Articles tagged with Monarchy
A groundbreaking biography of Æthelstan highlights his overlooked achievements and the significance of his reign in shaping modern England. Woodman argues that Æthelstan created England in 927AD, citing evidence from original diplomas, literary records, and archaeological sites.
Icelandic researchers are searching for forgotten pieces of history in ancient, reused parchments. The study focuses on palimpsests, texts written over old manuscripts, which were common in the Middle Ages across Europe and particularly widespread in Iceland.
Historian Dr. Sean Lang suggests that Trump's style of government is an attempt to transform the United States from a democratic presidential system into a monarchy. The talk will examine how republics and their systems can morph into monarchies, with a focus on the US Presidential election.
Researchers found that aphid-infested tropical milkweed is less inviting to monarch butterflies, with reduced egg-laying and slower caterpillar development. Aphid-free plants, on the other hand, provide a better chance for monarchs to thrive.
A study found that every member of a hyena clan, except the highest-ranking queen, suffers downward mobility across their lifetime due to demographic processes. Hyenas can move up and down in the hierarchy over time, but they slide down more often than jumping up.
A new study has shed light on the lost medieval chapel of St Erasmus at Westminster Abbey, revealing its role as a royal burial site and its connection to the cult of a disembowelled saint. The chapel, demolished in 1502, is believed to have held relics, including a single tooth, and featured gruesome images of the saint's martyrdom.
A new study finds that monarch butterflies are stabilizing their breeding trends, with some regions experiencing population declines while others show increases. The research suggests that changing environmental variables are offsetting negative factors, such as the impact of glyphosate on monarchs.
A 500-year-old English illuminated manuscript provides fresh insights into Catholic beliefs in England before the Reformation. The metre-long prayer roll contains religious verse and illustrations, including symbols of Christ's crucifixion, which were connected to a famous pilgrimage site.
Researchers used isotope mapping to track monarch butterfly migration routes and identify their natal origins. The study, led by a University of Ottawa student, revealed that monarchs from the eastern US likely originated in Texas, providing valuable insights into population decline.
Researchers found that captive-raised monarchs can establish proper orientation using their sense of flight direction after being exposed to sunlight and natural cues. The process takes between 24-48 hours, allowing them to fly in the correct direction once released into the wild.
A recent study found large populations of monarchs breeding in San Francisco and Los Angeles, suggesting an adaptation to the changing climate. The researchers believe that this new breeding pattern may help the population persist in the western US, despite a decline in numbers.
A new study by Professor Tim Thornton strengthens claims that King Richard III was involved in the murder of his nephews, known as 'the Princes in the Tower'. The research, published in History, suggests that credible sources confirm Richard III's guilt in the high-profile royal disappearance.
Researchers observed that monarch caterpillars become more aggressive in the absence of milkweed, their primary food source. The study revealed that limited food availability triggers an attack response among caterpillars, highlighting a previously unexplored aspect of insect behavior.
A study of Monarch butterfly populations reveals a shift from larger to smaller wings in non-migrating groups, suggesting genetic influence. The findings suggest that migration favors longer wings, while non-migration leads to smaller wings.
Research found that native milkweed cultivars planted by the public can attract and support monarchs, as well as other pollinators like bees. The study's results suggest that these cultivars are just as attractive and suitable for monarchs as their wild-type counterparts.
A recent analysis of tagged monarch butterflies' migration from the US to Mexico found no decline in migration success and contradicts the theory that increased mortality during migration is driving population decline. The study highlights the importance of creating new habitat for milkweed, a crucial plant for monarchs' survival.
A recent study published in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution has challenged the prevailing view that monarch butterfly migration mortality is a major cause of population decline. The researchers found that the size of the summer population is the main determinant of yearly variation in overwintering numbers.
A genome-wide comparison of eastern and western monarch butterflies found they share identical genetic diversity, contradicting long-held assumptions about their distinctiveness. The study suggests environmental factors shape behavioral differences in the butterflies' migratory patterns.
A study found 64 pesticide residues in milkweed, contaminating the main food source for monarch butterflies in the west. Pesticides were present at levels harmful to monarchs and other insects, raising concerns for the already critically small western monarch population.
