Monarch butteflies headed for extinction

Discussion in 'Environment & Conservation' started by (original)late, Sep 15, 2020.

  1. (original)late

    (original)late Banned

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    It's a number of things.
     
  2. kazenatsu

    kazenatsu Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I'm certain immigration has had more of an effect than CO2 levels.
     
    Last edited: Sep 18, 2020
  3. (original)late

    (original)late Banned

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    Industrial agriculture leading to rising amounts of pesticide use...
     
  4. kazenatsu

    kazenatsu Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    That's fair.
    However, the amount of agriculture in California's Central Valley has actually been going down in recent years, due to water shortages, and growing salinity levels in the soil.
     
    Last edited: Sep 18, 2020
  5. Josephwalker

    Josephwalker Banned

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    Loss of habitat is the elephant in the room in numerous species decline but people on both sides of the isle are reluctant to address that uncomfortable subject.
     
  6. Bowerbird

    Bowerbird Well-Known Member

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    Or it could be an increased use of insecticide - yes we dint know for sure that it is a high co2 level what we DO know for sure is that CO2 levels are higher
     
  7. Bowerbird

    Bowerbird Well-Known Member

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    Wow! Just Wow! Here is a post devoid of any research, advanced learning or even general knowledge on the subject
     
  8. politicalcenter

    politicalcenter Well-Known Member

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    The butterflies were common in Indiana when I was a kid and so was the common milkweed. It would come up in farmers fields and along the roadside. But with the use of roundup the milkweed is rare. I am of the opinion it is herbicide use that is the culprit.
     
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  9. (original)late

    (original)late Banned

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    Speak for yourself.

    We haven't enabled the government to do half what needs doing, and we've been going backwards in a lot of areas.

    A lot of civilisations have failed that way.
     
    Last edited: Sep 19, 2020
  10. (original)late

    (original)late Banned

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    Roundup should be banned.
     
  11. Josephwalker

    Josephwalker Banned

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    Man has had numerous impacts on the environment and the cumulative effect is overwhelming.
     
  12. Josephwalker

    Josephwalker Banned

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    Loss of habitat is not governments fault it's ours. We choose to keep growing our population and filling in wildlife habitat with housing developments, roads, urban sprawl shopping, and cattle grazing.
     
    Last edited: Sep 19, 2020
  13. Josephwalker

    Josephwalker Banned

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    Gotta wonder about bees too.
     
  14. politicalcenter

    politicalcenter Well-Known Member

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    Roundup us a tool and any tool can be miss used. But since the government pays farmers not to plant or st land aside for hay why not pay them to set aside some ground for conservation? I think people would be surprised to see how many farmers are conservationists.
     
  15. politicalcenter

    politicalcenter Well-Known Member

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    Populations seem to be on the rise here but that is just conjecture on my part. A couple years back they seemed as rare as hens teeth.
     
  16. (original)late

    (original)late Banned

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    19 countries have banned it. 2 are in the EU, and the EU has a complete ban scheduled for 2022.

    It's nasty stuff, and causes far too many problems.
     
  17. Josephwalker

    Josephwalker Banned

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    We had lots of wild honeybees this year which is encouraging
     
  18. politicalcenter

    politicalcenter Well-Known Member

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    We have a Magnolia outside the kitchen window that brings hummingbirds around.
     
  19. politicalcenter

    politicalcenter Well-Known Member

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    Well, we could argue that anytime. And then you have the other herbicides that make Roundup look harmless. That is why setting aside some land for conservation would increase butterfly populations and would provide herbicide and pesticide free land. Especially if seeded with milkweed. It would not have to be the most productive land but maybe land between field and stream ....as a buffer. It would basically be a taxpayer funded conservation effort.
     
    Last edited: Sep 19, 2020
  20. JakeJ

    JakeJ Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Mobile phone radiation may be killing insects: German study
    https://phys.org/news/2020-09-mobile-insects-german.html

    Would anyone give up their mobile phone to save insects from extinction? No. So let's blame climate change because by always doing so - then no one actually has to do anything about anything.
     
    Last edited: Sep 20, 2020
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  21. modernpaladin

    modernpaladin Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    We spray pesticides everywhere that milkweed grows, then blame 'carbon'.
     
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  22. btthegreat

    btthegreat Well-Known Member

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    If the milkweed is more 'toxic', we should be able to label the specific toxin and measure it through samples.
     
  23. (original)late

    (original)late Banned

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    There are a number of things impacting the Monarchs. What would be surprising was if climate change wasn't one of them.
     
  24. politicalcenter

    politicalcenter Well-Known Member

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    It would seem logical to me that an insect that ranges from the Yukon to Mexico would be able to adapt to some climate change. But I don't think it would fair so well if it's habitat is destroyed.
     
  25. politicalcenter

    politicalcenter Well-Known Member

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    Last edited: Sep 20, 2020

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