Conservation Strategy for the Eastern Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) in Iowa Version 2.1 Approved October 22, 2018 Meeting notes section updated 7/24/2020 ______________________________________________________________________________ Cover Page The Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium members approved Version 2.1 of the Monarch Conservation Strategy and its implementation on October 22, 2018. Consortium members include: Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship; Iowa Department of Natural Resources; Iowa State University; Alliant Energy; BASF; Bayer CropScience; Blank Park Zoo; Bur Oak Land Trust; Central College; Cornell College; Corteva Agriscience, Agriculture Division of DowDuPont; Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives; Iowa Cattlemen’s Association; Iowa Corn Growers Association; Iowa County Conservation System; Iowa Farm Bureau Federation; Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Nature Conservancy; Iowa Pork Producers Association; Iowa Soybean Association; Iowa Renewable Fuels Association; Iowa Turkey Federation; Iowa Wildlife Federation; ITC Midwest; Luther College; Muscatine Island Research Farm Association, Fruitland, Iowa; Northeast Iowa Agricultural Experimental Association, Nashua IA; North Central Iowa Research Association, Kanawha IA; Northwest Iowa Experimental Association, Sutherland IA; Pheasants Forever; Polk County Conservation; Practical Farmers of Iowa; Prudenterra; Soil and Water Conservation Society; Southeast Iowa Agricultural Research Association, Crawfordsville, Iowa; Story County Conservation; Syngenta; Western Iowa Experimental Farm Association, Castana Iowa; University of Northern Iowa Tallgrass Prairie Center; United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, Corn Insects and Crop Genetics Research Unit; Wallace Foundation for Rural Research and Development, Lewis Iowa; Whiterock Conservancy. Consortium partners include Environmental Defense Fund, Monarch Watch, Sand County Foundation, Trees Forever, University of Minnesota Monarch Butterfly Laboratory, and the Women Food & Ag Network. www.iowamonarchs.info 1 7Table of Contents 1.0 Executive Summary ......................................................................................................................... 8 2.0 Summary .......................................................................................................................................... 9 2.1 Monarch Life History .................................................................................................................. 9 2.2 Eastern Monarch Population Status ............................................................................................. 9 2.3 Monarch Conservation in Iowa: The Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium ....................... 11 2.4 The Goal of the Conservation Strategy ..................................................................................... 11 2.5 Strategy Highlights .................................................................................................................... 12 2.6 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 14 3.0 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 16 3.1 Background ................................................................................................................................ 16 3.2 Legal Status and Authority ........................................................................................................ 18 3.2.1 ESA Background................................................................................................................ 19 3.2.1.1 Pre-Listing Conservation Options .................................................................................. 21 3.2.1.2 Post-Listing Conservation Options ................................................................................ 21 3.2.2 Iowa Monarch Conservation Strategy Conservation Option ............................................. 22 3.3 Species Information ................................................................................................................... 22 3.3.1 Distribution of Monarchs ................................................................................................... 22 3.3.2 The Annual Cycle of the Eastern Monarch Population...................................................... 23 3.3.3 The Importance of Milkweed ............................................................................................. 24 3.3.4 Flowering Plants ................................................................................................................ 25 3.4 Status of Eastern Monarch Populations ..................................................................................... 25 3.4.1 Historic Overview .............................................................................................................. 25 3.4.2 Current Status ..................................................................................................................... 26 3.5 Potential Threats ........................................................................................................................ 28 3.5.1 Deforestation of Overwintering Habitat ............................................................................. 28 3.5.2 Loss of Forage Sources ...................................................................................................... 28 3.5.3 Loss of Breeding Habitat ................................................................................................... 29 3.5.4 Potential Impacts of Increased Milkweed Density on Larval Survival .............................. 32 3.5.4.1 Predators and Parasites ................................................................................................... 32 3.5.4.2 Pathogens ....................................................................................................................... 33 4.0 Species Population and Habitat Goals ........................................................................................... 34 4.1 Range-wide and Iowa Summary of Population and Habitat Goals ........................................... 34 4.2 Designing a Landscape to Conserve the Eastern Monarch Butterfly in Iowa ........................... 36 4.3 Designing Habitat Patches for the Eastern Monarch Butterfly in Iowa ..................................... 36 2 5.0 Species Conservation in Iowa ........................................................................................................ 37 5.1 Administration ........................................................................................................................... 37 5.1.1 Executive Committee ......................................................................................................... 37 5.1.2 Technical Committee ......................................................................................................... 37 5.1.3 Coordination with Regional and National Monarch Conservation Efforts ........................ 38 5.1.3.1 Department of Natural Resources Monarch Conservation Activities ............................ 38 5.1.3.2 USDA NRCS ................................................................................................................ 39 5.1.3.3 USDA FSA .................................................................................................................... 39 5.1.3.4 NC1205- Monarch Conservation ................................................................................... 40 5.1.3.5 Monarch Conservation Science Partnership .................................................................. 40 5.1.3.6 Keystone Monarch Collaborative .................................................................................. 41 5.1.3.7 Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium ...................................................................... 41 5.1.3.8 Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies .................................................................... 41 5.1.3.9 Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies ..................................................... 41 5.1.4 Measuring Progress ............................................................................................................ 42 5.1.4.1 Human Behaviors ........................................................................................................... 42 5.1.4.2 Outputs ........................................................................................................................... 43 5.1.4.3 Outcomes ....................................................................................................................... 43 5.2 Data Management ...................................................................................................................... 44 5.2.1 Objective 1 – Assemble a Data Management Workgroup ................................................. 45 5.2.2 Objective 2 – Identify Data Needs ..................................................................................... 46 5.2.3 Objective 3 – Acquire Required Data and Permissions ..................................................... 46 5.2.4 Objective 4 – Establish Data Management Protocols ........................................................ 46 5.2.5 Objective 5