A study by D. André Green found that cold temperatures speed up the monarchs' internal timer, allowing them to terminate diapause and prepare for spring migration. The research suggests that cold temperature plays a critical role in regulating the timing of biological processes in monarchs.
A study found captive-breeding affects monarchs' ability to migrate south for overwintering in Mexico. Researchers compared wild-caught and commercially bred monarchs, finding reduced migration and reproductive success.
A new study by scientists at the University of Chicago found that commercially bred monarch butterflies do not fly southward even in offspring raised outdoors. This suggests that captive breeding disrupts the monarch's migratory behavior and genetic differences between captive and wild populations may be to blame.
Two new studies suggest that planting milkweed in cities could support 15-30% of the 1.8 billion stems needed to save Monarch butterflies. Urban areas offer a vast potential for creating habitat, with residential yards and low-quality green spaces being particularly valuable targets.
Researchers at Michigan State University found that a critical piece of the monarch butterfly's annual cycle was missing - the fall migration. The team built a multi-scale model and included environmental factors like temperature and landscape greenness to account for year-to-year variations.
Mowing grasslands in June or July can increase monarch butterfly egg laying by 3-10 times, while also reducing predators. This strategy aims to provide a food source for the butterflies' larval stage and create a more favorable environment for their survival.
A new research study reveals that half of the monarchs in southern Florida originated from the American Midwest, challenging the long-held assumption of their core breeding range. This finding raises questions about the shrinking overwintering population in Mexico and suggests alternative migration routes.
The study found that monarch caterpillars and butterflies have declined by 80 percent since 2005 in North Central Florida, mirroring the decline in Mexico. The researchers blame shrinking native milkweed populations and glyphosate use in agricultural fields for the decline.
Research found that migrating monarchs encounter high levels of disease when interacting with resident monarchs at tropical milkweed sites, which can lead to reproductive issues and reduced migration rates. Monarch populations are vulnerable to parasitic protozoan OE due to the loss of natural migration patterns.
A study found that elevated CO2 levels reduce the protective compounds in milkweed plants, making monarch caterpillars more susceptible to parasites. This threat could have broad implications for animals and humans who rely on plant-based medicines.
Researchers from Bar-Ilan University have uncovered new evidence supporting the existence of Israel's united monarchy. The findings suggest that the Kingdom extended beyond Jerusalem's immediate surroundings, with a large residence discovered at Tel 'Eton in the Shephelah region dating back to the 10th century BCE.
Researchers discover that warmer temperatures turn non-native milkweed species into a poisonous trap for monarch butterflies. This study highlights the impact of climate change on species interactions and the delicate balance between monarchs and their food source.
A University of Guelph study reveals that monarch butterfly eggs are more abundant on milkweed grown in agricultural areas, with three and a half times the number found in urban gardens, natural areas, and roadsides. This finding suggests that roadside planting may not be an effective conservation strategy for this endangered species.
A new study reveals that western monarch butterfly populations have declined by more than 70% over the past 35 years, threatening their survival. Habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change are likely contributing factors to this decline.
A new study suggests that converting marginal cropland to monarch-friendly habitat is the most effective way to add milkweed and restore the eastern migratory monarch population. Planting milkweeds in protected areas, urban, and suburban locations may also be necessary to achieve a full population recovery.
New research reveals a negative association between glyphosate application and local abundance of adult monarch butterflies in the Midwest. Habitat loss and climate change are also contributing factors to the species' decline.
A new study reviews decades of monarch research and finds that milkweed numbers have dropped by about 95% in cropland over the last 20 years, but natural areas show a smaller decline. The researchers suggest other factors such as habitat loss, disease, parasites, and climate change may also be contributing to the decline.
Researchers analyzed over 1,000 samples to determine the origins of monarch butterflies born in North America. The study found that a larger proportion of monarchs were born outside the Midwestern US than previously thought.
Researchers from Michigan State University create a new model to estimate summer monarch abundance in Ohio and Illinois through their migration through Texas. Higher populations are associated with average to above-average precipitation and cooler temperatures in Texas during spring.
Researchers developed a model to explain how monarch butterflies navigate during their 2,000-mile fall migration. The model suggests that the monarchs' brain receives information from both the sun's position and the time of day, and uses two neural mechanisms to decipher the correct direction.
