了解当代和长期时间尺度上进化过程的宝贵天然实验室。太平洋岛屿上的帝王蝶提供了重复的自然实验，用于调查从迁徙到非迁徙状态的转变以及与乳草宿主植物的独立重新关联。 在这个项目中，我将专注于澳大利亚君主（博物馆标本和活捕个体）及其乳草宿主植物。这将使我能够回答以下问题：（1）与迁移状态相关的帝王蝶翅形态和触角昼夜节律表达的短期进化;（2）原生动物寄生虫Ophryocystis elektroschiha的流行率和毒力;（3）新乳草宿主植物中抗性和/或耐受性性状的进化。 这项研究的结果将有助于更好地了解帝王蝶的基本生物学，并可能有助于其保护。东亚和太平洋夏季研究所计划下的这个奖项支持美国研究生的夏季研究，由NSF和澳大利亚科学院共同资助。

Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) are best-known from their North American range but more recently have also become established on nearly every Pacific island chain. Because of their geographic isolation, these island populations of monarch butterflies provide ideal ?natural experiments? for addressing ecological and evolutionary questions about the monarch butterfly. This project will focus on museum specimens and live-caught monarchs from Australia?where populations of migratory and non-migratory monarchs co-occur?and will be in collaboration with Dr. Myron Zalucki (University of Queensland), the world?s foremost expert on Pacific island monarchs. Results from this research will contribute to a better understanding of (1) the genes and environmental cues that govern monarch migration, (2) how migratory and non-migratory monarchs may differ in their morphology, behavior, and interactions with parasites and (3) the strategies employed by milkweed host plants to cope with monarch herbivory. This information will contribute to strategies for protecting North American monarchs, which are currently being petitioned for federally protected status. Oceanic islands have long served as valuable natural laboratories for understanding evolutionary processes over both contemporary and long-term time scales. Monarch butterflies on Pacific islands provide replicated natural experiments for investigating transitions from migratory to non-migratory status as well independent re-associations with their milkweed host plants. For this project, I will focus on Australian monarchs (both museum specimens and live-caught individuals) and their milkweed host plants. This will enable me to answer questions about (1) the short-term evolution of monarch wing morphology and antennal circadian rhythm expression in relation to migratory status, (2) the prevalence and virulence of the protozoan parasite Ophryocystis elektroschirrha, and (3) the evolution of resistance and/or tolerance traits in novel milkweed host plants. The results of this research will contribute to a greater understanding of the basic biology of the monarch butterfly and potentially aid in its conservation. This award under the East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes program supports summer research by a U.S. graduate student and is jointly funded by NSF and the Australian Academy of Science.