The Eastern migratory monarch population declined by 84 percent from 1996-1997 to 2014-2015. Increasing the average population size is crucial to providing a buffer against extinction. Reaching six hectares of occupied area in Mexico by 2020 could reduce the quasi-extinction risk over 20 years.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that seasonal migrations can remove infected butterflies from wild populations, lowering parasite prevalence. The research tracked the natal origins of parasitized and uninfected monarchs to Mexico, revealing that uninfected butterflies originated from more northerly latitudes.
A study by researchers from the University of Georgia found that female monarch butterflies have thicker wings and lighter body mass relative to their wing size, making their flight more efficient. This advantage enables females to outperform males in flight and migration success.
Researchers found that root fungi in milkweed plants affect the virulence of protozoan parasites and monarchs' ability to resist infection. The study suggests soil organisms play a significant role in host-parasite ecology, with implications for community ecology and disease research.
Research on monarch butterfly conservation highlights declining population trends, with survival rates dropping from 1997 to 2014. The studies also suggest that Karner blue butterflies are being protected through a cutting-edge recovery program in Wisconsin.
Researchers from UC Davis and University of Guam studied monarch butterflies on Guam to understand their migration patterns and impact of pesticides. The study found that the lack of pesticide use on the island has led to an increase in milkweed population, which is essential for the monarchs' survival.
A new study found that non-migratory monarchs in the southern US are five times more likely to be infected with parasites than migratory ones. Planting native milkweeds instead of tropical milkweed can help reduce disease problems in winter-breeding populations.
Researchers identified a single gene central to monarch migration and another controlling pigmentation. Migratory butterflies have reduced levels of collagen IV α-1, increasing flight efficiency, while a new gene functions as a pigmentation switch.
Researchers found that monarchs employ a light-dependent, inclination magnetic compass system for navigation similar to larger-brained migratory vertebrates like birds and sea turtles. The study suggests the compass serves as an important backup system when daylight cues are unavailable.
A University of Minnesota researcher studied monarch butterflies' response to road salt, finding elevated sodium levels alter foraging behavior and development. The study suggests that excessive sodium can lead to increased mortality rates.
Researchers found that early migrating monarch butterflies have larger, more elongated wings with redder colors, indicating superior flight performance. These characteristics promote long-distance migration and increase the chances of survival.
A recent study suggests that Americans would support monarch butterfly conservation by paying up to $6.5 billion if extrapolated to all U.S. households. This universal popularity of monarchs could encourage a market for monarch-friendly plants.
A team of scientists found that monarch butterflies use external cues like the sun and magnetic field as a built-in compass, but not an internal map. They funnelled towards their destination using major geographic landmarks.
Researchers found that monarch butterflies would continue to fly south if it weren't for the cold weather. The study's findings suggest that global climate change could impact the monarchs' migrations. Understanding this process can help protect the iconic migration.
Research reveals that cold temperatures trigger the return of monarch butterflies to their northern habitats, highlighting vulnerability to climate change. The study suggests that the monarch migration cycle is reliant on a specific thermal stimulus, which is critical for completion of the migration cycle.
An Emory University analysis suggests environmental factors trigger the monarchs' choice of winter homes, rather than genetic differences. The researchers found extensive gene flow between eastern and western monarchs, challenging the prevailing theory of distinct populations.
Research from University of Guelph uncovers how monarch butterflies recolonize northern breeding grounds in spring, with 10% coming directly from Mexico and most born in central US. This knowledge aids conservation by identifying highly productive regions that fuel the migration further north.
Researchers found that long-distance migrations can reduce the spread of infectious diseases in some species by allowing them to escape parasite-laden habitats. This process also helps eliminate virulent disease strains from populations.
Researchers at Emory University found that monarch butterfly females prefer milkweed plants with high levels of cardenolides to lay eggs on, reducing parasite infection in their offspring. This behavior is thought to be a form of self-medication, and the study's findings may have implications for human health.
New research reveals that some North American monarchs born in the Midwest and Great Lakes fly directly east over the Appalachians and settle along the eastern seaboard. The study suggests that the viability of east coast populations is highly dependent upon productivity on the other side of the mountains.
A University of Georgia study has found that monarch butterflies from long-distance migrating populations have evolved significantly larger and more elongated wings than their stationary cousins. This suggests that traits known to enhance flight ability in other migratory species are favored in these insects.